Labour former lawyer basic Lord Morris of Aberavon dies aged 91
L
ord Morris of Aberavon lived a lifetime of “exemplary public service”, Sir Tony Blair mentioned in tribute to his former attorney general after his demise on the age of 91.
As nicely as Sir Tony’s Cabinet, John Morris, as he was then, served in these of two different Labour prime ministers.
He was Welsh secretary from 1974 to 1979 below Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan.
Lord Morris was Wales’ longest-serving MP, representing Aberavon for 41 years, from 1959 to 2001.
First getting into authorities in 1964 within the Wilson administration, he was a junior minister within the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Transport, earlier than turning into minister of state for defence tools in 1968 in the course of the Nigerian civil conflict.
He served as Secretary of State for Wales all through the 1974 to 1979 Labour authorities.
Sir Tony appointed the barrister as lawyer basic after his landslide victory in 1997, a submit he held for 2 years on the time of the Kosovo battle.
The former prime minister mentioned: “John Morris lived a life of exemplary public service.
“His extraordinary career, being a minister under three different Labour leaders, was unprecedented.
“But the reason prime ministers like myself chose him so regularly was because of his character and demeanour.
“He was immensely capable, could always be relied upon and never deviated from having the interests of the country at heart.
“I personally was hugely grateful to him particularly through the difficult times of the Kosovo conflict.
“I pay fond and heartfelt tribute to him.”
Welsh well being minister Eluned Morgan mentioned she was “very sad” to listen to of his demise and famous that he was “the last living member of Harold Wilson’s cabinet”.
BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards described him as “one of the most distinguished Welshmen of his time” and “one of the fathers of devolution”.