Alun Michael | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2020 | |
First Secretary of Wales | |
In office 12 May 1999 – 9 February 2000 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Rhodri Morgan |
Leader of the Labour Party in Wales | |
In office 20 February 1999 – 9 February 2000 | |
Leader | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Ron Davies |
Succeeded by | Rhodri Morgan |
Secretary of State for Wales | |
In office 27 October 1998 – 28 July 1999 | |
Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Ron Davies |
Succeeded by | Paul Murphy |
South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner | |
In office 22 November 2012 – 8 May 2024 | |
Deputy | Sophie Howe Emma Wools |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Emma Wools |
Early life and education
editAlun Edward Michael was born on 22 August 1943 at a cottage hospital in Bryngwran in Anglesey, North Wales.[1][2] He was the son of Leslie and Elizabeth Michael, one of whom was a shopkeeper.[3][1] Leslie came from a family of Welsh speakers in Birkenhead, England, and had met Elizabeth while he was serving in the army. One of Michael's grandfathers was also a farmer in Anglesey.[2] The family lived on the Wirrall Peninsula in England before returning to Wales when Michael was five, settling in the seaside town of Rhos-on-Sea in Colwyn Bay, which is where he grew up.[2] Michael's first language was Welsh, having learnt to speak it before learning English. He lost the language during his teenage years but later relearned it after moving to Cardiff as an adult.[4][5] He lost his Welsh accent in adulthood.[6] He remembered his childhood fondly in his later life and would try to visit the associated areas of Colwyn Bay and Llandudno as often as he could, describing them in a 1998 interview with The North Wales Weekly News as his "home territory".[2]
From 1954, Michael was educated locally at Colwyn Bay Grammar School.[7][8][9] He finished his secondary education there in 1959 with seven O-level passes in English language, English literature, history, geography, mathematics, biology and in physics and chemistry.[10] In an article from The North Wales Weekly News in 1962, the school's head master R. E. Roberts is said to have described Michael as "an all-round success", both in school and in "out-of-school activities".[11] He remained in the school for the sixth form, during which period he became a Queen's Scout and is believed to have become the first person from North Wales to receive The Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award.[11][12] He left the school in 1962 with two A-level passes in pure mathematics and further mathematics.[3][13][9]
In the same year, Michael left Colwyn Bay for Staffordshire in England to study philosophy and English at Keele University.[4][2][3] At the university, he edited the student newspaper Icthus, stating in 1998 that he had done so "to try and get to the truth of things".[8] He studied alongside other future politicians, including Don Foster and Ian Taylor. He was also president of the Keele Christian Union, which formed a large Christian voting bloc in the university's student union elections, leaving him with personal influence over the outcome of the student union's presidential elections.[14] He graduated from the university in 1966 with a bachelor of arts (with honours) in philosophy and English.[15][16] In the same year, he married fellow Keele University graduate Mary Sophia Crawley, with whom he would have three daughters, Aelwen, Eirlys and Bethan, and two sons, Taliesin and Geraint.[12][4][3]
Journalism and youth work
editFollowing his studies at Keele University, Michael moved to Cardiff to train as a journalist at the South Wales Echo.
Early political career
editEarly political activism
editIn his youth, Michael was active in the Colwyn Bay branch of the Young Liberals.[17] In 1967 or 1968, he joined the Labour Party.[a] At some point, he also joined the Co-operative Party.[19] In 1998, he said he became a member of these two parties "because I believe partnership and co-operation are very important".[2] He further discussed his political beliefs in 2000, stating: "[t]o me, Welsh values are Labour values. Fairness, social justice, opportunity for all, democratic accountability, co-operation – these are Welsh values and they are the values I have stood for throughout my life [and] which guide me today".[20]
In the 1960s, Michael became a strong supporter of Welsh devolution, which would become a lifelong cause of his.[21][18][6] During this period, he was the editor of the devolutionist Labour newspaper Wales Radical Cymru. At the time, the Labour Party in Wales was divided between pro-devolutionist and anti-devolutionist factions; Michael later described these divisions as "a big divide [...] one that was very deep and damaging".[21][22] Michael's fervent support for devolution in the newspaper led to public criticism from Labour politician George Thomas, the secretary of state for Wales from 1968 to 1970, who felt he had been too supportive of it.[21] Michael later recalled in 2000:[20]
Of course we should be honest about the fault lines within the Labour Party and more widely within Wales. Many people feared devolution. I remember the passion with which people like Leo Abse and the young Neil Kinnock campaigned against devolution. I also remember George Thomas savaging me after we had dared, in Wales Radical Cymru, to promote Labour's devolution policies with enthusiasm!
