Paul Flynn dies: longstanding Labour MP for Newport West dead at 84

Long-serving Labour MP Paul Flynn has died at the age of 84.

Tributes have been paid across the political spectrum to Mr Flynn, who represented Newport West for 32 years.

His death will mean the first by-election of the year in his seat.

The politician held several shadow cabinet posts during his parliamentary career, including a brief stint as shadow secretary of state for Wales in 2016.

However, he had not been active in the Commons in recent months.

In recent years Mr Flynn had been known as a strong advocate for the medicinal use of cannabis and in 2017 urged people to "break the law" by smoking cannabis at the Houses of Parliament.

His local association said in a statement on Twitter on Sunday night: "It's with great sadness that we let you know that our MP, Paul Flynn, has died today.

"Paul is a hero to many of us in the Newport Labour family and we mourn for his family's loss. We would ask that the privacy of Paul's family is respected at this difficult time."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "I'm very sad at the passing of my good friend Paul Flynn. He had such love for Newport, knowledge of radical South Wales history and a dry wit.

"He was an independent thinker who was a credit to the Labour Party. He will be greatly missed."

First Minister of Wales and Welsh Labour leader Mark Drakeford described Mr Flynn as a "giant of the Welsh Labour movement".

He added: "Today's news will be a source of great sadness to all those who knew him.

"He was one of the most effective communicators of his generation - inside the House of Commons and outside. But it was Paul's willingness to speak up for causes beyond the political mainstream which marked him out as a politician of real courage and integrity."

Conservative MP Alun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales, also paid tribute, tweeting: "He was an exceptional constituency MP & it was a privilege to work with him taking the Wales Bill through Parliament when he was Shadow SoS for Wales. We always had a warm & friendly relationship."