FORMER Labour leader Neil Kinnock today praised his "political hero" Nye Bevan and his wife Jennie Lee as he unveiled a blue plaque in their honour.

The commemorative plaque was put up on the townhouse in Chelsea, London, where the left-wing couple came up with plans to revolutionise health and education by creating the NHS and the Open University.

Paying tribute to the couple, Lord Kinnock said: "This house was the home, the lair, of the greatest ever lion and lioness of Labour, Aneurin Bevan and Jennie Lee.

"They are among the most inspiring and magnetic political figures of the 20th century."

He said the couple were "poets of politics" who changed Britain forever.

Lord Kinnock was born in Tredegar, as was his hero Bevan, and met him four times.

Describing him, Mr Kinnock said: "He was merry, magnificent.

"I was brought up to treat him with huge respect, even reverence."

He said Mr Bevan held a coveted spot alongside his sporting idols in his pantheon of heroes.

"As I grew up I came to recognise his gigantic political influence," he added.

Lord Kinnock was joined by his wife Glenys and son, the MP Stephen Kinnock, at the gathering this morning.

A crowd of people, including two 10-year-olds from a nearby primary school who had studied Mr Bevan in circle time, crowded into the street to watch the unveiling.

The plaque, organised by English Heritage, is the first to be put up to a husband and wife duo.

Lord Kinnock criticised what he said were attacks on housing, health and education - services he said the couple fought to expand and protect.

He said: "Privatisers and philistines, cutters and controllers, and the licenced-assassins of the Treasury have all sought to shrink and squeeze the advances.

"But despite all that vandalism, the NHS is the most admired and best-loved of all British institutions, and the Open University thrives as a crucible of learning and fresh life chances."

A cheer erupted as Lord Kinnock pulled the curtain back to reveal the tribute.

Jaselle Williams, Mr Bevan's great-great niece, also attended the ceremony and told of her family's pride at his legacy.

She joked that her father would say he "never had to buy a drink in Tredegar again" when he married into the Bevan family.

But she warned that she does not think the NHS is being protected today, saying: "Unfortunately I don't think it's being safeguarded, especially in England where we are seeing massive cuts to the NHS.

"I can't imagine that Nye or Jennie would approve of the way the NHS in England is being shepherded at the moment.

"The NHS is an institution that touches everyone in their lives and it's our best valued institution and I hope it will still be there for further generations."