John Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Morris of Aberavon KG PC KC
Official portrait, 2019
Attorney General for England and Wales Attorney General for Northern Ireland
In office 2 May 1997 – 29 July 1999
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Solicitor General	The Lord Falconer of Thoroton Ross Cranston
Preceded by	Nicholas Lyell
Succeeded by	The Lord Williams of Mostyn
Opposition frontbench 1979-97 Shadow Attorney General In office 9 June 1983 – 2 May 1997 Leader Michael Foot Neil Kinnock John Smith Margaret Beckett (Acting) Tony Blair Preceded by Arthur Davidson Succeeded by Nicholas Lyell In office 14 July 1979 – 24 November 1981 Leader James Callaghan Michael Foot Preceded by Samuel Silkin Succeeded by Peter Archer Shadow Secretary of State for Wales In office 4 May 1979 – 14 July 1979 Leader James Callaghan Preceded by Nicholas Edwards Succeeded by Alec Jones
Ministerial offices 1966-79 Secretary of State for Wales In office 5 March 1974 – 4 May 1979 Prime Minister Harold Wilson James Callaghan Preceded by Peter Thomas Succeeded by Nicholas Edwards Minister of Defence for Equipment In office 16 April 1968 – 19 June 1970 Prime Minister Harold Wilson Preceded by Roy Mason Succeeded by Robert Lindsay Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport In office 10 January 1966 – 16 April 1968 Prime Minister Harold Wilson Preceded by George Lindgren Succeeded by Robert Brown
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 3 July 2001 Life peerage  – 5 June 2023
Member of Parliament for Aberavon
In office 8 October 1959 – 14 May 2001
Preceded by	William Cove
Succeeded by	Hywel Francis
Personal details
Born	(1931-11-05)5 November 1931 Capel Bangor, Wales
Died	5 June 2023(2023-06-05) (aged 91)
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	Aberystwyth University Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

John Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon (born 5 November 1931 – died 5 June 2023) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Labour Party and served as a MP for over 41 years. He represented the area of Aberavon from 1959 to 2001.

During his long career, he held several key government jobs. He was the Secretary of State for Wales from 1974 to 1979. Later, he became the Attorney General between 1997 and 1999. He was the last living Labour MP first elected in the 1950s. He also served a very long time in Parliament, totalling over 60 years of service.

Early Life and Education

John Morris was born in a place called Capel Bangor in Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales. He went to Ardwyn School.

For his higher education, he studied at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He also attended Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

Working as a Lawyer

Before becoming a politician, John Morris was a barrister. This means he was a lawyer who could argue cases in court. He became a barrister in 1954.

He worked at a law firm called 2 Bedford Row Chambers. In 1973, he became a "King's Counsel" (KC), which is a special title for experienced barristers. From 1982 to 1997, he also worked as a Recorder for the Crown Court, which means he was a part-time judge.

Political Journey

John Morris started his political career representing Aberavon as a Labour MP in 1959. He was the longest-serving Welsh MP in Parliament until he retired in 2001. After he retired, Hywel Francis took over his seat.

Morris was known as a "moderate" Labour MP. This means he held views that were not extreme.

He held several important roles in government:

• He was a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Transport.
• He also served as a Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence.

In 1970, he became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of senior advisors to the King.

Serving in the Cabinet

John Morris joined the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales. He held this important job from 1974 to 1979.

He returned to government later as the Attorney General for England and Wales and Northern Ireland. He held these roles from 1997 to 1999. He had been preparing for this role since 1983.

This made him one of the few Labour ministers who served under three different Prime Ministers: Harold Wilson, James Callaghan, and Tony Blair.

Other Important Roles

Lord Morris was the Chancellor of the University of South Wales starting in 2013. Before that, he was the Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan from 2002.

He was also the President of the London Welsh Trust from 2001 to 2008. This trust runs the London Welsh Centre in London. He was also a council member of The Prince's Trust, a charity that helps young people.

Later Life and Honours

After retiring from being an MP in 2001, John Morris was made a life peer. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords for the rest of his life. He was given the title Baron Morris of Aberavon.

In 2002, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed. This is a personal representative of the King in a county. In 2003, he received a very high honour when he was appointed to the Order of the Garter as a Knight Companion (KG).

John Morris passed away in June 2023, at the age of 91.

Images for kids

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  The Coat of Arms of Baron Morris of Aberavon.

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  The Garter Banner of Baron Morris of Aberavon.