Donald Anderson, Baron Anderson of Swansea PC DL (born 17 June 1939) is a Welsh Labour politician, who was one of the longest-serving Members of Parliament in recent years, his service totalling 34 years.[1] Since 2005, he has served as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
The Lord Anderson of Swansea | |||||||||
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![]() Official portrait, 2019 | |||||||||
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee | |||||||||
In office 16 July 1997 – 12 July 2005 | |||||||||
Preceded by | David Howell | ||||||||
Succeeded by | Mike Gapes | ||||||||
Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee | |||||||||
In office 20 November 1981 – 13 May 1983 | |||||||||
Preceded by | Leo Abse | ||||||||
Succeeded by | Gareth Wardell | ||||||||
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal | |||||||||
Assumed office 28 June 2005 Life Peerage | |||||||||
Member of Parliament for Swansea East | |||||||||
In office 10 October 1974 – 11 April 2005 | |||||||||
Preceded by | Neil McBride | ||||||||
Succeeded by | Sian James | ||||||||
Member of Parliament for Monmouth | |||||||||
In office 31 March 1966 – 29 May 1970 | |||||||||
Preceded by | Peter Thorneycroft | ||||||||
Succeeded by | John Stradling Thomas | ||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||
Born | Swansea, Wales | 17 June 1939||||||||
Political party | Labour | ||||||||
Alma mater | Swansea University | ||||||||
Anderson was born in Swansea and educated at the local Brynmill Primary School and Swansea Grammar School before studying at Swansea University.
He entered the House of Commons in 1966[2] for Monmouth until being defeated in 1970 by the Conservative John Stradling Thomas.
From 1971 to 1974, he was a resident in Kensington and Chelsea and councillor in a neighbouring borough.[citation needed]
He then re-entered the Commons in October 1974,[3] as MP for Swansea East. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 2000,[4] and retired from Parliament at the 2005 general election.
In 2003, he voted in favour of the Iraq War.[5]
In the 2005 Dissolution Honours, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Anderson of Swansea, of Swansea in the County of West Glamorgan.[6] He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of West Glamorgan in January 2006.[7] Anderson is affiliated to Labour Friends of Israel.[citation needed]
Anderson married Dorothy Trotman in 1963 and has three sons.