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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Minister 'expecting to lose job' | Minister 'expecting to lose job' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The future of Welsh Culture Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas appears to be in serious doubt. | The future of Welsh Culture Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas appears to be in serious doubt. |
| BBC Wales understands he has told colleagues that he "does not expect to be in his job by the end of tonight". | BBC Wales understands he has told colleagues that he "does not expect to be in his job by the end of tonight". |
| He has already pulled out of the opening of the Sir Kyffin Williams gallery on Anglesey this evening. | He has already pulled out of the opening of the Sir Kyffin Williams gallery on Anglesey this evening. |
| It comes after the Welsh Assembly Government refused to comment on claims Mr Thomas broke the smoking ban by having a lit cigar in a Cardiff pub. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 Bay The 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |