THE vicar who will conduct MP Peter Law's funeral service launched a stinging attack on the government last night, saying it had "elements of dishonesty and immorality".

And the Reverend Geoff Waggett, the rector of Ebbw Vale, the son of a long-serving Newport Labour councillor, says he has turned his back on the party he joined as a young man.

Mr Waggett's father Jim was a Labour councillor in Newport and Caerleon for 20 years, but the Church in Wales vicar says: "I haven't belonged to the Labour party for quite a number of years. It bears no recognition to the Labour party I knew as a youngster.

"We've got a government that nationally has elements of dishonesty and immorality and they must be dealt with."

The government is currently under fire after the revelations that at least five foreign prisoners who should have been deported at the end of their sentences had stayed in Britain and committed further crimes.

There have been thousands of job losses in the NHS and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has admitted an affair.

Mr Waggett said: "I preach forgiveness and I believe that if there is the possibility of John Prescott putting things back together with his wife, then he should not have to go.

"But his colleagues should not immediately jump to his defence. They must first publicly say that he has done wrong. Public figures have to live as examples to other people."

Mr Waggett, who will conduct Mr Law's funeral on Thursday at Ebbw Vale's Christchurch, is also insisting that Mr Law told him he had been offered a peerage not to stand in the 2005 General Election - something Labour denies.

Mr Waggett said Blaenau Gwent MP Mr Law, who died of cancer last week at the age of 58, told him he had been offered a seat in the House of Lords, providing he stood down.

"I've got no doubt that it's true. I think the speed at which the government responded displays a lack of integrity and a lack of real investigation."

Allegations by Mr Law's widow Trish over a peerage offer are to be "reviewed" by Scotland Yard.

Mrs Law is considering standing as an independent in the constituency.

Mr Waggett, who signed Mr Law's nomination papers, said he felt he needed to defend Mr Law's legacy, which would be one of "integrity".

He said: "There is extreme affection for the man. And there are certainly many like me, who don't want to see that legacy thrown away."

Mr Waggett said the funeral is set to be attended by hundreds of people.

"We had a special relationship, and it is a privilege to take his funeral. Peter was a remarkable man."

A Welsh Labour party spokesman said: "This isn't the first time Reverend Waggett has attacked the Labour Party and we are sure it won't be the last.

"However, we do not want to engage in a public row at such a sensitive time, although we did find it necessary to respond to what was a very specific allegation."