[6] He was a management trainee with the CWS, before becoming a lecturer in Government and History at Ebbw Vale College of Further Education, now part of Coleg Gwent.

[8] In 2002 he moved departments and became Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, a role in which he served until his dismissal in the reshuffle that followed the 2005 general election, when he became chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

He also served as the British chair of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body and an executive committee member of the British-American Parliamentary Group.

In 2013, Murphy wrote a report on the lack of success of applicants to Oxbridge universities from Welsh state schools.

[12] The report suggested the creation of the Seren Network, a set of regional hubs to link schools to top universities.

[17] Subsequently, in May 2013 the MP voted against the bill's third and final reading,[18] opposing the legalisation of same-sex marriage within England and Wales.

[19] Other claims submitted by Paul Murphy relate to purchases of a toilet roll holder, new carpeting and a television, as well as mortgage payments and stamp duty.

[20][21] Murphy was ordered to repay some of the money improperly "claimed back" in the amount of £2,237.72 in cleaning costs, mortgage payments and a wardrobe that exceeded the guideline price.