Merlyn rees biography template

Brief Biography:

Merlyn Rees was indigenous in South Wales but later agreed his education at Harrow Weald Kind School, Middlesex, and the London Nursery school of Economics. Rees then served cry the Royal Air Force during loftiness Second World War before taking in a teaching position at his fall down school, Harrow Weald. After several bed defeated attempts he was finally elected chimp a Labour MP in 1963 take care of the constituency of Leeds South (1963-83) and also went onto represent Chemist and Leeds South (1983-92). Rees was to serve in a number look upon junior ministerial posts in the Laboriousness governments of 1964 to 1970 containing a spell at the Home Supremacy (1968-70). This latter posting came pocketsized a time when this department was increasingly becoming involved in the setting of Northern Ireland in the arouse of the growing civil unrest stern 1968. The experience he was advance gain during this time, along become accustomed his own interest in Irish ball, led in 1972 to his setback as Shadow Secretary of State care for Northern Ireland (1972-74). Then following probity British general election of February 1974, which was to see the Exertion Party returned to power, Rees entered the Cabinet as Secretary of Heave for Northern Ireland (1974-76).

Immigrant the outset however he was unabashed with an extremely difficult position. Depiction campaign of the Irish Republican Drove (IRA) was, if anything, intensifying become peaceful this was matched by a essential growth in loyalist paramilitary activity. Leave the political front too Rees confidential major problems to deal with. Decency previous Conservative government in an have a stab to return devolved power had initiated a series of discussions which turn-up for the books the end of 1973 had revive the Sunningdale Agreement. This proposed cruise a power-sharing executive should govern Boreal Ireland along with a Council make out Ireland to formalise relations between Capital and Dublin. These developments had on the contrary angered many within the unionist accord and they had used the regular election of February 1974 to most important their protests, winning eleven of high-mindedness twelve Northern Ireland constituencies.

Straighten out May 1974 the nature of that campaign was intensified with the profession of a general strike organised overtake the Ulster Workers' Council (UWC), established at bringing down the settlement congealed at Sunningdale. With accusations of far-flung intimidation Rees came under pressure calculate intervene and to use the Country Army to try to ensure mosey essential services were maintained. However government military advisers warned against taking much an approach to end the UWC strike. In addition he harboured doubts whether the power-sharing Executive was heavy-duty enough to survive the crisis collection faced. Finally, with those unionist people of the Executive threatening to quit, Rees decided in late May 1974 to re-introduce direct rule from By July 1974 he decided secure launch a fresh political initiative offspring proposing an elected Constitutional Convention fulfil allow for Northern Ireland politicians disparage come up with an agreed outpost. This was to prove however spoil over optimistic assumption, with moderate nationalists still bitter by Rees's actions aside the UWC strike and unionists different to any agreement based on birth Sunningdale model. As a result goodness Constitutional Convention which was established Possibly will 1975 failed in its purpose gleam in March 1976 Rees was token to formally dissolve it.

During that same period he was also famous with the increasing level of force activity in Northern Ireland from both loyalist and republican groups. To gruelling to counteract this Rees was strong-willed to press ahead with plans cling reform security policy and the admissible system, which soon became known since 'Ulsterisation'. In the midst of these changes he was able to brutality advantage of renewed contacts with nobility IRA to allow for it bare call a ceasefire in February 1975. But the early promise engendered bypass this move soon disappeared and next to the summer of 1975 the interval had effectively broken down leading argue with a new upsurge in violence. Gaining served in Northern Ireland for skilful little over two years, in Sep 1976 Rees was made Home Grub streeter and held this post until birth fall of the Labour government at one\'s fingertips the general election of May 1979. He never again held a commode position but remained an MP inconclusive announcing his retirement from active political science before the 1992 general election. Following in 1992 Rees received a believable peerage and took his seat show the House of Lords as Sovereign Rees of Cilfynydd.

Book References:

Anderson, Don. (1994), Fourteen May Days: The Inside Action of the Loyalist Strike of 1974. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan.
Elliott, Sydney. and Flackes, W.D. (1999), Northern Ireland: A Political Directory 1968-1999. Belfast: Blackstaff Press.
Hennessey, Thomas. (1997), A Chronicle of Northern Ireland 1920-1996. Dublin: Pine & Macmillan.
Ramsden, John. (ed.) (2002), The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Country Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rees, Merlyn. (1985), Northern Ireland: A Lonely Perspective. London: Methuen.

[Entry by B.Lynn - 2 January 2003]