Procession ahead of MP's funeral

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May 4, 2006, 3:57:46 AM5/4/06
to Ebbw Vale
The funeral will be held on Thursday of the independent Blaenau Gwent
MP and AM Peter Law.

Before the service at Christ Church in Ebbw Vale at 1000 BST, there
will be a hour-long procession as the cortege passes through towns and
villages in the constituency.

Mr Law, 58, died last week after suffering from a brain tumour.

He caused a political storm at the last general election in May 2005,
overturning a 19,000 Labour majority.

Mr Law decided to turn his back on his own party after a row over the
imposition of an all women shortlist.

The procession will travel through Abertillery, Nantyglo, Brynmawr and
Tredegar before the church service, which will be led by the Rector of
Ebbw Vale, the Reverend Geoff Waggett.

The church holds 500 people but the Reverend Waggett said he expects
more than 1,000 to attend.

Party leaders

He said the main message of the service would be "truth, honesty and
integrity."

Mr Law's predecessor as MP, Llew Smith, will pay tribute to Mr Law at
the service.

Mr Smith said: "I will be talking about the 35 years or so that I've
known Peter Law personally, but also about the last few months in
particular and his courage in dealing with his illness and taking on
the political establishment."

Assembly presiding officer Dafydd Elis Thomas and his deputy Dr John
Marek will attend the funeral, as well as First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

The other party leaders in the assembly are also expected to be
present.

The Welsh Secretary Peter Hain is attending a family funeral and will
be represented by former Wales Office Minister and Islywn MP Don
Touhig.

Mr Law started as a grocer and became a local councillor at the age of
22, rising to the position of Blaenau Gwent council leader.

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

Mr Law's widow has said she is considering standing against Labour for
her late husband's seat to carry on his legacy in Blaenau Gwent.

She is expected to make a final decision after the funeral.

The other parties will begin the process of choosing their candidates
on Friday.

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