Business and politics to wed - Dr Elizabeth Haywood and Peter Hain

Mr Hain is rarely out of the headlines in his other role as the British government's representative on the convention on the future of the European Union.

But he is planning a union of his own with award-winning businesswoman Elizabeth Haywood, 47, next month.

Mr Hain, 53, said he was thrilled by the prospect of getting married for the second time.

The Neath MP said: "We plan an informal, enjoyable occasion - no frills and no formalities, but lots of enjoyment with our families and close friends."

It is the second time down the aisle for Kenyan-born Mr Hain, who was married to first wife Patricia for 24 years.

The couple, who have two adult sons, separated four years ago and were divorced last year.

Best man

Mr Hain met Dr Haywood while she was working for the Welsh Development Agency's European affairs department.

A younger Peter Hain campaigning against apartheid

She is a former Welsh regional director of the Confederation of British Industry, and a previous winner of the Welsh Woman of the Year title.

It is a first wedding for Dr Haywood, who is managing director of executive recruitment company KMC.

The couple will have a register office ceremony in Mr Hain's constituency on Saturday, 14 June, with his political agent Howard Davies as best man. None of Mr Hain's cabinet colleagues is on the guest list.

Mr Hain was born in Nairobi and brought up in South Africa. He was educated at Pretoria Boys High School, the University of London and Sussex University.

Anti-apartheid activist

In 1969, when a 16-year-old Tony Blair was still at school, Mr Hain was one of the most famous political activists in the country.

As a South African ex-pat anti-apartheid activist, he was the leader of a campaign of direct action aimed at disrupting the all-white South African rugby team's tour of the UK.

He became chairman of the Young Liberals in 1971 and continued to be a prominent activist throughout the 1970s.

The South African security services even attempted to have him framed for a bank robbery in 1975, but he was acquitted of all charges.

He joined the Labour Party in 1977 and spent his career as a trade union official until entering the Commons at the 1991 Neath by-election.

He has held several junior ministerial posts since Labour took office in 1997.