In response to electoral victories made by Plaid Cymru in 1966 and the Scottish National Party in 1967, the Labour government of Harold Wilson set up a royal commission on the constitution of the United Kingdom in 1969 to investigate the possibility of devolution for Scotland and Wales.[23] Chaired by James Shaw, Baron Kilbrandon, the commission published its findings in 1973, recommending the establishment of devolved, directly elected assemblies for Wales and Scotland.[24] Michael campaigned for the creation of such an assembly for Wales into the 1970s.[6] As the Scottish nationalists continued to threaten Labour's dominance in Scotland later in the decade, the Labour government moved to propose the creation of the assemblies as set out by Kilbrandon in 1974, legislating for referendums in each country on the issue in 1979.[23] Michael was a member of the devolution campaign in the 1979 Welsh devolution referendum.[21][6] In interviews with BBC News and the New Statesman from 1998, Michael said he had planned to stand for election to the new assembly if the election returned a devolutionist victory. In the event, the referendum failed by a margin of four to one and no assembly was established.[25][6]
Member of Cardiff City Council
editIn the 1973 Cardiff City Council election, Michael stood as a Labour candidate for the electoral ward of Rumney and was elected as a Labour councillor for the ward with 2,520 votes. He was re-elected in the 1976 council election with 2,747 votes and the 1979 council election with 7,403 votes.[26][27] Michael stood for a fourth time in the 1983 council election, this time in the ward of Trowbridge, where he was elected with 1,103 votes.[26][27] He was re-elected at the 1987 council election with 1,614 votes but did not stand at the 1991 council election.[26]
In Cardiff City Council, Michael served as the chair of the finance committee, the planning committee and the economic development committee.[3] He pursued a policy of prioritising support for the unemployed, pursuing job creation and cutting domestic rates to avoid spending the council's reserves.[28] To this end, he announced a 28% decrease in rates in the months before the 1983 council election, which was criticised by the Conservative Party in the council for not going far enough.[29] Michael also served as the chief whip of the Labour Party in the council. Following the result of the 1987 council election, where none of the parties in the council won overall control, he negotiated a coalition between Labour, the Conservatives and the SDP–Liberal Alliance[30] with Alliance leader Mike German which lasted until 1991.[31] He served as the co-leader of the council with German for the duration of the coalition, with whom he would remain on good terms.[32][33][31]
Early parliamentary career
editElection to Parliament
editIn October 1985, former prime minister James Callaghan, the incumbent Labour member of Parliament (MP) for Cardiff South and Penarth, announced that he would not stand at the next general election in 1987.[34] Traditionally considered a safe seat for Labour, it was expected that multiple national politicians from the Labour Party would stand in the internal party selection contest to succeed Callaghan as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency in the election.[34][35] In the event, only one such figure, former British ambassador to the United Nations Ivor Richard, put his name forward for selection.[35] Michael also stood for selection in the seat, stating in an interview with the New Statesman from 1998 that he had pursued a parliamentary career "only [...] because I was so angry about how my powers as a local councillor were being destroyed by [Margaret Thatcher's] government".[6]
In the selection contest, Michael was one of several candidates with local links to the constituency, having worked in the constituency during this period. He soon emerged as the frontrunner, receiving the endorsements of four of the constituency's seven ward Labour parties and securing 18 individual nominations by 6 January 1986.[35] On 8 January, the constituency Labour Party shortlisted Michael and five other candidates, including Richard, for selection.[36] On 11 January, Michael was elected as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency in a ballot of local party members, defeating his opponents by a comfortable margin. Following his selection, Michael pointed to Labour's local gains in the constituency in the 1985 South Glamorgan County Council election as evidence that the party was united locally and capable of holding the seat in the general election.[37][38][39] His candidacy was sponsored by the Co-operative Party,[40] and he stood on the ballot as a joint-candidate for the Labour and Co-operative Party.[41][b]
