Morgan 'ignored wishes not to attend funeral'

The Welsh first minister, Rhodri Morgan, attended the funeral of independent MP Peter Law against the family's wishes and as a "publicity stunt", his widow said today.

Trish Law said she asked the Welsh Labour leader to stay away from her husband's funeral last month only for Mr Morgan to attend anyway.

The first minister's office was told in an exchange of emails, published in today's Western Mail, that the Law family believed he should not attend.

In one, Mr Law's personal assistant tells a member of Mr Morgan's staff: "I have asked Trish and the family re Rhodri's request and they feel that as Rhodri himself indicated, it would cause the family some upset and perhaps it would be better under the circumstances for him not to attend given the fact that this day will be very difficult for the family. "I hope everyone will understand."

Mr Morgan then phoned Mrs Law to ask if he could come, saying he felt as first minister that he should be present.

Mrs Law said: "I said to him 'I have asked that you don't come and my family have asked as well. I can't stop you coming - it's a public place'." She said the first minister's attendance was a "publicity stunt".

Mr Morgan sacked Mr Law as environment, local government and planning minister when he formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats in 2000.

An assembly spokesman said: "The first minister attended Peter Law's funeral service to pay his respects to a long-standing colleague. Out of respect to Peter, he does not believe it is appropriate to discuss private conversations relating to the funeral service."

The battle for Blaenau Gwent has become increasingly bitter in the past few days. Polls put Mrs Law ahead in the race for the assembly seat, while Labour candidate Owen Smith is on course to win Mr Law's former parliamentary seat in the June 29 double by-election.

The Guardian