Miliband pays tribute to “exceptional colleague and trusted friend” Peter Hain

After Peter Hain confirmed he’s stepping down from the front bench, Ed Miliband has released the following statement praising his “enormous contribution:

“Peter Hain has made an enormous contribution from the front bench over the past 16 years.

“In government his Ministerial career was extraordinarily diverse including time in the Foreign Office, the Northern Ireland Office where he played a crucial role in the Northern Ireland peace process and at Work and Pensions. He also had the distinction of serving as Leader of the House for two years and remains respected across the House as one of our most distinguished Parliamentarians.

“He has been a tireless champion of Wales for the past three years as Welsh Secretary and Shadow Secretary.

“His political campaigning has not just been limited to his time in Parliament, before becoming an MP he played an important role in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa.

“Most of all he has been an exceptional colleague and trusted friend both in government and in opposition. He will be a great loss to the Shadow Cabinet but we know his service to Wales and to the Labour Party will continue for many years to come.”