Sir Tony Blair leads tributes to Labour peer Lord Morris, who has died aged 91
Sir Tony Blair led tributes today to former Cabinet Minister Lord Morris of Aberavon who has died aged 91.
The former Prime Minister said the peer lived a life of "exemplary public service".
As well as Sir Tony's Cabinet, John Morris, as he was then, served under two other Labour prime ministers.
He was Welsh Secretary from 1974 to 1979 under Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan.
Lord Morris was Wales' longest-serving MP, representing Aberavon for 41 years, from 1959 to 2001.
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First entering government in 1964 in the Wilson administration, he was a junior minister in the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Transport, before becoming a Defence Minister in 1968 during the Nigerian civil war.
Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair paid tribute (AFP via Getty Images)Sir Tony appointed the barrister Attorney-General, the Government’s top law officer, after his landslide victory in 1997 - a post he held for two years at the time of the Kosovo conflict.
The former PM said: "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.
James Callaghan kept the MP on as Welsh Secretary (Popperfoto via Getty Images)"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 Health Minister Eluned Morgan said his death left her "very sad" and noted he was "the last living member of Harold Wilson's Cabinet".
He also served Labour PM Harold Wilson (Mirrorpix)BBC news presenter Huw Edwards described him as "one of the most distinguished Welshmen of his time" and "one of the fathers of devolution".
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Current Aberavon MP Stephen Kinnock, son of former Labour leader Neil, said: “John Morris served the people of Aberavon from 1959 to 2001 - an extraordinary record of public service.
“He was a pioneer of devolution, and a constant source of wisdom and insight throughout his distinguished career.
“My thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this sad time.”
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