Hain, Peter Gerald (1950- )

British Labour politician, Welsh secretary from 2002, and work and pensions secretary from 2007. A noted anti-apartheid campaigner and former Liberal, he joined the Labour Party in 1977. Initially a radical left-winger, his stance moderated and from 1997 he held ministerial positions in the foreign office and department of trade and industry in the New Labour administration of Tony Blair. After the 2001 election he became minister for Europe with the brief of promoting possible British entry into the European single currency. In October 2002 he joined the cabinet as Welsh secretary and also became leader of the House of Commons in June 2003. In May 2005, while remaining Welsh secretary, he became Northern Ireland secretary. A one-time advocate of Irish unity, he later moved away from this position.

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, to South African parents who were anti-apartheid activists in the South African Liberal Party, he was first educated in South Africa but moved to England in his teens after his parents were expelled from South Africa. He studied at London and Sussex universities. In the 1970s he became one of Britain's foremost anti-apartheid political activists, leading campaigns of direct action aimed at disrupting the all-white South African rugby team's tour. Formerly a Liberal, chairing the Young Liberals in 1971, Hain joined the Labour Party in 1977 and worked as a researcher with the Union of Communication Workers trade union from 1976. In 1977, he helped found the Anti-Nazi League to campaign against racism. In 1991 he won a parliamentary by-election in Neath, South Wales, and later became chair of the Tribune Group of Labour left-wing MPs.