523:
Shortly after his victory, Law highlighted his former party's failure to acknowledge the problems with the use of all-women short-lists, stating: "What I find very strange is that even after the result in
Blaenau Gwent, there is no one in the party who is prepared to admit that they were wrong." Law
519:
Law won the seat with 58.2% of the vote, defeating Labour candidate Maggie Jones, and gaining a majority of 9,121 votes. He campaigned while recovering from surgery for a brain tumour. Law initially withdrew from the election on 4 April upon receiving the news of his tumour, but he was persuaded to
629:
Law's funeral was held on
Thursday 4 May 2006, at Christchurch in Ebbw Vale, exactly a year after he was elected to parliament. Some schools and businesses closed in order to allow people to see the cortège, and people lined the streets, with the funeral described as the biggest in the town since
535:
Law's independent position had a particularly significant impact in the Welsh
Assembly, as it meant that Labour lost its majority. As a result, the party suffered a number of defeats by combined opposition parties who, when they agreed to do so, were able to vote down Labour policies.
1616:
493:, which was used to replace the retiring Llew Smith. Law believed all-woman shortlists were being selectively imposed on local parties only where a leadership-supported male candidate was unlikely to be selected, citing the example of
1636:
1530:
1272:
1267:
1252:
1469:
637:
In
December 2007 a memorial concert in honour of Law was held locally, with the proceeds raised donated to Hospice of the Valleys. On 10 December 2007 a plaque in Law's honour was also installed at the new
1227:
469:, Law made no secret of his opposition to the decision and was not retained in the administration. He became a vociferous backbench critic and following his re-election with an increased majority in the
1257:
1535:
622:
His widow has claimed that he was offered a peerage to not stand against Labour in
Blaenau Gwent in 2005, an allegation denied by Labour. The claim had considerable media impact because of the ongoing
1277:
1262:
1540:
1479:
1459:
1465:
675:
165:
1515:
1498:
1611:
1520:
1220:
777:
634:. Law was cremated at Gwent Crematorium. On 10 May 2006 a thanksgiving service took place at St Paul's Church for those unable to get a seat or unable to attend Law's funeral.
1545:
1247:
1626:
1525:
1486:
1475:
1455:
1213:
1676:
1666:
1494:
516:
stated that Law would be "very foolish" to stand against her. She argued "Blaenau Gwent is solidly Labour and I don't think people will vote for anyone else."
1696:
746:
671:
513:
376:
58:
1631:
680:
470:
444:
1621:
1418:
1681:
943:
477:
who was an
Independent AM, thereby ensuring that an opposition member was in the Chair and unable to vote against the Welsh Assembly Government.
1686:
1324:
616:
53:
1661:
1291:
1236:
751:
603:, aged 58, suffering from a recurrent brain tumour first diagnosed during the 2005 election campaign. As a result of his death, there were
560:
552:
490:
429:
428:
Law served as a councillor for
Nantyglo and Blaenau Urban District Council between 1970 and 1974. He continued to serve as a councillor on
387:
1582:
1414:
1701:
1408:
1706:
1691:
1023:
639:
1651:
1646:
910:
1671:
729:
33:
604:
284:
1161:
755:
684:
1641:
473:
he stood as candidate for the Deputy
Presiding Officer of the Welsh Assembly. However, the Labour AMs voted instead for
452:
408:, Law was educated at Grofield Secondary School and then attended Nant-y-Glo Community College. He later studied at the
188:
160:
1042:
957:
440:
372:
1140:
976:
873:
1086:
1656:
1368:
1180:
1122:
711:
108:
1176:
539:
Law was the third Welsh MP or AM to win a constituency as both a party candidate and an independent, following
456:
1104:
1196:
501:
as new leadership-supported male candidates, and noting that use of all-woman shortlists had been stopped in
1378:
1348:
891:
762:
608:
556:
474:
298:
93:
1358:
466:
380:
291:
1438:
934:
439:, MP for Blaenau Gwent from 1992, and was selected for the constituency in the first elections to the
1606:
1601:
828:
855:
486:
392:
369:
607:
for both the UK Parliament and the Welsh
Assembly seats. In the by-elections Law's former agent,
396:
described his victory as "one of the most spectacular general election results of modern times".
