Welsh Political Icons

Icons sub-editor Jennifer Ramsay offers a detailed appreciation of her friend and boss Paul Davies, whose time as Welsh Conservative leader demonstrated his skills as a politician of both consensus and boldness.

A year ago, Welsh Political Icons began. One of our earliest and most regular contributors, Jean Sylvan Evans, today tells the remarkable story of Rosalind Rusbridge, the conscientious objector who fell victim to wartime oppression by Swansea Council.

D.A. Thomas, or Lord Rhondda as he became, was the most prominent Welsh capitalist of the turn of the Twentieth Century. He was also a prominent Liberal politician who rose to be a Cabinet minister under Lloyd George's wartime coalition as well as a notable peer. Emissary to America during the First World War, survivor of the sinking of RMS Lusitania, and father of one of the most remarkable women in Welsh politics.... Ewan Lawry summarises a life so rich it deserves a movie

Barry-born Abdulrahim Abby Farah is one of Wales' major internationalists of the Twentieth Century. It was Farah who led the United Nations deputation to the country in early 1990 to confirm that the regime was being dismantled in accordance with the agreements made, having previously been Chair of the UN Special Committee on Apartheid during the 1960s, and Chair of the 1972 UN Security Council meeting in Addis Ababa, on matters relating to Africa – the first time in twenty years that the UN met outside of its New York headquarters. Ian Johnson tells his remarkable story.

In a clever and articulate account of Alun Michael's contribution to politics in Wales and Westminster, Liz Silversmith tells the tale of not just a former First Secretary of the National Assembly and former Secretary of State for Wales, but a man who is continuing to hold public office with energy and drive a third of a century after first becoming an MP.

"A normal person. A woman. A younger woman, with a valleys accent like me. Who spoke with passion about social justice, about wanting to change our communities. To get stuck in, not sit around talking. This was my kind of 'politician'." Bethan Sayed pays a warm tribute to her friend and mentor, Leanne Wood.

In the words of Wyn Roberts from his diary in 1991 "There is a new generation coming up in the Tory Party…" Few Conservative politicians exemplify that new generation more than Alun Cairns. Assembly Member, MP, Welsh Secretary and mainstay of the party for a quarter of a century, Matthew Day tells his story.

The founder and direction setter of the South African Communist Party was the Welshman David Ivon Jones - his remarkable life and his considerable contribution to international communism and anti racism is reviewed by Rhys Ab Owen MS, who has become Icons' de facto international correspondent.

Few modern Welsh politicians can match the enthusiasm and national self belief of Adam Price, the leader of Plaid Cymru. Lewis Owen tells his story with an appropriate level of oomph.

Gwilym Lloyd George was the son of a Prime Minister who rose to become a Home Secretary, representing several constituencies including Pembrokeshire, and undertaking a political journey through all shades of the Liberal Party before becoming a Conservative. Ewan Lawry tells his story.

Kicking off an occasional series of Icons on members not re-elected in May, Crispin John looks at the strengths and contributions of Mark Reckless, perhaps the most mercurial member of the last Senedd

Completing a loose interlinked trilogy with previous audiobiographies of Dr. Thomas Jones and Lord Davies of Llandinam, this account of the life of Sir Ben Bowen Thomas builds on those accounts and the themes of educationalism and internationalism. Prof John Morgan's analysis is based on a recent lecture to the Cymmrodorion. 

"When we have forgotten all of the others, we shall still remember him" is the conclusion of Dr Daryl Leeworthy's masterly analysis of Aneurin Bevan, whom he considers the Twentieth Century's true Welsh Political Icon.

Huw Edwards reviews the life of former Home Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary Merlyn Rees, one of the giants of the Labour movement in the 1970s and beyond

In the pub quiz question on naming UK party leaders from Welsh constituencies, the one you're probably likely to forget is Clement Davies. But this MP for Montgomeryshire and Liberal Party leader deserves remembering, argues Ewan Lawry

In a veritable analytical tour de force, Theo Davies-Lewis applies a rigour, an intelligence and a sense of mischief of which his subject, David Melding, would be proud. Compulsory listening this weekend.

