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Roger Williams
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Shadow Secretary of State for Wales; Shadow Environment, Energy, Food and Rural Affair Minister
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Biography
Roger Williams entered Parliament at his first attempt in 2001, holding this seat for the Liberal Democrats. He has been reselected to stand here at the next general election.
After attending Christ College, Brecon, Roger Williams read Natural Science at Selwyn College, Cambridge, 1966-69, From 1969 to 2001, he was a livestock farmer; his other roles in public life included:
Chairman: of Brecon Beacon National Park [1990 - 1996]; of Brecon & Radnorshire National Farmers' Union [1985]: and of the Mid Wales Agri-Food partnership and board-member of the Wales Agri-Food Partnership [1999 - 2001]. Vice-chairman of the Training and Enterprise Council for Powys [1995]. Board-member: of the Training and Enterprise Council for mid-Wales [1997]; of the European Centre for Wales in Brussels [1993 - 2001]; and of the Development Board for Rural Wales [1991 - 1999]. Lay School Inspector for Wales and England [1995 - 2001].
He is a member of: the Farmers' Union of Wales, the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners and Business Association. His personal interests include: walking, reading, cricket and rugby
He was a Powys County Councillor [SDP 1981-88; Lib Dem 1988-2001]; in 1999 he contested Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire for the National Assembly for Wales.
As an MP his work on local issues includes campaigns for: better contingency planning to deal with bird flu; disclosure of membership of closed societies; red phone boxes; and rural broadband. He has campaigned against identity cards [NO2ID], aspartame and the illegal meat trade.
In Parliament he was appointed Spokesperson for Food and Rural Affairs [2002], for Wales [2003] and Whip [2004]; he is a member of the Select Committees for Welsh Affairs and Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and of the Standing Committee for the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill (a Joint Select Committee of Commons and Lords). Roger is an office-holder of the All Party Groups on: the British Council; Children in Wales; Conservation and Wildlife; Horses Mountain Rescue and Search Teams; National Parks; and Steel and Metal. In 2003 he participated in the parliamentary armed forces scheme and was seconded to the army for a year.
In 2007 Roger entered the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and continues to do so under Nick Clegg and continues to serve as DEFRA spokesperson alongside Martin Horwood and continues in his role as a whip.
Education:
Christ College, Brecon, 1958-65, Selwyn College, Cambridge, 1966-69,
Experience:
Farming
Council experience:
County councillor for 20 years
Parliamentary experience:
2007- Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Whip, 2006- Shadow DEFRA (Rural Affairs), spokesperson, 2002-05 Shadow Ministerial Spokesperson, DEFRA (Food & Rural Affairs); 2003- Shadow Ministerial Spokesperson, Wales;
Interests:
Education, Economic Development . Leisure - Walking, Reading, Cricket, Rugby
General election 2005 result
Seat: Brecon & Radnorshire
Current MP: Roger Williams
| Liberal Democrats | 45% | 17182 votes | |
| Labour | 15% | 5755 votes | |
| Conservatives | 35% | 13277 votes | |
| Others | 6% | 2127 votes |