1338:
1310:
1299:
1166:
1019:
1013:
623:
548:
365:
802:
1171:
827:
587:
Law married Trish Bolter in 1976 and they have three daughters and two sons. They lived in
364:(1 April 1948 – 25 April 2006) was a Welsh politician. For most of his career Law sat as a
1424:
1394:
1354:
528:
initial misgivings about the shortlist and how this contrasted with the views of his wife
409:
341:
1344:
1205:
994:
544:
270:
1595:
1434:
1428:
564:
459:
413:
246:
532:, questioning whether she had excessive influence over the party's national leader.
1374:
540:
529:
508:
Smith had enjoyed a majority of 19,313, making it the safest parliamentary seat in
498:
448:
131:
1388:
642:, with the location chosen to mark his years of campaigning for a railway link to
1404:
1398:
1384:
1364:
721:
405:
242:
153:
1186:
1060:
416:
between 1964 and 1987. He was subsequently appointed chair of Gwent
Healthcare
1334:
1306:
1295:
738:
525:
436:
336:
81:
512:. Prior to the announcement of Law's rumoured candidacy, his Labour opponent
691:
631:
612:
576:
417:
311:
202:
1561:
600:
588:
502:
494:
329:
266:
1617:
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Welsh constituencies
615:
succeeded him in the Welsh Assembly. Both stood under the banner of the
555:, but ran against the official candidate as an independent and won; and
1571:
643:
657:
611:, won the election to Law's former Westminster seat, while his widow
32:
547:
from 1934 until his death in 1972, who was deselected by the local
509:
274:
250:
1637:
Independent members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
520:
continue standing, receiving treatment throughout the campaign.
455:, but lost his post in a cabinet reshuffle in 2000 by successor
1209:
1190:
447:, winning the seat easily. He was appointed to the cabinet of
1162:
Peter Law Campaign literature from the 2005 General Election
383:
member of Parliament (MP) and AM for the same constituency.
575:
Law won the award of Welsh Politician of the Year by both
1167:
Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Peter Law MP
977:"Cherie sad about Law's victory over all-women hopefuls"
390:, he defeated the Labour candidate by over 9,000 votes.
485:
Law left the Labour Party in protest at the use of an
822:
820:
818:
816:
778:
List of United Kingdom MPs with the shortest service
1554:
1508:
1448:
1320:
465:When Morgan formed a coalition government with the
386:Law resigned from the Labour Party in 2005. In the
347:
335:
325:
317:
307:
280:
256:
225:
220:
208:
196:
182:
159:
147:
137:
125:
107:
99:
87:
75:
52:
23:
933:
432:until 1999 and was appointed mayor for 1988-1989.
1037:
1035:
911:"Controversial candidate strikes back at 'smear'"
928:
926:
924:
874:"Election results for Blaenau Gwent, 6 May 1999"
797:
795:
793:
451:as Assembly Secretary for Local Government and
1612:Deaths from brain cancer in the United Kingdom
712:Minister for Local Government and Regeneration
109:Minister for Local Government and Regeneration
1221:
8:
1228:
1214:
1206:
653:
31:
20:
1627:Labour Co-operative members of the Senedd
1199:, Tony Heath, 26 April 2006, The Guardian
1087:"Peter Law: April 1, 1948-April 25, 2006"
789:
1043:"The Valleys say farewell to their MP"
1677:Leaders of political parties in Wales
958:"Brain tumour forces Law out of poll"
7:
1667:Neurological disease deaths in Wales
1237:2005 United Kingdom general election
1141:"Rivals unite to remember Peter Law"
1015:Welsh Lives - Gone but Not Forgotten
1012:Stephens, Meic (20 September 2012).
909:Shipton, Martin (17 February 2005).
430:Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
1583:2005 United Kingdom local elections
1061:"MP 'offered peerage' not to stand"
995:"'Humbled' MP Law scoops top award"
489:in selecting the candidate for the
178:6 May 1999 – 25 April 2006
71:5 May 2005 – 25 April 2006
1409:Social Democratic and Labour Party
646:to be restored for the community.
617:Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group
121:6 May 1999 – 17 June 2000
14:
1697:Independent members of the Senedd
1172:TheyWorkForyou.com – Peter Law MP
946:from the original on 26 May 2022.
640:Ebbw Vale Parkway railway station
1632:Independent politicians in Wales
1187:Labour challenger Peter Law dies
892:"VOTE 2003 | Blaenau Gwent"
730:Parliament of the United Kingdom
435:He was latterly a close ally of
1622:Members of the Welsh Government
975:Shipton, Martin (16 May 2005).
563:, later forming his own party,
551:on grounds of age prior to the
1682:National Health Service people
1531:Labour and Labour Co-operative
1105:"Thanksgiving service is held"
1:
1687:Alumni of the Open University
605:by-elections in Blaenau Gwent
38:
368:councillor and subsequently
285:Blaenau Gwent People's Voice
161:Member of the Welsh Assembly
1662:Deaths from cancer in Wales
1123:"Memorial show raises cash"
441:National Assembly for Wales
1723:
1305:Appointed prime minister:
1702:Mayors of places in Wales
1580:
1369:Democratic Unionist Party
1286:
1243:
1181:The Independent on Sunday
1028:– via Google Books.
759:
745:Member of Parliament for
743:
735:
728:
718:
709:
703:
698:
688:
669:
663:
656:
355:
216:
171:
114:
64:
48:
30:
1707:Labour Party (UK) mayors
1692:Welsh Labour councillors
803:"People in the Assembly"
599:Law died at his home in
579:and the Wales Yearbook.
457:First Minister for Wales
379:. Latterly he sat as an
1672:People from Abergavenny
1379:Scottish National Party
1253:Marginal constituencies
351:Grocer, NHS Trust Chair
299:Labour and Co-operative
626:police investigation.
559:, who remained AM for
1439:Ulster Unionist Party
878:business.senedd.wales
553:1970 general election
524:noted Prime Minister
481:2005 general election
388:2005 general election
1546:Scottish Nationalist
1248:Constituency results
1197:Peter Law – obituary
856:"Death of a fighter"
571:Parliamentary career
54:Member of Parliament
1652:Wales AMs 2003–2007
1647:Wales AMs 1999–2003
1536:Labour Co-operative
1521:Democratic Unionist
1129:. 13 December 2007.
1001:. 30 November 2005.
834:The Daily Telegraph
487:all-woman shortlist
393:The Daily Telegraph
370:Labour Co-operative
321:3 daughters, 2 sons
37:Official portrait,
1321:Parties elected to
880:. 25 January 2021.
699:Political offices
1589:
1588:
1359:Liberal Democrats
1328:and their leaders
1278:Results breakdown
1145:South Wales Argus
1109:South Wales Argus
1047:South Wales Argus
962:South Wales Argus
860:South Wales Argus
769:
768:
760:Succeeded by
719:Succeeded by
689:Succeeded by
624:Cash for Peerages
467:Liberal Democrats
359:
358:
303:
296:
289:
1714:
1657:Welsh socialists
1642:UK MPs 2005–2010
1541:Liberal Democrat
1466:Northern Ireland
1325:House of Commons
1230:
1223:
1216:
1207:
1193:, 25 April 2006.
1149:
1148:
1137:
1131:
1130:
1119:
1113:
1112:
1101:
1095:
1094:
1093:. 27 April 2006.
1083:
1077:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1057:
1051:
1050:
1039:
1030:
1029:
1009:
1003:
1002:
991:
985:
984:
972:
966:
965:
954:
948:
947:
942:. 1 April 2009.
937:
930:
919:
918:
906:
900:
899:
888:
882:
881:
870:
864:
863:
852:
846:
845:
843:
841:
831:
824:
811:
810:
799:
736:Preceded by
704:Preceded by
664:Preceded by
654:
595:Death and legacy
491:general election
424:Political career
301:
294:
287:
263:
239:
237:
221:Personal details
199:
185:
176:
150:
140:
128:
119:
90:
78:
69:
43:
40:
35:
21:
16:Welsh politician
1722:
1721:
1717:
1716:
1715:
1713:
1712:
1711:
1592:
1591:
1590:
1585:
1576:
1550:
1504:
1449:Results by area
1444:
1425:George Galloway
1395:Ieuan Wyn Jones
1355:Charles Kennedy
1327:
1322:
1316:
1282:
1263:Opinion polling
1239:
1234:
1203:
1183:, 10 July 2005.
