Delyth Jane Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Drefelin (born 30 August 1961) is a

Crossbench A crossbencher is a minor party or independent politician, independent member of some legislatures, such as the Parliament of Australia. In the British House of Lords the term refers to members of the parliamentary group of non-political peers. ...

peer in the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

of the United Kingdom, having formerly sat as a Labour peer. She was raised to the

peerage A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes Life peer, non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted Imperial, royal and noble ranks, noble ranks. Peerages include: A ...

in 2004 and appointed Chief Executive of the Breast Cancer Campaign, now Breast Cancer Now, in 2011. She was educated at

Bedford College, London Bedford College was founded in London in 1849 as the first higher education college for women in the United Kingdom. In 1900, it became a constituent of the University of London. Having played a leading role in the advancement of women in highe ...

, BSc Physiology & Biochemistry, 1983, now part of

Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Holloway, University of London (RH), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public university, public research university and a constituent college, member institution of the federal University of London. It ...

,Royal Holloway College, ''Higher Magazine No.17'', autumn 2012, accessed 24 November 2012 and also

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

. She was president of the London University Union (1985–86).

Professional career

Before being raised to the peerage Morgan had a long and successful career in the

voluntary sector In relation to public services, the voluntary sector is the realm of social activity undertaken by non-governmental, not for profit organizations. This sector is also called the third sector (in contrast to the public sector and the private sec ...

, including a decade at the helm of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. She played a leading role in creating breast cancer as a high-profile issue when it had been a hidden and rarely discussed condition. She also led fund raising efforts which resulted in the opening in 1999 of the UK's first dedicated breast cancer research facility, the Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre at the

Institute of Cancer Research The Institute of Cancer Research (the ICR) is a public research institute and a member institution of the University of London in London, United Kingdom, specialising in oncology. It was founded in 1909 as a research department of the Royal Ma ...

. she is Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Now, which was formed in 2015 by a merger of the Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Government career

On 5 October 2008, Morgan was announced as Minister for the

Department for Children, Schools and Families Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education. DCSF was repl ...

, replacing Kevin Brennan. She was previously Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Intellectual Property and Quality) in the

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) was a UK government department created on 28 June 2007 to take over some of the functions of the Department of Education and Skills and of the Department of Trade and Industry. Its h ...

Lords career

Morgan was created a

life peer In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the D ...

on 11 June 2004 taking the title Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, of Drefelin in the County of

Dyfed Dyfed () is a preserved county in southwestern Wales, covering the modern counties Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. It is mostly rural area with a coastline on the Irish Sea and the Bristol Channel. Between 1974 and 1996, Dyfed w ...

. Baroness Morgan has held the following positions in the House of Lords:Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
UK Parliament * Government Whip, 2007–08 * Government Spokesperson for: ** Communities and Local Government, 2007–08 ** Work and Pensions, 2007–08 ** Scotland, 2007–08 ** Wales, 2007 ** Cabinet Office, 2008 * Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Intellectual Property and Quality),

, 2008 * Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,

, 2008–2010 * Opposition spokesperson for education, 2010 She worked in London for many years prior to being raised to the peerage. After joining the House of Lords she purchased a property in

Cardiganshire Ceredigion (), historically Cardiganshire (, ), is a county in the west of Wales. It borders Gwynedd across the Dyfi estuary to the north, Powys to the east, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. Ab ...

and designated this as her main home for expenses purposes. Following a complaint the House of Lords Privilege and Conduct Committee found there had been no breach of the rules.

Honours

Morgan was made a Fellow of University College London (her alma mater) in 2005, a Founding Fellow of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, an Honorary Fellow of the

in 2006 and, in 2005, an Honorary Fellow of

Cardiff University Cardiff University () is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It was renamed Unive ...

.Previous Recipients
Cardiff University

Personal life

Morgan is of Welsh heritage. She divides her time between Wales and London and lives with her husband. They have one daughter. In her spare time she enjoys walking and listening to and playing live music.

References

External links

Elliottonian Web Site * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan of Drefelin, Delyth Morgan, Baroness Living people Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II Life peers created by Elizabeth II Crossbench life peers Labour Party (UK) life peers 1961 births Politicians from London Alumni of Bedford College, London Alumni of Royal Holloway, University of London Alumni of University College London