The Rt. Hon Paul Murphy, MP

Paul Murphy has been MP for Torfaen since 1987.

Paul Murphy was brought back into Government in January 2008, when Prime Minister Gordon Brown made him Secretary of State for Wales.

In addition to his duties as Secretary of State, Paul Murphy was appointed Minister for Digital Inclusion, and given responsibility for overseeing the British-Irish Council and the joint ministerial committees. He also chairs Cabinet committees on Local Government and the Regions, and on data security and information assurance.

In May 2005, Paul Murphy was appointed Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, serving until his re-appointment to the Cabinet. Prior to that, Paul served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from October 2002 until May 2005 and was Secretary of State for Wales from 1999 until 2002.

Paul Murphy was Minister of State for Northern Ireland with responsibility for Political Development from 1997 to 1999, acting as Mo Mowlam's deputy in the talks that culminated in the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. In 1999, he was named 'Minister to Watch' at the Spectator Parliamentary Awards.

In opposition, he served as Shadow Welsh Office Minister (1988-1994), Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland, Shadow Foreign Office Minister and Shadow Minister for Defence.

Paul was born in 1948 and was educated at St Francis Roman Catholic School in Abersychan, West Monmouth School in Pontypool and Oriel College, Oxford. He was a management trainee with the CWS, before becoming a lecturer in Government and History at Ebbw Vale College of Further Education.

Paul joined the Labour Party at the age of 15. He is also a member of the Transport and General Workers Union. He was Secretary of the Pontypool/Torfaen Constituency Labour Party from 1971 to 1987. Paul was a member of Torfaen Council from 1973 to 1987 and was Chair of its Finance Committee from 1976 to 1986. He contested Wells Constituency in Somerset in the 1979 General Election.

Paul was made a Papal Knight of St. Gregory in 1997, a Privy Counsellor in 1999 and an Honorary Fellow of Oriel College in 2000. He is also a Visiting Parliamentary Fellow of St. Anthony's College, Oxford.

Paul's leisure interests include classical music and cooking.

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