Alan Williams

Alan John Williams (born 14 October, 1930, Caerphilly) is a Welsh politician and Labour Member of Parliament for Swansea West since the 1964 general election.

As of the 2005 general election, with the retirement of Tam Dalyell, Williams is now the MP with the longest continuous service (as of 2006, 42 years), earning him the title of Father of the House. Williams is also the last parliamentary survivor of those that were elected in Harold Wilson's 1964 election win.

Williams served under Wilson as Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs from 1967 until 1969 and then as a Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Technology until 1970 when Labour lost power. When Labour were returned to power at the February 1974 general election, Williams was made Minister of State at the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection, serving until Wilson left office in 1976. The new Prime Minister James Callaghan then appointed him as Minister of State at the Department of Industry serving until Labour left power in 1979. Williams was made a Privy Counsellor in 1977.

He has been on the backbenches since 1989. He is a Eurosceptic and was opposed to the National Assembly for Wales.

External links

*[1] Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Alan Williams MP
*TheyWorkForYou.com - Alan Williams MP
*Ministerial posts