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Torfaen MP Paul Murphy to stand down at general election Torfaen MP Paul Murphy to stand down at general election
(35 minutes later)
Paul Murphy is to stand down as Labour MP for Torfaen after 28 years in parliament. Former Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy is to stand down as a Labour MP after 28 years in parliament.
Elected in 1987, he served two spells as Welsh Secretary and one as Northern Ireland Secretary. Elected as MP for Torfaen in 1987, he served two spells as Welsh Secretary and one as Northern Ireland Secretary, where he was credited for playing a key role in the peace process.
He was credited with playing a major role in the peace process as a junior minister in that department. Mr Murphy, 66, said it had been "a difficult decision" to step down but "the right thing to do".
Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was "a man of integrity and honour".
He went on to describe Mr Murphy as "a diligent and passionate Member of Parliament, driven by a burning commitment to social justice and to the creation of a fairer Britain".
'Support and loyalty'
Announcing his decision to stand down, Mr Murphy said: "This has been a difficult decision for me, but I think it's the right thing to do.
"With a fixed five year term, I feel it would be better for a younger person to carry the Labour flag in our valley.
"I will miss the work in the constituency and the House of Commons, but it would be wrong of me to stand again and then not have the stamina to be an effective MP."
He added: "It has been an honour to represent my home constituency in Parliament. I value the support and loyalty that people in this valley have shown me, and I will always be thankful to them."
First Minister Carwyn Jones paid tribute to Mr Murphy as "one of the great Welsh political figures".First Minister Carwyn Jones paid tribute to Mr Murphy as "one of the great Welsh political figures".
"He played a major role in securing peace in Northern Ireland and our current and future generations across the UK owe him a debt of gratitude for that alone."
Mr Jones added that while Welsh Secretary, Mr Murphy had combined "calm authority with good humour and won the respect of politicians from across the political divide".