| Betty Williams MP | |
|
Member of Parliament
for Conwy |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 May 1997 |
|
| Preceded by | Wyn Roberts |
|---|---|
| Majority | 3,081 (9.2%) |
|
|
|
| Born | July 31, 1944 Bangor, Wales |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Wales, Bangor |
Betty Helena Williams (born 31 July 1944) is a Welsh politician. She has been Labour Member of Parliament for the Welsh constituency of Conwy since 1997.
Contents |
Early life
Betty Williams was born in St David's Hospital, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. She attended Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes, near Caernarfon, and also attended Bangor Normal College.
Her political career began in 1967 when she was elected to become a member of the Llanllyfni Parish Council. She proceeded to serve as a district council, and more recently in 1990 as Mayor of Arfon.
Betty is a former chair of a community centre, as well as a former Christian Aid and Meals on Wheels organiser, and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales, Bangor. She worked as a secretary and freelance journalist.
Parliamentary career
She unsuccessfully contested Caernarfon in 1983 and Conwy in 1987 and 1992. In 1995 Williams was again selected to stand for election for Labour in Conwy, though this time through an all-women shortlist [1]. This method of selection was subsequently declared illegal in January 1996 as it breached sex discrimination laws [2]. Despite the ruling she remained in place as the candidate for the following year's election.
Williams is seen as a party loyalist and has been known to criticise those in the Labour Party that have called for the current Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to stand down.
Betty Williams is a member the Parliamentary Labour Party committees on education and employment; health and social services, and culture, media and sport.
She is also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups in the House of Commons covering children in Wales, primary headache disorders, maternity, multiple sclerosis and vaccine-damaged children.
In September 2008, Betty Williams announced that she would not be contesting her parliamentary seat of Conwy at the next general election [3]. She has stated that this is due to her wanting to 'change the balance' of her workload. The local Labour Party in Conwy is currently proceeding with the selection of a new candidate for the next general election.
Personal life
She is married to Evan with two sons who are now grown up. Williams is both her married and maiden name. She has a BA from the University of Wales. Her interests include opera and sheepdog trials.
References
- ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960109/ai_n9634358?tag=content;col1
- ^ "Labour blow as all-women lists outlawed". The Independent. 9 January 1996. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/labour-blow-as-allwomen-lists-outlawed-1323046.html.
- ^ http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/09/12/mp-betty-williams-won-t-fight-next-election-55578-21805288/
External links
- ePolitix - Betty Williams official site
- Labour Party - Betty Williams MP official biography
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Betty Williams MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Betty Williams MP
- The Public Whip - Betty Williams MP voting record
- BBC Politics
- [1]
News items
Offices held
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Wyn Roberts |
Member of Parliament for Conwy 1997–present |
Incumbent |
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