Michael Roberts (politician) explained

Office:Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales
Term Start:5 May 1979
Term End:10 February 1983
Alongside:Wyn Roberts
Constituency Mp1:Cardiff North West
Term Start1:28 February 1974
Term End1:10 February 1983
Predecessor1:Constituency established
Successor1:Constituency abolished
Constituency Mp2:Cardiff North
Term Start2:18 June 1970
Term End2:8 February 1974
Predecessor2:Ted Rowlands
Successor2:Ian Grist
Birth Name:Michael Hilary Arthur Roberts
Birth Date:6 May 1927
Birth Place:Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales
Death Place:Westminster, London, England
Party:Conservative
Profession:Educator
Education:University College of Wales, Cardiff

Michael Hilary Arthur Roberts (6 May 1927 – 10 February 1983) was a British Conservative Party politician.

Early life

Roberts was born in Aberystwyth, and was educated at the Neath Grammar School for Boys and the University College of Wales, Cardiff.[1] He was the first Headteacher of the Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School when it opened in 1963, and was president of the Cardiff branch of the National Union of Teachers.[1]

Parliamentary career

Roberts contested Aberdare in a 1954 by-election, placing third. He fought Cardiff South East in 1955 and 1959, being defeated both times by future Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, on the second occasion by only 868 votes.

He was Member of Parliament for Cardiff North from 1970 to February 1974, and thereafter for Cardiff North West. He became a junior Welsh Office minister when the Margaret Thatcher government came to power in 1979.

Death

At around 9:44PM on 10 February 1983, Roberts collapsed from a massive heart attack while speaking at the despatch box in the House of Commons during an adjournment debate and was pronounced dead, aged 55, on arrival at hospital.[1] [2] Roberts had been in poor health for two years prior to his death.[1] Ordinarily there would have been a by-election to succeed him but none was called due to the impending 1983 general election, in which boundary changes abolished his Cardiff North West seat.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ROBERTS, MICHAEL HILARY ADAIR (1927-1983), Conservative politician. Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Jones. John Graham. 18 March 2021.
  2. United Kingdom. Welsh Affairs. House of Commons. 10 February 1983. 1231.