FORMER Labour Assembly Member Peter Law is going head to head with his old party to try and win one of the safest seats in Britain.

Mr Law confirmed he will stand as an independent candidate in the General Election in protest at the all-women shortlist which saw Maggie Jones being selected as the Labour parliamentary candidate for Blaenau Gwent.

It comes just two weeks after Mr Law cancelled the launch of his parliamentary campaign when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Now, after undergoing surgery, he says he is fit and ready to fight to win the seat.

Mr Law said: "I had a lot of time to reflect on it while I was in hospital and the people who came to see me and sent me letters and messages of support said they wanted to see my name on the ballot paper.

"I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support I have received, people were saying Blaenau Gwent was like a ship without a captain.

"I spoke to my wife and family and discussed it with my doctors, and I felt I wanted to do it and could do it.

"The people of Blaenau Gwent have been used and abused and I am ashamed that the Labour Party of which I was a member of should have done that.

"I said 18 months ago that I would provide the people of Blaenau Gwent with a choice, and I will.

"The people are a great therapy for me."

The announcement poses two immediate problems for Labour. It will have to defend a seat regarded as rock solid, and it also lost its working majority in the assembly.

Maggie Jones said she regretted Mr Law's decision.

She said: "But the choice is about the next government - do people want to go back to the Tories or go forward with Labour? I believe people will in large numbers vote Labour in this constituency."

Wales Office Minister Don Touhig said he still believed Labour would win.

And Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: "I just hope he doesn't live to regret it."

Outgoing MP for Blaenau Gwent Llew Smith said there was huge support for Mr Law and he believed he could win the seat.

Labour are defending a 19,313 majority, a seat which was previously held by Labour legends such as NHS founder Aneurin Bevan and former party leader Michael Foot.

Other candidates standing in Blaenau Gwent are: John Price for Plaid Cymru, Phillip Lee for the Conservatives and Brian Thomas for the Liberal Democrats.