First Minister Rhodri Morgan has led a cross-party welcome for new Welsh Secretary Peter Hain - and hopes the Neath MP can help him win a second term at the Welsh Assembly

The former Foreign Office minister on Thursday replaced Paul Murphy, who becomes Northern Ireland Secretary, in a reshuffle following the dramatic resignation of UK Education Secretary Estelle Morris.

The former Welsh Office junior minister returns to Cardiff after spearheading the 1997 devolution campaign.

He was a brilliant devolution campaigner - I hope he will be helping us to win a Labour majority [at the Welsh Assembly] on 1 May, 2003

First Minister Rhodri Morgan

Back then, he had decided to act as campaign manager for Alun Michael - and, pointedly, not Mr Morgan - in the battle to head up the inaugural Welsh Assembly.

But both politicians were quick to bury the hatchet on Thursday, pledging to work together.

"That's history," Mr Hain said. "I've been a longstanding friend of Rhodri; we share the same vision for Wales and I want to work with him."

Full of praise, Mr Morgan said: "He was a brilliant [devolution] campaigner. I hope [he will be] helping us win a Labour majority on 1 May, 2003.

"A big effort by the Secretary of State for Wales can make the difference between not winning a majority and winning a majority."

Ambitious Mr Hain was last at the Welsh Office between 1997 and 1999, when he left for Westminster. It is his first Cabinet post since becoming an MP in 1991.

He is now the key communication channel between Cardiff Bay and Westminster - and the relationship with the First Minister is crucial.

Plaid Cymru "cautiously welcomed" the appointment - but warned the "bitter struggle" with Mr Morgan was "sure to lead to tensions" and re-open old wounds in the run-up to May's election.

Conservatives' Welsh Assembly leader Nick Bourne warned Mr Hain's continuing role looking at the European Convention - on EU reform - should not detract from his new job.

Tory Welsh affairs spokesman Nigel Evans said Wales needed stability "and not constant musical chairs of leading politicians".

Liberal Democrats' assembly leader Mike German said he hoped Mr Hain would "help the assembly gain the power and income it needs" - hinting at greater powers for the assembly.

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Torfaen MP Paul Murphy, who was Welsh Secretary for three years, also returns to familiar ground as Northern Ireland Secretary.

He worked alongside Mo Mowlam as security minister at the Northern Ireland office until 1999 while the landmark Good Friday Agreement was hammered out in the peace process.

He was well known and respected by all parties in the province and fully committed to the peace process.

But he returns to the province at a crucial time, shortly after predecessor John Reid suspended the Northern Ireland Assembly due to mutual to avert a walk-out by unionists.

Rhodri Morgan paid tribute to his "tremendous hard work over the past few years."

The Conservatives said Mr Murphy was "a decent man and is well liked in Parliament ... we wish him all the best in the difficult job in Northern Ireland".