Merlyn Rees
(1920-2006), Politician; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Home SecretaryMerlyn Rees, Baron Merlyn-Rees
Sitter in 4 portraits
Merlyn Rees was an MP for the Labour party from 1963 until 1992. After serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II, Rees graduated from the London School of Economics. He entered politics while teaching school in the 1950s but quit teaching to organize the 1962 Festival of Labour in London. He was elected to Parliament in 1963 and became parliamentary private secretary to James Callaghan, then shadow chancellor. In 1974 Rees became secretary of state for Northern Ireland. With the election in 1976 of Callaghan as prime minister, Rees became home secretary, a position he held until the Labour government was defeated in the 1979 general election.
The House of Commons, 24 July 1986
by Chris Orr
aquatint and etching, 1986
NPG 6834
by Bassano Ltd
half-plate film negative, 13 December 1965
NPG x176472
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