Alfred Robens, Baron Robens of Woldingham
The Lord Robens of Woldingham | |
|---|---|
Robens in 1947 | |
| Chair of the National Coal Board | |
| In office 1961–1971 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Bowman |
| Succeeded by | Derek Ezra |
| Shadow Minister for Labour | |
| In office 27 November 1956 – November 1960 | |
| Leader | Hugh Gaitskell |
| Preceded by | George Brown |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Lee |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary | |
| In office 15 July 1955 – 27 November 1956 | |
| Leader | Clement Attlee Hugh Gaitskell |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Aneurin Bevan |
| Minister of Labour and National Service | |
| In office 24 April 1951 – 26 October 1951 | |
| Prime Minister | Clement Attlee |
| Preceded by | Nye Bevan |
| Succeeded by | Walter Monckton |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power | |
| In office 7 October 1947 – 24 April 1951 | |
| Prime Minister | Clement Attlee |
| Preceded by | Hugh Gaitskell |
| Succeeded by | Harold Neal |
| Member of Parliament for Blyth Wansbeck (1945–1950) | |
| In office 5 July 1945 – 30 October 1960 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Scott |
| Succeeded by | Eddie Milne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 December 1910 Manchester, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 27 June 1999 (aged 88) Chertsey, Surrey, England |
| Political party | Labour (before 1979) Conservative (1979–1999) |
Alfred Robens, Baron Robens of Woldingham, PC (18 December 1910 – 27 June 1999) was an English trade unionist, Labour politician and industrialist. His political ambitions, including an aspiration to become Prime Minister, were frustrated by bad timing, but his energies were diverted into industry: he spent 10 years as Chairman of the National Coal Board, and later – despite the Aberfan disaster – headed a major inquiry which resulted in the Robens Report on occupational health and safety. His outlook was paternalistic; in later life, he moved away from his early socialism towards the Conservative Party. His reputation remains tarnished by his failure to have foreseen and prevented the Aberfan disaster, followed by actions widely regarded as grossly insensitive during the aftermath of the disaster.