Roger Williams
MP for Brecon and Radnorshire
Roger Williams entered Parliament at his first attempt in 2001, holding this seat for the Liberal Democrats. He was subsequently relected in 2005 and 2010.
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; a rural fuel derogation; 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 House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee. He is also the Liberal Democrat representative to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Roger is an office-holder of the All Party Groups on: Agriculture and Food for Development; Conservation and Wildlife; Fibromyalgia; Fire Safety and Rescue; Game and Wildlife Conservation; Gardening and Horticulture; Gurkha Welfare; Horses; Islamic Finance; Middleway; Minerals; National Parks; Western Sahara. 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. Since May 2010, Roger has been co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Welsh Parliamentary Party Committee. He is also a member of the Foreign Affairs Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committees on Foreign Affairs, Environment Food and Rural Affairs and Energy and Climate Changes (DEFRA/DECC).
General Interests
Education, Economic Development . Leisure - Walking, Reading, Cricket, Rugby.
Contact Details
Recent Updates
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Article: May 9, 2012Brecon and Radnorshire Liberal Democrat MP, Roger Williams has welcomed the Queen's speech that was delivered today to both houses at the state opening of Parliament. The speech, which sets the programme for the Governments year ahead, had economic growth as its main priority. There was also a commitment to introduce a Grocery Code Adjudicator, reform of electricity markets and the water industry.
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Article: Feb 22, 2012
Commenting on the death of Lord Emlyn Hooson, former Liberal Democrat for MP for Montgomeryshire, Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said:
"Emlyn Hooson was respected in the House of Lords and the wider political community for his passionate liberalism, his love of Wales and his sharp intellect. Not only will he be remembered for his high profile legal work, he will also be remembered for establishing the Welsh Liberal Party in Wales - something we are still proud of today.
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Article: Feb 21, 2012
ACTION NEEDED TO PREVENT FURTHER RURAL BANK CLOSURES- WILLIAMS
Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams used today's Westminster Hall debate to highlight the damaging effect bank closures have on rural communities.
The debate has been widely seen as a success having achieved cross party consensus stressing the need for a Banking Summit and the consideration of pilot schemes for Community Banking facilities, in order to maintain access to financial services in rural areas.
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Article: Nov 30, 2011
Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams has welcomed the Autumn Statement in which the Coalition Government sets economic policy between budgets.
The statement announced many measures to stimulate growth that will help Wales including:
- Deferring January's 3ppl rise in fuel duty and scrap next August's 2ppl rise.
- The Youth Contract, which will see Government fund incentives for companies taking on young people.
- The basic state pension (BSP) will increase by the triple guarantee in April 2012, delivering the largest ever cash increase (5.2%) in the BSP in Wales, benefiting 600,000 Welsh pensioners.
- Credit easing measures which will give much needed cash flow to many small and medium sized businesses in Wales.
- Investment in Telecoms bringing better broadband to urban and rural areas.
- Welsh Power station consents bringing further investment and jobs to North Wales.
- Further funds to be allocated to Wales for investment under Barnett consequential totalling £216.2million in the current spending bloc.
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Article: May 20, 2011Roger Williams, the Deputy Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, used today's Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Oral Question session to call on the department to ensure that the Independent Fuel Poverty Review addresses the issue of rural fuel poverty.
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Article: Mar 26, 2011The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Kirsty Williams AM and Roger Williams MP, today launched the Welsh Liberal Democrats Yes to Fairer Votes campaign with Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats , Rt Hon Simon Hughes MP, at Llandrindod Wells.
Speaking to an audience of Welsh Liberal Democrats activists, Kirsty Williams said:
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Article: Jan 28, 2011
The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Kirsty Williams AM and Deputy Leader, Roger Williams MP, will today formally launch the Welsh Liberal Democrats say Yes for Wales campaign at Llanelwedd, Powys, away from Cardiff Bay. Launching the campaign, Kirsty Williams said:
"In March, the people of Wales will have the opportunity to vote in a referendum to ensure for the first time that laws that affect only Wales are made only in Wales.
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Article: Apr 27, 2010
Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Roger Williams, Welsh Liberal Democrats Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and Brecon and Radnorshire candidate visited a small rural business yesterday in Brecon to highlight their party's commitment to provide support and encourage the private sector in Wales.
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Article: Apr 16, 2010
Commenting on the launch of the Conservative manifesto for Wales, Roger Williams, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales said,
"The Conservatives are talking about repairing the economy, but they have been the joint architects, with New Labour, of an economic strategy that has led to this crisis.
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Article: Apr 3, 2010
Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, used last night's vote on the Budget to oppose the increase in alcohol duty.
Roger Williams said: "Whilst I support measures to limit the impact of irresponsible drinking, including limiting the availability of cheap alcohol, this resolution would place an undue burden on responsible drinkers.