During the campaign for the 1987 general election, Michael's opponents attempted to portray him as a left-wing candidate. Michael's position on defence – Michael supported nuclear disarmament – was particularly emphasised by his opponents to distance him from the more moderate Callaghan, who opposed disarmament and continued to remain popular with voters in the constituency.[42][43][44] Michael encouraged constituents who opposed the agenda of incumbent Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher to vote tactically for him to prevent the election of his Conservative opponent Gareth Neale, while also running on the local Labour Party's support of the proposed Cardiff Bay Barrage to counter Neale's own support for the project.[43]
At the election held on 11 June 1987, Michael retained the seat for Labour with 20,956 votes or 46.7% of the vote, an increased majority of 10.2% or 4,574 votes over Neale who had secured 16,382 votes or 36.5% of the vote, and succeeded Callaghan as the MP for Cardiff South and Penarth.[45][46][47] He was re-elected at the 1992 general election with an increased majority of 21.9% or 10,425 votes, the 1997 general election with an increased majority of 32.7% or 13,861 votes, the 2001 general election with an increased majority of 34.4% or 12,287 votes, the 2005 general election with a decreased majority of 25.1% or 9,237 votes and the 2010 general election with a decreased majority of 10.6% or 4,709 votes.[48]
Early activity in Parliament
editMichael was sworn in to Parliament on 18 June 1987.[49] He made his maiden speech on 2 July 1987, in which he spoke about the issues of poverty and homelessness in South Wales and called on the government to co-operate with local authorities and grant them additional freedoms and funding to enable them to tackle these issues.[50][51] In his early career in Parliament, Michael was a member of a group of South Wales Labour MPs known as the M4 group, which also included Alan Williams, Paul Flynn, Paul Murphy, Win Griffiths and Rhodri Morgan, with whom he shared an office in Transport House, Cardiff.[52][53][54][55] From 1988, Michael supported the creation of a devolved parliament for Wales, having signed an early day motion tabled by former Welsh Liberal Party leader Geraint Howells in June of that year which called for the establishment of such an institution alongside 12 other Labour MPs from Wales, in contradiction to Labour Party policy.[56][57][21] He also campaigned in support of the Cardiff Bay Barrage project, which put his relationship with Morgan under some strain; Morgan was a prominent opponent of the project.[58][59][60] Ideologically, he initially aligned himself with the soft left faction of the Labour Party loyal to party leader Neil Kinnock, becoming a member of the Tribune Group of Labour MPs.[61][40]
During his early parliamentary career, Michael's constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth was believed to house the majority of Cardiff's some 2,000 Somali population.[62] Following the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1988, Michael
Shadow Minister for Welsh Affairs
editOn 10 November 1988, Kinnock appointed Michael to his opposition frontbench as a shadow minister for Welsh affairs where he deputised for Barry Jones, the shadow secretary of state for Wales, with responsibility for health, economic policy and the Welsh language.[63][52][64] In this position, he worked alongside Paul Murphy, the shadow minister for Welsh affairs with responsibility for education, the environment and local government.[65][52] Michael also served as the opposition chief whip for the Labour Party in Wales in the Parliamentary Labour Party.[66]
In the frontbench team of Neil Kinnock, Michael was considered the member most supportive of Welsh devolution, and he sought to build support for devolution in the Labour Party during this period by pursuing party unity on the issue; he believed that Welsh devolution could only be implemented by Labour if it was united, with the toleration of those in the party who held opposing views on the issue and the pacification of concerns within the party that there was a vocal minority of devolutionists in the party who were sympathetic to Plaid Cymru.[21] Kinnock's willingness to change his stance on devolution took Michael by surprise, with Kinnock having previously led Labour's anti-devolutionist movement in the 1970s but now coming to support the idea as Labour leader.[21] He later recalled in 2009:[67]
[H]aving been involved in the campaign for Welsh devolution in the run-up to [the 1979 devolution referendum], I did not expect to be part of Neil Kinnock's team bringing it back on the agenda only 11 years later.