As Suzy Davies leaves the Senedd, Charlotte Harries looks back on her ten years of achievement in scrutiny, legislation and acting as a role model for Conservative women in politics.

Carwyn Jones has been one of the most significant politicians of the devolution age and the first First Minister to come of age politically during that period. Rhodri ab Owen offers an overview of Welsh Labour's most successful leader during devolution.

Friends for nearly fifty years, John Pockett pays tribute to one of the greats of Welsh politics, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, arguably the most interesting and enduring figure in public life in Wales.

In the second in a series on MSs standing down, the Senedd's youngest member, Jack Sargeant, assesses the contribution of a previous youngest member, his friend Bethan Sayed, arguing she is as much an effective campaigner as a savvy politician

Kicking off a series of profiles of Senedd Members standing down, Jenny Ramsay looks at the political career of Angela Burns, reflecting on what has motivated her and made her stand out during her time in politics.

Sam Tilley is the brave audiobiographer who presents the case for John Redwood, the Thatcherite Welsh Secretary from 1993 to 1995. His balanced critique includes of course a very famous moment of song...

George Thomas has to some become one of the great demons of Welsh politics, but Dr Daryl Leeworthy elegantly attempts to repair the former Welsh Secretary's image. Part biography, part psychoanalysis, part social commentary, this provocative critique is a definite talking point.

Caerphilly's MP Wayne David follows up his audiobiography of Morgan Jones with an account of the life of Jones' successor, Ness Edwards, the giant of the Welsh Labour movement. Trade unionist, humanitarian, conscientious objector, Privy Councillor, Edwards' story needs to be heard.

The relatively obscure and relatively quiet Geraint Morgan served as Denbighshire's MP for almost a quarter of a century. His career never shone but did shine a light on the craft of political survival. "Morgan was also a Welshman to his core, helping to further bust the myth... that you can’t be both Welsh and a Conservative," argues the historian Sam Blaxland in this intelligent appraisal of a very different sort of politician.

Ieuan Wyn Jones was the first Plaid Cymru leader to lead his party into Government. Well respected across the political parties and he was generally thought to have been an effective Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy. Yet, if we were to ask a random selection of Plaid Cymru supporters who their greatest leader was or is, Ieuan might well be overlooked. Dafydd Trystan redresses the balance.

Ewan Lawry provides an audiobiography of William Ormsby-Gore, 4th Baron Harlech, the former MP for Denbighshire and Cabinet minister in the 1930s. An efficient administrator and committed Zionist, he shaped domestic and foreign policy for thirty years.

Thomas Edward Ellis was a Welsh Liberal politician who led Cymru Fydd, a movement aimed at gaining Home Rule for Wales. His contribution to building and protecting Welsh identity and culture was a defining moment in nineteenth century politics, his potential cut short by his early death at the age of 40 in 1899. Mike Cridland tells his crucial story.

Across Wales and beyond today, the family, friends and comrades will pause and remember the late Hywel Francis. In a special edition of Icons, the former council leader and MEP Derek Vaughan offers his own tribute to a great activist, educator and politician.

Nick Ramsay MS follows up his audio biographies of Mohammad Asghar and Peter Thorneycroft with an affectionate and personal tribute to Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, the influential, skilled and dedicated leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd for over a decade 

Thomas Jones, CH was a British civil servant and educationalist, once described variously as "one of the six most important men in Europe", and also as "the King of Wales" and "keeper of a thousand secrets". Ewan Lawry tells the forgotten story of the Rhymney born man who never forgot his roots or his country.

She's had an OBE, she's had plaudits across the party spectrum on announcing her retirement, and now the inimitable Ann Jones MS OBE gets the Welsh Political Icons treatment as Dave Collins profiles his friend and former work colleague 

Six months in, series editor Daran Hill looks back over the first 50 audiobiographies and asks 'What is a Welsh Political Icon?' and offers a brief analysis of Reginald Clarry, whose election was iconic even if his political contribution wasn't

We've reached 50 Icons and this one is a corker as Crispin John tackles one of the most controversial and forthright figures in recent Welsh politics, the 'marmite' man of the 1990s Rod Richards. 

