Peter Law

Peter Law, the independent MP and AM for Blaenau Gwent, has died at the age of 58 after losing his battle with cancer.

Law had been a Labour member of the Welsh assembly and minister in the Cardiff administration before leaving the party in protest at the use of an all-women shortlist to choose his constituency's Westminster candidate at the last general election.

In one of the most surprising results of the election, he overturned Labour's massive 19,000 majority.

His departure also led to Labour losing its wafer thin majority in the assembly, and Law helped defeat Rhodri Morgan's administration in a number of key votes.

He had been suffering from a brain tumour, first diagnosed during the election campaign.

Law leaves a wife, Trish, two sons and three daughters.

There will now be by-elections in the constituency for both the assembly and Westminster.

Having become a councillor in Blaenau Gwent at the age of 22 he rose to lead the council.

He was first elected as assembly member in 1999 and served in Alun Michael's cabinet as environment and local government minister, before being sacked by Morgan in a reshuffle in 2000.

One of only two independent MPs in the Commons, Law was named as the Welsh politician of the year at the Welsh political awards last December.

He said he had been "very humbled" by the honour after "a rollercoaster year".

Wales secretary Peter Hain praised Law as "a popular politician and I extend my condolences to his family and to his many supporters in Blaenau Gwent".

"Despite his recent estrangement from the Labour Party, which he served for most of his life, Peter still had many friends who will be saddened by his death," he said.

Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "Peter Law was one of the outstanding figures of post-devolution Wales.

"He achieved one of the most remarkable results of the last Westminster election when he stood as an Independent.

"He felt badly let down by the Labour Party, but the people of Blaenau Gwent repaid his work by electing him with a big majority.

"He loved the people of Blaenau Gwent and fought unceasingly on their behalf."

And Welsh assembly Conservative leader Nick Bourne said the MP had been "one of the most principled and courageous people I have ever known".

"He represented the people of his community with honesty and consistency," added Bourne.

"The last year has called upon his immense reserves of physical and moral courage and he was not found wanting.

"He gained the admiration and respect of people from all political persuasions and none."

And Liberal Democrat assembly leader Mike German said: "Peter was a dogged fighter to the end.

"He took on the Labour establishment and showed they are not invincible.

"I will remember him for his determination, great warmth and friendliness, which was apparent to all those in his constituency.

"My thoughts are with his family."