Michael continued to serve as a shadow minister for Welsh affairs under Kinnock into the 1992 general election, where Labour stood on a platform of introducing a devolved assembly, but not a parliament, for Wales.[6][68][69] Following Kinnock's resignation as Labour leader after its defeat at the election, Michael helped manage John Smith's successful campaign to succeed him in the 1992 Labour Party leadership election.[70] He nominated and voted for Smith in the election, as well as Margaret Beckett in the 1992 Labour Party deputy leadership election, Smith's preferred candidate for the deputy leadership.[40][71] Michael stood in the 1992 shadow cabinet election, the first time he had stood for a position in the shadow cabinet, alongside fellow Welsh Labour MPs Ron Davies and Ann Clwyd. This led to concerns that he was standing to challenge Barry Jones for the position of shadow secretary of state for Wales, though he denied this. Michael presented himself as belonging to the political "mainstream" of the Labour Party and campaigned on preparing the party for the next general election in 1997.[70] In the event, both Jones and Michael failed to win a seat in the shadow cabinet, with Michael securing only 39 votes from Labour MPs, which the Daily Post described as a poor performance.[72]
Shadow Minister for Home Affairs
editFollowing Smith's election as Labour leader in July 1994, he appointed Michael to his opposition frontbench as a shadow minister for home affairs on 30 July, where he deputised for the shadow home secretary, Tony Blair, with responsibility for policing, the voluntary sector and youth justice.[73][74][75] During this period, Michael established himself as a key figure of Labour's emerging Blairite faction, a faction of Blair loyalists.[76] He became a close adviser of Blair[77] and coined the slogan "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime",[78][8] which Blair would use to portray Labour's policies on law and order in opposition and later in government.[79][80] Michael further developed the "touch on crime, tough on the causes of crime" approach while in opposition, publishing his ideas on what such an approach would entail in a pamphlet for the Fabian Society in March 1997. According to Michael, a "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime" approach would involve increased co-operation between the government and local stakeholders, as well as a focus on community regeneration and a preventative, zero tolerance policy on crime.[81][82] On zero tolerance, he wrote:[82]
One interpretation of 'zero tolerance' is fast police action to stop crime in its tracks and to protect the public. That interpretation has its place. But another interpretation is to 'nip things in the bud' when they start to go wrong, to recognise the patterns of behaviour which, if left to grow, will go from bad to worse. If graffiti start to creep along a wall, they will soon take it over, while one broken window left unrepaired will start to feed a sense of decay as others follow.
Following John Smith's death in 1994, Michael became one of the leading organisers of Blair's 1994 Labour leadership campaign.[83] After Blair was elected leader in July 1994, he appointed Michael to his shadow cabinet to serve as his successor as shadow home secretary for an interim period until the 1994 shadow cabinet election later in October.[84]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ According to a 1999 profile from BBC News, Michael joined the Labour Party in 1968.[18] However, another profile from 1998 in the South Wales Echo states that he joined the party in 1967.[8]
- ^ In the United Kingdom, members of the affiliated Labour and Co-operative parties may stand for both parties as a Labour and Co-operative Party candidate on electoral ballots. A member of both parties, Michael stood as a Labour and Co-operative Party candidate in elections to the House of Commons, the National Assembly for Wales and the office of South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.