Our international audiobiographer Rhys ab Owen tells the story of Charles Evans Hughes, the man of immediate Welsh ancestry who almost became President of the USA a little over a century ago and became Chief Justice of the USA 

As we move toward the inauguration of the next President of the United States, Mike Cridland tells the story of the Welshman who signed the Declaration of Independence, Francis Lewis.

Who was the John Batchelor whose statue is such a prominent Cardiff landmark? Jean Sylvan Evans tells his story in her own inimitable and joyous style.

Welcome to 2021: the year we hope to get more Plaid Cymru politicians profiled for Icons. And where better to start than with one of the original Assembly Members, the unassuming and genuine Owen John Thomas, who was as much a cultural campaigner as a politician. Lewis Owen tells his story.

On the last day of the UK's membership of the EU, Dr Daryl Leeworthy looks back at a Welshman who did more than virtually anyone else to get us in. In the final Icons of 2020, we remember Roy Jenkins: the only British President of the European Commission, and one of the giants of politics for forty years.

The Season of Peace and Goodwill seems a good point to remember one of the greatest peace makers and internationalists in Wales' history. This Christmas, take twenty minutes to learn about one of the greatest sons of mid Wales, David Davies of Llandinam, as recalled by Ewan Lawry.

In his third contribution to the series, Theo Davies-Lewis provides a tour de force on behalf of Denzil Davies, the former Labour MP for his hometown of Llanelli, who served in the front line of politics for thirty five years and was one of the most talented politicians of his generation.

"Of all the leaders of the Labour Party to have never won a General Election, none has perhaps quite been so unfairly maligned as Michael Foot." So states Sam Tilley in a compelling audio biography that aims to address the balance. A splendid job by Icons' youngest ever contributor, young journalist and history graduate - just the type of talent Foot once himself displayed.

Series editor Daran Hill remembers Reginald McKenna, the North Monmouthshire Liberal MP who ended up chairing one of the biggest banks in the world for twenty years and in Cabinet served as President of the Board of Education, First Lord of the Admiralty, Home Secretary, and Chancellor of the Exchequer - a seniority very few other politicians from Welsh constituencies have managed.

Thirty years ago this month, Michael Heseltine made history when he played a crucial role in replacing Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister. Here is the story of the Welsh man who became a regicide, who became Deputy Prime Minister, who became one of the biggest opponents of Brexit, as told in thorough and appreciative style by Richard Martin.

People of Welsh ancestry and who regard themselves as ethnically and spiritually Welsh have sometimes made significant impacts on the world stage.  Rhys ab Owen brings Joseph E. Davies to life - the Welsh speaking former US ambassador to Moscow, and Ambassador from the USA to the Potsdam Conference. His Welshness as the son of Rahel o Fon was intrinsic to his politics, as Rhys explains.

Welsh Political Icons recordings often have more poignancy when the author knows the subject, and Vikki Howells MS provides a memorable and enthusiastic appraisal of Ann Clwyd, the 'Rebel With a Cause' who broke records, broke the whip and broke the mould for Welsh Labour MPs

Continuing the short series on Cynon Valley Icons, Dr Daryl Leeworthy presents a fascinating account of George Hall, MP for Aberdare who went from pit boy to peer of the realm and First Lord of the Admiralty under Attlee. It's a remarkable tale that explains much about the formation of working class politics in the valleys between the wars.

On this Armistice Day, take a moment to learn about and think about Lt Col Lord Ninian-Crichton-Stuart, the only Welsh MP to die in service during the First World War. Former Assembly Member Jonathan Morgan reminds us of the debt we owe to Lord Ninian and the millions of others who perished to defend our freedom.

Continuing the short series on Cynon Valley icons, one strong valleys woman profiles another as broadcaster and journalist Carolyn Hitt reminds us of the huge contribution of the feminist, socialist and radical Elizabeth Andrews

In the first of a short series about political icons of the Cynon Valley, Dr Dafydd Trystan remembers his great grand father, Aneurin Davies, one of the giants of the co-operative movement.

Nick Ramsay MS reviews the life of Welsh Conservative legend Peter Thorneycroft, another representative of Monmouthshire, and a man who made it to Cabinet three times: as Chancellor of the Exchequer, as the first ever Secretary of State for Defence, and as Margaret Thatcher's first Conservative Party Chairman.