Trish Law said she asked the Welsh Labour leader to stay away from her husband's funeral last month only for Mr Morgan to attend anyway.

Mr Law split with Labour after a furious row about an all-women shortlist at the last general election causing them to lose the totemic Blaenau Gwent seat once held by Aneurin Bevan.

The first minister's office was told in an exchange of emails, published in today's Western Mail, that the Law family believed he should not attend.

In one, Mr Law's personal assistant tells a member of Mr Morgan's staff: "I have asked Trish and the family re Rhodri's request and they feel that as Rhodri himself indicated, it would cause the family some upset and perhaps it would be better under the circumstances for him not to attend given the fact that this day will be very difficult for the family. "I hope everyone will understand."

Mr Morgan then phoned Mrs Law to ask if he could come, saying he felt as first minister that he should be present.

Mrs Law said: "I said to him 'I have asked that you don't come and my family have asked as well. I can't stop you coming - it's a public place'." She said the first minister's attendance was a "publicity stunt".

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