TODAY we send our warmest congratulations to Rosemary Butler, named as a Dame in the Queen's new year honours list.

In our view Mrs Butler is a worthy recipient of the honour.

She has been a remarkable servant to Newport during more than 40 years as a local politician.

Mrs Butler had been a Labour councillor for Caerleon since the early 1970s before she was elected to the National Assembly when its was created in 1999. She has been the AM for Newport West since then.

Throughout the Assembly's existence she has been one of its central figures, whether as a minister, committee chair, or in recent years as Deputy Presiding Officer and then Presiding Officer.

Mrs Butler succeeded Dafydd Elis-Thomas in 2011, becoming the Assembly's second Presiding Officer and the first woman to hold the role.

For many people across Wales and the wider world, Rosemary Butler has become the face of the Assembly.

This newspaper has always had a good relationship with Mrs Butler. We do not share all her views, most notably we disagree with her opinion that the Assembly should have more AMs.

But we recognise the wonderful service she has given to the people of Caerleon, of Newport, and of Wales, for more than four decades.

And we are delighted to be one of the first to say congratulations to Dame Rosemary.