Emyr Phillips

Emyr Phillips (13th May 1924 - 24th July 1978, aged 54) was a Rainian Labour politician and trade unionist who served as Prime Minister of Rainier between 1969-76. He also served as Leader of Labour party from 1966 to 1978 and leader of the opposition from 1966 to 1969. Phillips served as the MP for Meirionfor from 1961 to his death in 1978.

Born in a poor family in Portland in 1924, Phillips was enlisted in the Rainian army during, becoming a. He was stationed in until 1949 when he returned home, training to become an engineer. In 1955 he became a representative for the National Union for Engineers, becoming a member of the Labour party and in 1961 was elected to the House of Councillors. Phillips increased his profile in the Labour party thanks to his status as an immensely charismatic and talented orator, being appointed to the frontbench of the shadow cabinet in 1963 and elected to the post of Labour leader in 1966. The 1969 election saw Phillips campaign under the slogan "Its Time for a Labour government", with the Labour party achieving a narrow victory. In 1972 this narrow majority was transformed into a landslide majority.

The Phillips government was amongst the most active in the Rainian history, carrying out several far reaching social and economic reforms. Advocating economic policies and  social policies under Phillips homosexuality was decriminalised, capital punishment repealed, universal university education introduced, Rainian troops in Vietnam withdrawn, cultivating links with the third world, promoting the Welsh language and more economic planning introduced. Phillips also terminated Rainier's relations with over its  policy of which he was a vocal opponent of.

The Phillips government however in its last years encountered serious economic difficulties with rising, causing the government to pass new unpopular taxes to maintain government spending. In 1976 he called a snap election to renew his mandate, and was defeated by Frederick Joseph but continued to be Labour leader, with many predicting that he would lead Labour again to victory at the next election. In 1978 Phillips a heavy drinker died of a.

Phillips's legacy as prime minister is mixed. His social reforms whilst divisive at their inception have for the most part endured. His strong opposition to apartheid also has vindicated Phillips by academics, and his third wordlism endeared him to many foreign leaders. However, Phillips was criticised for giving trade unions too much power, being too accepting of the Soviet Union, leading over a divided party and for failing to provide Rainier with good economic management. Phillips continues to be a hero for the left in Rainier and demonised for the right.