1177:The Lost Valley
1158:
1153:
1152:
1139:
1138:
1134:
1121:
1120:
1116:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1085:
1084:
1080:
1070:
1068:
1067:. 27 April 2006
1059:
1058:
1054:
1041:
1040:
1033:
1026:
1011:
1010:
1006:
993:
992:
988:
974:
973:
969:
956:
955:
951:
940:The Independent
932:
931:
922:
908:
907:
903:
890:
889:
885:
872:
871:
867:
854:
853:
849:
839:
837:
836:. 26 April 2006
826:
825:
814:
801:
800:
791:
786:
774:
765:
750:
741:
724:
715:
707:
694:
679:
672:Assembly Member
667:
652:
597:
585:
573:
483:
426:
410:Open University
402:
373:Assembly member
342:Open University
297:
290:
281:Political party
265:
261:
241:
235:
233:
232:
231:
197:
183:
177:
172:
163:
148:
138:
126:
120:
115:
88:
76:
70:
65:
56:
44:
41:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1720:
1718:
1710:
1709:
1704:
1699:
1694:
1689:
1684:
1679:
1674:
1669:
1664:
1659:
1654:
1649:
1644:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1619:
1614:
1609:
1604:
1594:
1593:
1587:
1586:
1581:
1578:
1577:
1575:
1574:
1569:
1564:
1558:
1556:
1552:
1551:
1549:
1548:
1543:
1538:
1533:
1528:
1523:
1518:
1512:
1510:
1506:
1505:
1503:
1502:
1492:
1491:
1490:
1473:
1463:
1452:
1450:
1446:
1445:
1443:
1442:
1432:
1422:
1419:Health Concern
1415:Richard Taylor
1412:
1402:
1392:
1382:
1372:
1362:
1352:
1345:Michael Howard
1342:
1331:
1329:
1318:
1317:
1315:
1314:
1303:
1292:prime minister
1287:
1284:
1283:
1281:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1244:
1241:
1240:
1235:
1233:
1232:
1225:
1218:
1210:
1201:
1200:
1194:
1184:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1157:
1156:External links
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1151:
1150:
1132:
1114:
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1471:
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1440:
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1435:David Trimble
1433:
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1226:
1224:
1219:
1217:
1212:
1211:
1208:
1204:
1198:
1195:
1192:
1188:
1185:
1182:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1159:
1155:
1146:
1142:
1136:
1133:
1128:
1124:
1118:
1115:
1110:
1106:
1100:
1097:
1092:
1088:
1082:
1079:
1066:
1062:
1056:
1053:
1048:
1044:
1038:
1036:
1032:
1027:
1025:9781847716057
1021:
1017:
1016:
1008:
1005:
1000:
996:
990:
987:
982:
978:
971:
968:
963:
959:
953:
950:
945:
941:
936:
929:
927:
925:
921:
916:
912:
905:
902:
897:
893:
887:
884:
879:
875:
869:
866:
861:
857:
851:
848:
835:
830:
823:
821:
819:
817:
813:
808:
804:
798:
796:
794:
790:
783:
779:
776:
775:
771:
764:
757:
753:
749:
748:
747:Blaenau Gwent
740:
734:
731:
727:
723:
714:
713:
702:
697:
693:
686:
682:
678:
677:
676:Blaenau Gwent
673:
662:
659:
655:
649:
647:
645:
641:
635:
633:
627:
625:
620:
618:
614:
610:
606:
602:
594:
592:
590:
583:Personal life
582:
580:
578:
570:
568:
566:
565:Forward Wales
562:
558:
554:
550:
546:
543:, the MP for
542:
537:
533:
531:
527:
521:
517:
515:
511:
506:
504:
500:
496:
492:
488:
480:
478:
476:
472:
471:2003 election
468:
463:
461:
460:Rhodri Morgan
458:
454:
450:
446:
442:
438:
433:
431:
423:
421:
419:
415:
414:General Store
411:
407:
399:
397:
395:
394:
389:
384:
382:
378:
377:Blaenau Gwent
374:
