Second time around for Murphy

Phil Parry
BBC Wales News

Paul Murphy's controversial views on devolution are known

It's second time around for Paul Murphy - returning to a job he held for three years from 1999.

But those were difficult times - he was the first Welsh Secretary to be appointed after the devolved Welsh assembly was established in Cardiff Bay and he had to fend off accusations he was not doing enough to further the cause of devolution.

During his first period as Welsh Secretary the assembly's Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas said he had only taken a formal part in the

assembly activities on a few occasions. Paul Murphy responded that he was "surprised" by the charge.

Paul Murphy was a firm opponent of devolution in 1979 - a treasurer of the anti-devolution campaign - and there were widespread suspicions that he was less than enthusiastic about the new assembly when it was created.

No clamour

Near the end of his time in the Wales office, Plaid Cymru criticised the low number of press releases which were issued by his office - an average of little more than seven a month over the three years of his time as Welsh Secretary.

During that time, Paul Murphy said there was "no clamour" for extra powers for the assembly - powers that did eventually come to Cardiff Bay through the 2006 Government of Wales Act.

But when he was Welsh Secretary he was branded "out of touch" with a growing feeling in Wales for more powers to be transferred to Cardiff. Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones talked about "devolution dinosaurs" in the Labour party.

Yet on Thursday Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minster, welcomed the appointment of Paul Murphy and said he was looking forward to working closely with him as the Welsh Assembly Government tried to gain greater powers.

Paul Murphy says he will work closely with the new assembly

After leaving the Welsh secretary's job, he moved to Northern Ireland where he was secretary of state for three years. He was returning to the office where he had been a minister under the late Mo Mowlam helping to broker the historic Good Friday agreement.

But Paul Murphy's views on the coalition government in Wales have been just as controversial. As Labour was about to vote on the proposal for coalition government with Plaid Cymru last summer he urged his colleagues to reject the deal.

"A coalition with the biggest opposition party whose ideals and values do not sit comfortably with many of our own should not be entered into lightly," he said at the time.

On Thursday he was asked whether he would be banging the drum for more powers to come to the assembly.

"No," he replied bluntly.

"I will be trying to ensure good services for the people of Wales."

His well-known diplomatic skills could be sorely-needed as he deals with the coalition government in Cardiff Bay.