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Minister 'had lit cigar in pub' Minister 'expecting to lose job'
(about 2 hours later)
The Welsh Assembly Government has refused to confirm or deny that one of its ministers broke the smoking ban by carrying a lit cigar into a pub. The future of Welsh Culture Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas appears to be in serious doubt.
Witnesses claim Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas was reprimanded by a member of the bar staff at the Eli Jenkins pub in Cardiff Bay. BBC Wales understands he has told colleagues that he "does not expect to be in his job by the end of tonight".
It is claimed Mr Thomas then left. The pub's management declined to comment. He has already pulled out of the opening of the Sir Kyffin Williams gallery on Anglesey this evening.
Nick Bourne, leader of the Conservative group in the assembly, has demanded an explanation from the minister. It comes after the Welsh Assembly Government refused to comment on claims Mr Thomas broke the smoking ban by having a lit cigar in Cardiff a pub.
Mr Bourne said the smoking ban was introduced by the assembly government to protect non-smokers who legitimately wanted to enjoy a night out without running the risk of developing a smoking-related disease and that there could be no exceptions to the rules.
Mr Thomas, the Plaid Cymru AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, became an assembly government minister when Labour and his party formed a coalition after the assembly election a year ago.Mr Thomas, the Plaid Cymru AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, became an assembly government minister when Labour and his party formed a coalition after the assembly election a year ago.
He and two party colleagues, Ieuan Wyn Jones and Elin Jones, became the first Plaid ministers in the party's history when they joined Labour in the cabinet.
The doubts over his job escalated on the day that witnesses claimed that he was reprimanded by a member of the bar staff at the Eli Jenkins pub in Cardiff Bay after carrying the cigar into the building.
It is claimed Mr Thomas then left. The pub's management has declined to comment.
The Eli Jenkins overlooks Roald Dahl Plas and the Senedd in Cardiff BayThe pub is well known to journalists, politicians and staff at the nearby Welsh assembly.
Mr Thomas was also in the headlines earlier this month when he mistakenly read out the wrong name when announcing the winner of the Wales Book of the Year.
He named Tom Bullough as the recipient of the English-language version of the award, only to have to correct himself as the author approached him at the Cardiff ceremony to claim the prize.
Mr Thomas apologised on the night and later for his gaffe. The actual winner was veteran writer Dannie Abse.
Mr Thomas, a former shadow health minister in the assembly, had backed the ban on smoking in public places, which was brought in in Wales ahead of a similar ban in England.
Nick Bourne, leader of the Conservative group in the assembly, has demanded an explanation from the minister over the smoking claims.
Mr Bourne said the smoking ban was introduced by the assembly government to protect non-smokers who legitimately wanted to enjoy a night out without running the risk of developing a smoking-related disease and that there could be no exceptions to the rules.