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Roy Jenkins guest this week is a man who’s been variously described as ‘a Labour legend’, and ‘one of the most important and influential Welsh politicians of his generation.’   He’s been said to be an affable bachelor ‘as comfortable with presidents and prime ministers as he is with the people he meets in the local market in Pontypool.’ 

That reference offers a handy clue, especially since it came from former US Senator George Mitchell, architect of the Northern Ireland peace agreement.  He was talking about Paul Murphy, the Torfaen MP who played a key role in the negotiations as a UK government minister and who retired this summer after 28 years in Parliament.

In that time, he served two periods in Northern Ireland, one as Secretary of State, remembered almost universally with warmth and respect.  He was also twice Secretary of State for Wales.

A miner’s son, he was brought up in Abersychan, read history in Oxford, and has retained his family faith as a practicing Roman Catholic - he’s been honoured with a Papal knighthood.

In this conversation he talks of the times in Northern Ireland, when he worked with strong characters such as Mo Mowlem and Ian Paisley; how that time influenced his thinking on devolution; and the faith that has sustained him throughout his life.