371:
367:
363:
354:
350:
346:
343:
340:
338:
334:
331:
328:
324:
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310:
306:
302:(before 2005)
300:
293:
286:
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279:
276:
272:
268:
260:25 April 2006
259:
255:
252:
248:
247:Monmouthshire
244:
228:
224:
219:
215:
212:11736 (59.4%)
211:
207:
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195:
192:
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187:
181:
175:
170:
167:
166:Blaenau Gwent
162:
158:
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146:
142:
136:
133:
130:
124:
118:
113:
110:
106:
103:9,121 (25.9%)
102:
98:
95:
92:
86:
83:
80:
74:
68:
63:
60:
59:Blaenau Gwent
55:
51:
47:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1566:
1516:Conservative
1509:MPs by party
1375:Alex Salmond
1349:Conservative
1273:Pre-election
1202:
1144:
1135:
1126:
1117:
1108:
1099:
1090:
1081:
1069:. Retrieved
1064:
1055:
1046:
1014:
1007:
998:
989:
980:
970:
961:
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939:
914:
904:
895:
886:
877:
868:
859:
850:
838:. Retrieved
833:
806:
744:
710:
670:
650:Offices held
636:
628:
621:
598:
586:
574:
549:Labour Party
541:S. O. Davies
538:
534:
530:Cherie Blair
526:Tony Blair's
522:
518:
514:Maggie Jones
507:
499:Pat McFadden
484:
464:
449:Alun Michael
434:
427:
403:
391:
385:
361:
360:
262:(2006-04-25)
240:1 April 1948
198:Succeeded by
190:New Assembly
189:
173:
149:Succeeded by
132:Alun Michael
116:
89:Succeeded by
66:
18:
1607:2006 deaths
1602:1948 births
1405:Mark Durkan
1399:Plaid Cymru
1385:Gerry Adams
1365:Ian Paisley
1258:MPs elected
1127:WalesOnline
1091:WalesOnline
1018:. Y Lolfa.
981:WalesOnline
935:"Peter Law"
915:WalesOnline
829:"Peter Law"
722:Edwina Hart
412:. He ran a
406:Abergavenny
381:independent
292:Independent
288:(2005-2006)
243:Abergavenny
184:Preceded by
154:Edwina Hart
139:Preceded by
77:Preceded by
42: 2003
1596:Categories
1335:Tony Blair
1307:Tony Blair
1296:Tony Blair
1290:Incumbent
784:References
763:Dai Davies
739:Llew Smith
716:1999–2000
706:(new post)
666:(new post)
609:Dai Davies
557:John Marek
475:John Marek
437:Llew Smith
400:Early life
348:Occupation
337:Alma mater
236:1948-04-01
94:Dai Davies
82:Llew Smith
1567:Peter Law
1487:Edinburgh
1389:Sinn Féin
692:Trish Law
632:Nye Bevan
613:Trish Law
577:BBC Wales
418:NHS Trust
375:(AM) for
326:Residence
312:Trish Law
203:Trish Law
174:In office
117:In office
67:In office
25:Peter Law
1562:Reg Keys
1555:See also
1476:Scotland
1065:BBC News
999:BBC News
944:Archived
896:BBC News
807:BBC News
772:See also
630:that of
601:Nantyglo
589:Nantyglo
503:Scotland
495:Ed Balls
404:Born in
330:Nantyglo
318:Children
267:Nantyglo
209:Majority
100:Majority
1572:Vote-OK
1456:England
1429:Respect
1268:Parties
840:10 July
644:Cardiff
561:Wrexham
453:Housing
1526:Labour
1339:Labour
1311:Labour
1300:Labour
1071:15 May
1022:
658:Senedd
366:Labour
308:Spouse
295:(2005)
1495:Wales
510:Wales
275:Wales
271:Gwent
251:Wales
1499:list
1480:list
1470:list
1460:list
1323:the
1073:2010
1020:ISBN
842:2021
756:2006
752:2005
685:2006
681:1999
674:for
497:and
445:1999
257:Died
226:Born
164:for
57:for
1191:BBC
443:in
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