John Morris, Lord Morris of Aberavon

 

John Morris, former MP for Aberavon and government minister both as attorney-general and secretary of state for Wales, has just died. It would be fair to say that he divided opinion locally. His major contribution to the infrastructure of Port Talbot was the M4 urban motorway, which has proved a mixed blessing. 

However, friends and political opponents alike have acknowledged his unwavering support for devolution. His voice may well have been critical in the counsels of the national Labour party, which has traditionally been loth to devolve power from Westminster. 

The picture shows Lord Morris, the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, the Mayor of Neath and Lord Livsey after a 2009 ceremony celebrating the memory of another former local M.P., Sir Samuel Thomas Evans..