THE POLITICS FILE: Paul Flynn - farewell to a political giant

I knew him only in what turned out to be the final few years of his life and can't claim to have known him well, but the man I had the pleasure of knowing was decent, hard-working, and as committed to standing up for his constituents in 2019 as he was in 1987.

He was one of the most gifted speakers in Parliament and possessed probably the sharpest wit of anyone I've ever met.

His mind was clearly not dulled by age and it was clear when I spoke to him in his final few months that the deterioration of his physical health caused him serious frustration.

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All he wanted to do was properly stand up for his constituents and take his place on the Labour backbenches aiming some verbose barbs at the government.

He didn't care if his views or actions were unpopular and wasn't interested in being liked by everyone - a far cry from many more recent politicians who seem to be preoccupied with not offending anyone.

But he commanded respect across the political spectrum regardless of political affiliation.

With more than 30 years in Parliament under his belt, needless to say anecdotes about Mr Flynn's time as MP are in no short supply.

One of my favourites is when, early in his career, the Labour stalwart visited Bassaleg School and found himself being grilled by a very opinionated young man, who he jokingly advised to run as a Conservative MP when he was old enough.

Paul Flynn (right)pictureded two years into his Parliamentary career in 1989 with then-Newport East MP Roy Hughes

That young man was David Davies, who later became Mr Flynn’s Parliamentary nemesis as Conservative MP for Monmouth. Years later Mr Flynn would joke he was responsible for Mr Davies' political career - for good or ill.

While it would be easy to brand someone who spent more than 30 years in Parliament, and longer than that in other elected roles, as a career politician, in reality he was anything but. It just so happened that it was in Parliament that was where he believed he could make the most difference.

And make a difference he did. One of the successes I know he was most proud of was when, in the 1990s, he succeeded in getting bull bars - those large metal frames you used to see fitted to the front of cars and other vehicles - to be banned in the UK due to the danger they posed to pedestrians.

And while his personal efforts to get cannabis legalised for medicinal use were unsuccessful - due more to his own health than a lack of effort - he shone a vital light on the campaign. If the campaign is successful in the future, Mr Flynn will have played no small part in that.

The fact that he was originally from Cardiff but was embraced as a true Newport boy speaks volumes about how much he did for the city.

Paul Flynn, pictured when he was re-elected in 2017

That he had been ill in recent months was well-known and, at 84 years old, he was clearly nearer the end than the beginning, but to have him snatched away like this seems an unfair end for a man who gave so much.

When he was re-elected in 2017 he joked he was at "the half way point" of his career in Parliament, and I had always assumed he would hang on to the bitter end, so his announcement last year that he was planning to stand down betrayed how serious the situation had become.

This clearly was a decision made after much agonising - but in the end it was the best interests of his constituents that he had at heart.

In the end the decision was made for him. And that's how I'll remember him - as a man who always stood up for what he believed in, no matter the obstacles.

Paul Flynn, pictured in 1980, when he served on Gwent County Council

It doesn't escape my notice that's the second Gwent politician we've lost this year, just two months into 2019.

While the stories of Paul Flynn and Steffan Lewis are very different - one of years of service, the other of a young man full of potential - both still had a lot to give, and we're poorer without them.

Whoever replaces Mr Flynn will be under no illusions they have very big shoes to fill. And to whoever it is I say don't try and replace him - there was only ever one Paul Flynn - instead honour his memory by standing up for the people of Newport West and not backing down when the going gets tough.