25/04/2006

Independent MP Peter Law dies

The independent MP for Blaenau Gwent, Peter Law, has died at the age of 58.

Mr Law, who won the seat at last year's General Election, had been suffering from a brain tumour, which was first diagnosed during the election campaign.

The illness had nearly forced him to withdraw from the campaign.

Mr Law had been a member of the Labour Party for 40 years, but left the party last year in a row over a list of all-women candidates in the Blaenau Gwent constituency. Labour had wanted to increase the number of female MPs in Wales, but the decision to introduce an all-female short-list of candidates caused divisions in the party.

Mr Law stood as an independent candidate and won the seat, overturning Labour's majority of nearly 20,000 in the constituency. The seat had previously been Labour's safest parliamentary seat in Wales.

By-elections will now be held in the constituency.

Mr Law is survived by his wife Trish and five children.

(KMcA/CD)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

23 July 2009
Tories Tipped For By-Election Win
A dozen candidates are vying for a parliamentary seat at the Norwich North by-election today. Polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, however, counting will not commence until tomorrow. The seat became vacant after Labour MP Ian Gibson stood down amid continued expenses revelations.
11 May 2010
Government Still Hangs In The Balance
The future of the UK's hung parliament is still unsure as the Liberal Democrats continue to hold out for a better deal with either Labour or the Tories.
06 February 2004
RMT vote puts it on collision course with New Labour
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) is on collision course with the Labour Party after reaffirming an earlier decision to support other political parties.
08 May 2015
Ed Balls Loses Morley And Outwood Seat
Labour's former shadow chancellor Ed Balls has lost his election seat to Conservative candidate Andrea Jenkyns. Mr Balls lost his Morley and Outwood seat by 422 votes after a recount.
30 March 2012
George Galloway Wins Bradford West With Decisive Victory
Controversial MP George Galloway has won the Bradford West by-election, taking the seat from Labour polling more than 18,000 votes. Receiving 56% of the vote Galloway, expelled from Labour in 2003, said the win was the "most sensational victory" in by-election history.