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CymruX tribute to Peter Law AM/ MP, April 2006

Cymru X wishes to express its deepest sympathy at the passing away of Peter Law, and we offer our condolences to his family during this difficult time. Peter Law was an exceptional Politician- he was always ready to voice his opinion and to represent the people.

He was a people's Politician, and considered their opinions as opposed to being tied down by the Cardiff Bay Establishment. He was an example of a hard-working, campaigning Politician, and an inspiration for young people to take part in politics. Many of us in Cymru X who knew Peter Law will always remember his strong and inspirational speech last year in the debate against top up fees in the Assembly- for standing up for students in their fight against more fees and more debt. He was key in the vote in stopping top-up fees in Wales. We must remember the positive work that he carried out. He will be missed within the life of Welsh Politics, which he made so vibrant. 

Part of Peter Law's speech against top-up Fees in the Assembly 2005

‘ This is a disgrace as far as the Labour Pary is concerned. We are having this debate because, in 2001, the Labour Party reneged on a promise. I do not know whether I should be surprised about that because Tony Blair has privatised the education system, and his vicar in Wales, Rhodri Morgan, is in the same category because he has not stood up and said that we will not have top-ip fees. That is the mistake. Where is the principle from the Labour movement in allowing people to have the right to free education? That is the disgrace here...I want a universal right of free education, which ( referring to Huw Lewis Merthyr AM) you ought to be supproting, as a one-time socialist; however, as someone who has always put his career before his principles, I understand why you are saying this today. You might like to tell the people of Merthyr why you spent £70 million on a debating chamber next door, when these young people are trying to get life changes. That is the difference between our principles. That is the point. You have to get your priorities right, if you believe in opportunities for these young people. We do not want to load them down with another £9,000 of debt; we want to enrich the whole nation. ...Free education for these people will enrich the nation. Today, it is as simple as this- in the time that I have left- First Minister: you must get up and make a definitive statement that there will not be any top-up fees in Wales. Nothing less will do and that is what the people expect. That is what we must do for these young people who are our future....You have to wake up because you can run, but you cannot hide. If you cannot find the money- and there is a big block of money here- you get your priorities right, or you go up to London and speak to your great mentor and say ‘We need more money down here’. That is what being in Government is all about. I do not need to give you these lessons beacause you know this better than I do. It is all about putting principles before careers; do not forget that.’