Roy Mason facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Mason of Barnsley
PC DL
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Mason in 1978
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| Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | |
| In office 14 July 1979 – 24 November 1981 |
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| Leader | James Callaghan Michael Foot |
| Preceded by | John Silkin |
| Succeeded by | Norman Buchan |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | |
| In office 4 May 1979 – 14 July 1979 |
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| Leader | James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | Humphrey Atkins |
| Succeeded by | Brynmor John |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | |
| In office 10 September 1976 – 4 May 1979 |
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| Prime Minister | James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | Merlyn Rees |
| Succeeded by | Humphrey Atkins |
| Secretary of State for Defence | |
| In office 4 March 1974 – 10 September 1976 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | Ian Gilmour |
| Succeeded by | Fred Mulley |
| President of the Board of Trade | |
| In office 6 October 1969 – 19 June 1970 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Anthony Crosland |
| Succeeded by | Michael Noble |
| Minister of Power | |
| In office 1 July 1968 – 6 October 1969 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Ray Gunter |
| Succeeded by | Office Abolished |
| Postmaster General | |
| In office 6 April 1968 – 1 July 1968 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Edward Short |
| Succeeded by | John Stonehouse |
| Minister of Defence for Equipment | |
| In office 7 January 1967 – 6 April 1968 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Office Created |
| Succeeded by | John Morris |
| Minister of State for Trade | |
| In office 20 October 1964 – 7 January 1967 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Mallalieu |
| Member of Parliament for Barnsley Central Barnsley (1953–1983) |
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| In office 31 March 1953 – 18 May 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Sidney Schofield |
| Succeeded by | Eric Illsley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 April 1924 Royston, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 19 April 2015 (aged 91) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics |
Roy Mason, Baron Mason of Barnsley (born April 18, 1924 – died April 19, 2015) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. He held big jobs in the government, like being in charge of the country's defense and later Northern Ireland in the 1970s.
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Early Life and Career
Roy Mason was born in Royston, England, on April 18, 1924. He grew up in Carlton, a town near Barnsley. When he was just 14 years old, he started working in the coal mines.
He became a leader in the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in his early twenties. This union helped miners with their rights and working conditions. At age 26, he got a special scholarship from the Trades Union Congress (TUC). This allowed him to study at the famous London School of Economics.
Mason continued to work in the coal industry until 1953. That year, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Barnsley area. An MP is a person elected to represent their local area in the country's parliament.
Important Government Roles
Roy Mason held many important positions in the British government. From 1960 to 1964, he was a spokesperson for the Labour Party on topics like home affairs, defense, and the post office.
Later, he became a Minister of State at the Board of Trade (1964–1967). He was also the Minister of Defence for Equipment (1967–1968). This role meant he was in charge of military equipment. He then served as Minister of Power (1968–1969). After that, he became the President of the Board of Trade (1969–1970).
His most well-known roles were in the 1970s. He was the Secretary of State for Defence from 1974 to 1976. This meant he was the main person in charge of the country's armed forces. Then, he became the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1976 to 1979.
Working in Northern Ireland
When Roy Mason became the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, it was a difficult time. There was a lot of conflict. His appointment showed that the British government wanted to take a stronger approach.
He believed that Northern Ireland needed to be governed fairly and firmly. He focused on ensuring justice for everyone and treating security issues seriously. During his time, there was a noticeable reduction in violence. For example, the number of deaths in Northern Ireland went down significantly from 1976 to 1979.
Mason also allowed special military units, like the SAS, to operate more widely. This was part of his plan to improve security. In 1977, he successfully prevented a major strike by loyalist workers. He also tried to find political solutions by talking with local political parties.
His policies in Northern Ireland were sometimes unpopular with some Irish nationalist politicians. This played a part in a close vote in parliament in 1979. The Labour government lost this vote by just one vote, which led to a new election.
After the Labour Party lost the election in 1979, Mason continued to be a Member of Parliament. He received police protection for many years, even after leaving his government roles.
Later Life and Legacy
Roy Mason retired from the House of Commons in 1987. After this, he was given a special honor. On October 20, 1987, he became a life peer. This meant he could sit in the House of Lords and was known as Baron Mason of Barnsley.
He lived in the same house with his wife, Marjorie, for most of his life. Roy Mason passed away on April 19, 2015, one day after his 91st birthday. He is remembered for his long career in politics and his efforts to bring stability to Northern Ireland.