Citations
edit- ^ a b "Alun Michael: from safety to controversy". BBC News. 8 February 2000. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Pritchard, James (26 November 1998). "'I think we have to let the future take care of itself – I will rise to the chance I have been given, and do what I can'". The North Wales Weekly News. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Passmore, Valerie (2005). Dod's Parliamentary Companion Guide to the General Election, 2005. Dod's Parliamentary Communications. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-905702-57-5. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Cavill, Nancy (17 September 1999). "Focus: Alun Michael". Building.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Michael's hurt at 'poodle' jibes". BBC News. 5 September 2000. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Richards, Steve (12 November 1998). "The NS interview: Alun Michael". New Statesman. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Pritchard, James (25 February 1999). Michael wins Labour's vote. The North Wales Weekly News. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d Taylor, Penny (29 April 1998). "High-profile minister who aims to reshape our lives". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b Pritchard, James (29 October 1998). "'He's our boy!'". The North Wales Weekly News. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "G.C.E results at "O" level". The North Wales Weekly News. 27 August 1959. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Grammar school speech day". The North Wales Weekly News. 22 February 1962. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Married in London". The North Wales Weekly News. 11 August 1966. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "G.C.E. advanced level results". The North Wales Weekly News. 16 August 1962. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Beckett, Francis (15 August 1996). "On Course 1996: Student politics - House bound / Yesterday's student activists make today's MPs. Francis Beckett reports on how to realise your political aspirations". The Guardian.
- ^ "South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner awarded Honorary Fellowship at UWTSD Graduation ceremony". University of Wales. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Degrees for former grammar school pupils". The North Wales Weekly News. 14 July 1966. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Colywn Bay: Young Liberals". The North Wales Weekly News. 4 October 1962. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b "CV: Alun Michael". BBC News. 6 April 1999. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Laybourn, Keith; Shepherd, John (30 April 2017). Labour and working-class lives: Essays to celebrate the life and work of Chris Wrigley. Manchester University Press. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-5261-0011-5. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b Michael, Alun (2000). "The Dragon on Our Doorstep: New Politics for a New Millennium in Wales". Interstate – Journal of International Affairs. 1999/2000 (1). Aberystwyth University. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Andrews, Leighton (1999). Wales Says Yes: The Inside Story of the Yes for Wales Referendum Campaign. Seren. pp. 30, 54, 56–57. ISBN 978-1-85411-253-8. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Deacon, Russell (September 2002). The Governance of Wales: The Welsh Office and the Policy Process 1964-1999. Welsh Academic Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-86057-039-1. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ a b Osmond, John (2011-09-14). Accelerating History - the 1979, 1997 and 2011 Referendums in Wales. Institute of Welsh Affairs. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-904773-59-7. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Wannop, Urlan A. (2014-02-04). The Regional Imperative: Regional Planning and Governance in Britain, Europe and the United States. Routledge. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-136-03744-3. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Teasdale, Sarah (17 February 1999). "Alun Michael: Fighting to be first". BBC News. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Cardiff Welsh District Council Election Results 1973-1991" (PDF). The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ a b The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2010. Times Newspapers Limited. 2010. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-00-735158-9. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Huge cut in rates". South Wales Echo. 15 February 1983. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Michael (11 March 1983). "Rates cut is not enough – Tories". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Povey, Tomos (10 July 2019). "Lord Mike German and wife Veronica look back on their political achievements". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Leader pledges to work with others". The North Wales Weekly News. 18 February 1999. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Nelson, Dean; Smith, Andy; Fraser, Douglas (9 May 1999). "Labour mauled by the beast of nationalism". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Michael keeps his options open". BBC News. 9 May 1999. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ a b Hoyland, Paul (19 October 1985). "Father of the House Callaghan to call it a day after 40 parliamentary years". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Thomas, Michael (6 January 1986). "All-local fight for Callaghan seat". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Michael (8 January 1986). "Six on short-list for Callaghan seat". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Michael (13 January 1986). "Labour choose city councillor". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ "Alun to get Jim's job". Daily Post. 13 January 1986. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ "Callaghan's successor". The Sunday Telegraph. 12 January 1986. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Waller, Robert (1996). The Almanac of British Politics. Croom Helm. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-415-11804-0. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "1987 General Election: Cardiff South and Penarth". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Jim's Trident blast gets a Tory cheer". South Wales Echo. 10 March 1987. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ a b Underwood, Peter (26 May 1987). "A tight fit (and a squeeze for the Alliance) in footsteps of Sir James". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ "Successor to ex-PM leaps into lead". South Wales Echo. 10 June 1987. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael (23 May 2019). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1983–1997. Routledge. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-429-75062-5. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Underwood, Peter (12 June 1987). "Well, we weren't far off the mark". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Three ousted". South Wales Echo. 12 June 1987. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Uberoi, Elise; Watson, Christopher; Loft, Philip (17 April 2020). "Research briefing: General election results from 1918 to 2019". UK Parliament. House of Commons Library. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Members Sworn". Hansard. 118. UK Parliament. 18 June 1987. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "City's new MP in call over the homeless". South Wales Echo. 3 July 1987. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Queen's Speech Debate, 2 July 1987". Hansard. 2 July 1987. Retrieved 5 August 2024 – via TheyWorkForYou.
