Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy and Wales’ First Minister Rhodri Morgan have today paid tribute to former Labour MP Leo Abse, who died last night at the age of 91.

Mr. Abse was Labour MP for Pontypool and then for the Torfaen constituency in South Wales between 1958 and 1987. He was succeeded as the Member of Parliament by Paul Murphy, the current Secretary of State for Wales.

Welsh Secretary and Torfaen MP Paul Murphy said:

“I am deeply sad that Leo has passed away. He was a personal friend for well over 40 years. I worked with him first as his constituency party secretary and later, of course, as his successor as MP for Torfaen. He was a very distinguished Parliamentarian and social reformer who has left an indelible mark on his country. The lives of millions of people over the years have been improved because of his social reforms.

“Leo was a passionate Welshman and a fine constituency MP for the eastern valley, which he represented in Parliament for nearly 30 years. I personally owe him a great debt, and I know that MPs from all sides of the House will mourn his passing.”

First Minister Rhodri Morgan said Mr Abse's death was a "huge loss" to Welsh public life and the Welsh Labour movement.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM said:

"Leo Abse was a great social reforming backbencher in the finest traditions of the House of Commons.

"It is very rare for one MP to have been involved in so many major pieces of social legislation in relation to homosexuality, divorce and abortion, which have had a huge impact on the whole of British society.

"That is perhaps a tribute to how Leo used his legal knowledge, built up in his law practice, Leo Abse and Cohen, and then applied it to his work in the House of Commons in such a remarkable way.

"When I first joined the Labour Party in 1963 it was as a member of Cardiff South East Labour party whose full time office was in the attic above Leo Abse and Cohen headquarters at 36 Churchill Way, Cardiff. So I feel a particularly strong empathy with how big a loss Welsh public life and the Welsh Labour movement has suffered in the passing of this reforming MP.

"His passing is a huge loss to politics and public life in Wales and he will be fondly remembered in Torfaen, in Cardiff and throughout Britain."

Neil and Glenys Kinnock said:

“Leo was courageous, highly principled, very funny and totally unique. We are glad that he had such a long and fulfilling life in which he gained so much social progress by being an outstanding free-thinking socialist.”

Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle said:

"Leo Abse was a courageous campaigner, and a superb representative for the people of Pontypool and Torfaen for more than 30 years. His loss will be felt not only in the Labour movement, but across the political spectrum.

"Our thoughts are with his wife Ania and his family at this very sad time"