BLAENAU Gwent MP and AM Peter Law died this morning after suffering from a brain tumour.

The popular politician, aged 58, died peacefully at home in the early hours.

The tumour was first diagnosed during the general election campaign last year. He leaves a widow, two sons and three daughters.

Mr Law left Labour in protest over the all-women shortlist imposed on the Blaenau Gwent constituency for the 2005 election.

He went on to win the seat, as an Independent, from Labour's Maggie Jones, overturning Labour's 19,000 majority.

Former Blaenau Gwent MP Llew Smith paid tribute to him. He said: "Peter was a grand friend, colleague and socialist. He showed amazing courage."

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said: "Despite his recent estrangement from the Labour party he maintained many admirers."

* TRIBUTES flooded in following the death of Blaenau Gwent MP and AM Peter Law this morning.

Blaenau Gwent MP Llew Smith paid tribute to his friend and former colleague.

He said: "Peter was determined to stand up for the people of Blaenau Gwent to ensure that the radical and proud traditions of the community continued.

"He did that even though he was experiencing really awful times in terms of his illness. He represented all that was good about Blaenau Gwent, and was much loved and much admired by the people."

Ebbw Vale councillor Brian Scully, a first cousin of Peter Law who worked with him on Blaenau Gwent council for more than 30 years, said: "He was a very committed man, very amiable and very talented. He had a vision for the community and he was very highly respected.

"It is a great loss and very sad. He was totally committed to the people of Blaenau Gwent. His family was very important to him and they were always at the fore."

Independent Brynmawr town councillors Sue Ball and Robert Ball said: "It's such a shame that Peter Law, who worked hard for Blaenau Gwent, had just got to where he had wanted to be."

Ian Morgan, who was expelled from the Labour party for signing Peter Law's nomination papers, said: "It's a tragedy. Peter was a very good man.

"He would've done an awful lot for Blaenau Gwent but Fate has a way of making twists. "He would always listen."

Islwyn MP Don Touhig, who pleaded with Mr Law not to stand as an Independent MP, said he and Mr Law may have had their differences but had remained friends.

"People will remember Peter as a hard-working constituency MP," he added.

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said: "Peter Law was a popular politician and I extend my condolences to his family and his many supporters."

Dai Davies, Peter Law's close friend and agent in the last election, said: "The people of Blaenau Gwent have lost a true champion. He battled right to the bitter end."

* Peter John Law was born on April 1, 1948, in Abergavenny.

He leaves a widow, Trish, two sons, Rhidian and Fenton, and three daughters, Seirian, Delyth and Ceirian.

Peter Law, 58, was a former chairman of Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust.

He joined Labour as a teenager, began his working life as a grocer and became a councillor in Blaenau Gwent at 22.

Mr Law was first elected as an Assembly member in 1999 and served in Alun Michael's Assembly cabinet.

He was sacked by Alun Michael's successor, Rhodri Morgan, in 2000.

It was the Labour row over the all-women shortlist for the 2005 general election which triggered Peter Law's rebellion.

Labour wanted to boost numbers of women MPs but the move created deep rifts within the party.

These culminated in Peter Law standing against union official Maggie Jones as an independent candidate.

He withdrew from the race after discovering he had a brain tumour, but two weeks before polling day, after six hours of surgery, he decided to continue his challenge. He won a huge victory against Labour with a 9,121 majority, overturning a 19,000 majority in what was Labour's safest parliamentary seat.

His expulsion from the Labour party also lost the Assembly its majority in Cardiff Bay.

Last December he was named Welsh politician of the year at the Welsh Political Awards.