- ^ a b c Murphy, Paul (1 September 2019). Paul Murphy: Peacemaker. University of Wales Press. pp. 65, 72. ISBN 978-1-78683-473-7. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Woodward, Will (15 February 1999). "Divisive battle revives old emnity". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Michael (16 April 1986). "S. Wales roads in neglect danger". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "S. Wales MPs set for action". The Guardian. 14 November 1988. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Alun Michael: The new Welsh Secretary". BBC News. 27 October 1998. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Doult, Bill (29 June 1998). "New bid for a Welsh Assembly". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Broughton, Tom (20 May 2005). "Michael: I'll be your voice in Whitehall". Building News. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Alun Michael stands down as Cardiff South and Penarth MP today". Wales Online. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Rhodri Morgan, former First Minister of Wales – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Shadow YAK required". South Wales Echo. 9 July 1987. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "MP urges action over Somalia".
- ^ Rose, David (11 November 1988). "Kinnock beefs up Welsh team". Daily Post. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Millward, David (11 November 1988). "Kinnock gives Blunkett job on Front Bench". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "'We won't be hypnotised'". South Wales Evening Post. 12 November 1988. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "MP fears poll tax snoopers". The Abergele Visitor. 13 October 1988. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Justice Committee: Evidence". Hansard. 2008–2009: 71. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Byrne, Tony (2000). Local Government in Britain: Everyone's Guide to how it All Works. Penguin Books. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-14-026739-6. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Gay, Oonagh (19 May 1997). Wales and Devolution (PDF). House of Commons Research Papers. Vol. 97. House of Commons Library. p. 20. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ a b "I won't challenge, says city MP". South Wales Echo. 23 June 1992. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Wintour, Patrick (30 April 1992). "Nominations list shows old factions crumbling amid new concerns". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "A 'sad day for Welsh politics'". Daily Post. 24 June 1992. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Goodwin, Stephen (31 July 1992). "Labour's new MPs are denied promotion". The Independent. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Shrimsley, Robert (21 October 1994). "New talent fails to impress as old faces keep top roles". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Percival, Jenny (26 June 1997). "Alun aims to honour 'get tough' pledge". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ McSmith, Andy (23 October 1994). "How Jack's skin was saved by the old guard". The Observer. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "The real reasons Blair dumped Rhodri". Wales on Sunday. 11 May 1997. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Pyke, Chris (27 February 2015). "Greatest Cardiffians: Politicians". Wales Online. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Seddon, Toby; Williams, Lisa; Ralphs, Robert (17 May 2012). Tough Choices: Risk, Security and the Criminalization of Drug Policy. OUP Oxford. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-19-969723-6. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Roberts, Julian V. (2003). Penal Populism and Public Opinion: Lessons from Five Countries. Oxford University Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-19-513623-4. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Riddell, Mary (21 March 1997). "Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime". New Statesman. Vol. 126, no. 4, 316. p. 15.
- ^ a b Bell, Emma (2008). "New Guests in the Corridors of Power : the decline of the liberal élite and the forging of a new penal consensus". Les Coulisses du pouvoir (The Corridors of Power): 145–166. doi:10.4000/osb.452. ISBN 2-9526-3755-5. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via OpenEdition Journals.
- ^ Rose, David (10 June 1994). "Blair even safer bet for top job as rival quits race". Daily Post. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ Wintour, Patrick (22 July 1994). "New team 'will not form a kitchen cabinet'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2024.