Peter Archer, Baron Archer of Sandwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Archer of Sandwell QC PC
Archer in 2011
Solicitor General for England and Wales
In office 7 March 1974 – 4 May 1979
Prime Minister	Harold Wilson James Callaghan
Preceded by	Sir Michael Havers
Succeeded by	Sir Ian Percival
Shadow portfolios Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland In office 31 October 1983 – 13 July 1987 Leader Neil Kinnock Preceded by Don Concannon Succeeded by Kevin McNamara Shadow Secretary of State for Trade In office 24 November 1982 – 31 October 1983 Leader Michael Foot Preceded by John Smith Succeeded by Peter Shore Shadow Attorney General In office 24 November 1981 – 24 November 1982 Leader Michael Foot Preceded by John Morris Succeeded by Arthur Davidson
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Life peerage 9 July 1992 – 14 June 2012
Member of Parliament for Warley West Rowley Regis and Tipton (1966–1974)
In office 31 March 1966 – 16 March 1992
Preceded by	Arthur Henderson
Succeeded by	John Spellar
Personal details
Born	Peter Kingsley Archer (1926-11-20)20 November 1926 Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England
Died	14 June 2012(2012-06-14) (aged 85)
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	London School of Economics

Peter Kingsley Archer, Baron Archer of Sandwell (born November 20, 1926 – died June 14, 2012) was a British lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1966 to 1992. After that, he became a life peer, which meant he joined the House of Lords for life. From 1974 to 1979, he held an important legal role as the Solicitor General for England and Wales.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in England

Peter Archer was born in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England, on November 20, 1926. When he was 16, he left school. He then worked as a clerk for the Ministry of Health.

Working in Coal Mines

After his clerk job, Peter spent four years working in coal mines. This was part of a special program called the Bevin Boys scheme during and after World War II. Young men were chosen to work in mines to help the country.

Becoming a Lawyer

Later, Peter went to university. He studied Philosophy and Law at the London School of Economics and University College London. In 1952, he became a lawyer, which is called being "called to the Bar" in the UK.

Political Career and Public Service

Starting in Politics

Peter Archer joined the Labour Party in 1947. He first tried to become an MP in 1959 but wasn't successful. In 1966, he was elected as the MP for Rowley Regis and Tipton. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the UK Parliament.

Working for the Government

From 1967 to 1970, Peter worked closely with the Attorney General, who is the main legal advisor to the government. In 1969, he represented Britain at the United Nations. He worked on a committee that focused on human rights around the world.

Fighting for Human Rights

Even when his party was not in power, Peter continued his important work. He was a member of a group that wanted better world governance. In 1971, he became a Queen's Counsel, which is a special title for experienced lawyers. From 1971 to 1974, he was the head of the UK section of Amnesty International. This is a global organization that works to protect human rights. He was one of the first people to help start the Amnesty International Committee in 1961.

Becoming Solicitor General

In February 1974, Peter Archer was elected as the MP for Warley West. When the Labour Party formed a new government, he was given a big job. He became the Solicitor General for England and Wales. This role means he was one of the government's main legal officers. He held this job until 1979. In 1977, he joined the Privy Council, a group of important advisors to the King or Queen.

Opposition Roles

When the Labour Party was not in government, Peter Archer took on "shadow" roles. These roles mean he was the main spokesperson for his party on certain topics.

• From 1979 to 1982, he spoke for legal affairs.
• From 1982 to 1983, he was the Shadow Trade Secretary.
• From 1983 to 1987, he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

He also became a Recorder, which is a part-time judge, in 1982.

Joining the House of Lords

Peter Archer decided not to run for MP again in 1992. After leaving the House of Commons, he was given a life peerage. This meant he became Baron Archer of Sandwell and could sit in the House of Lords for the rest of his life. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament.

Important Work in the Lords

In the House of Lords, Peter Archer continued to work on important issues.

• From 1992 to 1999, he was the Chairman of the Council on Tribunals. This group makes sure that tribunals (special courts) are fair.
• In 1998, he helped change a law to officially end the death penalty for treason in the UK.
• He also led a group that helped families of Holocaust victims get back money and property that had been taken from them.
• From 2007 to 2009, he led an investigation into how people received contaminated blood. This inquiry aimed to find out what went wrong and help those affected.

Other Activities

Peter Archer was very active in the Fabian Society, a group that discusses political ideas. He was their chairman from 1980 to 1981 and later their President from 1993 until he passed away. He also served as President of Uniting for Peace and the One World Trust, both organizations that work for peace and global cooperation.

Peter Archer was a Methodist and married Margaret Smith in 1954. They had one son.

Character and Legacy

Peter Archer was known as a strong supporter of human rights. He believed in the idea of a world government that could work together for peace. Many people respected him because he always tried to do what he believed was right. He was seen as an idealist who also worked hard to make his ideas happen in the real world. He used his long public life to make a positive difference.