Keith Raffan MP Papers,

Papers of Keith Raffan, mainly subject files, including files on abortion, 1981-1990; agriculture, 1985-1992; Bagillt floods, 1985-1991; British Rail, 1984-1992; coal, 1982-1992; Clwyd County Council, 1983-1991; community charge, 1983-1989; companies, 1986-1992; Conservative Central Office for Wales, 1983-1992; Courtaulds, 1983-1989; Delyn Borough Council, 1981-1992; drugs, 1984- 1988; education, 1983-1992; Europe, 1982-1990; Flint By-Pass,1987-1992; Hamilton Oil, 1991-1992; health and the National Health Service; 1983-1991; Holywell By-Pass and Inner Relief Road, 1983-1987; Lab-Lib Party Alliance, 1982-1990 (including alternative to the Poll Tax); local associations, 1983-1992; Local Government, 1975-1990; London and Cardiff Conservative Central Offices, 1987-1988; ministerial correspondence 1984-1990; Conservative Associations correspondence, 1985-1989; Parliamentary papers, 1983-1992; open cast mining, 1986-1992; pensions, 1987-1991; police, 1983-1987; Prestatyn Town Council, 1983-1990; rates, 1983-1987; Rhuddlan Borough Council, 1983-1991; roads, 1986-1989; Sunday trading, 1985-1991; teachers' pay dispute and unions, 1985-1992; television broadcasting policy, 1983-1992; University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1985-1989; Welsh Members of Parliament, Welsh Grand Committee and Committee on Welsh Affairs, Welsh Office,1981- 1993; Young Conservatives March 1983-1992; Pressure for Economic and Social Toryism (PEST), 1956-1974; speech notes, [?1974]-1992, relating to Devolution, 1975-1989, Welsh Water, 1983-1991, Welsh Language, 1990-1992; and press releases, 1983-1992. There is also a series of files mainly of correspondence on a wide range of subjects, arranged alphabetically by subject.

Keith Raffan (1949-) was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and was educated at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen, Trinity College, Glenalmond, and Corpus Christi, Cambridge. He was the Conservative MP for the Delyn division of Clwyd from June 1983 until his retirement from the Commons in April 1992. He had previously stood as the Conservative candidate for Dulwich in February 1974 and for East Aberdeenshire in October 1974. He served as the National Chairman of Pressure for Economic and Social Toryism (PEST), 1970-1974. As an MP, he took a particular interest in drug abuse (introducing the Controlled Drugs (Penalties) Act in 1985), regional policy, tourism, Welsh affairs, Europe and British-American relations. He was one of the MPs known as the 'Dirty Dozen' for campaigning for Michael Heseltine in the 1990 Conservative party leadership contest. He resigned as an MP in 1992 because of his strong commitment to Europe and a Scottish Parliament. He took up a career in public relations in the United States, before returning to Britain as a television presenter for HTV Wales, and then joining the Liberal Democrat Party. He was elected as the Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife in May 1999, becoming the Liberal Democrat spokesman on finance, social inclusion, the voluntary sector and drugs. He resigned from the Scottish Parliament in 2005.

Arranged by date of deposit, and then alphabetically within each deposit.

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Donated by Mr Raffan in three groups in November 1991, March 1992 and April 1992.

Keith Raffan (1949-) was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and was educated at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen, Trinity College, Glenalmond, and Corpus Christi, Cambridge. He was the Conservative MP for the Delyn division of Clwyd from June 1983 until his retirement from the Commons in April 1992. He had previously stood as the Conservative candidate for Dulwich in February 1974 and for East Aberdeenshire in October 1974. He served as the National Chairman of Pressure for Economic and Social Toryism (PEST), 1970-1974. As an MP, he took a particular interest in drug abuse (introducing the Controlled Drugs (Penalties) Act in 1985), regional policy, tourism, Welsh affairs, Europe and British-American relations. He was one of the MPs known as the 'Dirty Dozen' for campaigning for Michael Heseltine in the 1990 Conservative party leadership contest. He resigned as an MP in 1992 because of his strong commitment to Europe and a Scottish Parliament. He took up a career in public relations in the United States, before returning to Britain as a television presenter for HTV Wales, and then joining the Liberal Democrat Party. He was elected as the Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife in May 1999, becoming the Liberal Democrat spokesman on finance, social inclusion, the voluntary sector and drugs. He resigned from the Scottish Parliament in 2005.

Title compiled from content of fonds.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed online.

March 2003.

Compiled by Seri Crawley for the ANW Project. The following sources were used for the preparation of the description: NLW, Schedule of Keith Raffan Papers; Scottish Liberal Democrats website (www.scotlibdems.org.uk/biographies/raffank.htm; gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/aspect/sld/sldregmid1c.jpg), viewed 21 March 2003;

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Action: All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained..

Accruals are not expected.

Constituency correspondence and papers are in Flintshire Record Office.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales