Geraint Howells
Encyclopedia
Geraint Wyn Howells, Baron Geraint (15 April 1925 – 17 April 2004) was a leading Welsh
Liberal Democrat
politician.
Howells was born in Ponterwyd in Cardiganshire. He was the son of David John and Mary Blodwen Howells, both farmers.
. During his parliamentary career Howells also retained close links with Aberystwyth and Lampeter Universities.
In 1972 Lord Howells was selected as the parliamentary candidate for Cardiganshire a seat with a longstanding Liberal tradition. It had been held by the Liberal MP, Roderic Bowen
, until his defeat by Labour's Elystan Morgan
in 1966. In the February 1974 general election Howell's defeated Morgan and retained the constituency in several different forms until 1992. Thus he was Member of Parliament
(MP) for Cardigan
(1974–1983) and Ceredigion and Pembroke North (1983–1992) after boundary changes. Howells was the Liberal Party's spokesman on Welsh Affairs (1979–1987) and agriculture (1987–92). His Westminster secretary and agent was Judi Lewis (Welsh Liberal Democrat chief executive 1992-1997) whilst one of his researchers was Mark Williams
who would later win the seat for the Liberal Democrats in 2005. In 1992 Howells unexpectedly lost his seat to Plaid Cymru
(which moved from fourth place to first) and was made a life peer
as Baron Geraint, of Ponterwyd in the County of Dyfed
. Howells was a close friend of both Richard Livsey and Emlyn Hooson, both of whom he served with at Westminster in the House of Common and the House of Lords.
Howells was a passionate pro-devolutionist. He played a lead role in the 1979 devolution campaign in Wales. He was also able to get the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) recognition as one of the official unions for government negotiations during the Lib-Lab pact on the 1970s.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politician.
Howells was born in Ponterwyd in Cardiganshire. He was the son of David John and Mary Blodwen Howells, both farmers.
Education
Lord Howells was educated at Ponterwyd Primary School and Ardwyn Grammar School, AberystwythAberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
. During his parliamentary career Howells also retained close links with Aberystwyth and Lampeter Universities.
Pre-parliamentary Career
Howells main living was as a hill farmer in Glennydd, Ponterwyd in Cardiganshire. He held some 750 acres there with around 3,000 sheep. The majority were prize winning Speckled Faces. Howells was also a champion sheep-shearer. He held senior positions in the British Wool Marketing Board and was also chairman of the Wool Producers of Wales, 1977-1983. Politically, Howells was elected to Cardiganshire County Council as an Independent in 1952. At this time it was normal practice in Welsh rural counties for Liberal members to stand as independents.Parliamentary career
Lord Howells was selected as the parliamentary candidate for Brecon and Radnor in 1968. He was the first Liberal to contest the sat in the post war period. He came third with some 18.9 per cent of the vote. During this period Howells became one of the central players in the Welsh Liberal Party.In 1972 Lord Howells was selected as the parliamentary candidate for Cardiganshire a seat with a longstanding Liberal tradition. It had been held by the Liberal MP, Roderic Bowen
Roderic Bowen
Evan Roderic Bowen KC was a Welsh Liberal Party politician.Bowen was educated at Cardigan County School, University College, Aberystwyth, St John's College, Cambridge, Brussels and the Inns of Court. He served in the Army for five years during World War II, reaching the rank of Captain...
, until his defeat by Labour's Elystan Morgan
Elystan Morgan
Dafydd Elystan Elystan-Morgan, Baron Elystan-Morgan , known as Elystan Morgan, is a Welsh politician.Morgan was educated at Ardwyn Grammar School, Aberystwyth and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth...
in 1966. In the February 1974 general election Howell's defeated Morgan and retained the constituency in several different forms until 1992. Thus he was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Cardigan
Cardigan (UK Parliament constituency)
The Cardigan District of Boroughs was a parliamentary constituency in Wales which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors, from 1542 until it was abolished for the 1885 general election...
(1974–1983) and Ceredigion and Pembroke North (1983–1992) after boundary changes. Howells was the Liberal Party's spokesman on Welsh Affairs (1979–1987) and agriculture (1987–92). His Westminster secretary and agent was Judi Lewis (Welsh Liberal Democrat chief executive 1992-1997) whilst one of his researchers was Mark Williams
Mark Williams
- Australia :*Mark Williams , Australian rules footballer with North Melbourne and Footscray*Mark Williams , Australian rules footballer with Brisbane and Collingwood, former coach of Port Adelaide...
who would later win the seat for the Liberal Democrats in 2005. In 1992 Howells unexpectedly lost his seat to Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
(which moved from fourth place to first) and was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Geraint, of Ponterwyd in the County of Dyfed
Dyfed
Dyfed is a preserved county of Wales. It was created on 1 April 1974 under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, and covered approximately the same geographic extent as the ancient Principality of Deheubarth, although excluding the Gower Peninsula and the area west of the River Tawe...
. Howells was a close friend of both Richard Livsey and Emlyn Hooson, both of whom he served with at Westminster in the House of Common and the House of Lords.
Howells was a passionate pro-devolutionist. He played a lead role in the 1979 devolution campaign in Wales. He was also able to get the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) recognition as one of the official unions for government negotiations during the Lib-Lab pact on the 1970s.