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Minister 'expecting to lose job' Cigar row minister 'to lose job'
(about 1 hour later)
The future of Welsh Culture Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas appears to be in serious doubt. A Welsh Assembly Government minister accused of breaking the smoking ban says he expects to lose his job.
BBC Wales understands he has told colleagues that he "does not expect to be in his job by the end of tonight". Culture Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas is said to have been reprimanded by staff at a Cardiff pub after witnesses say he walked in holding a lit cigar.
He has already pulled out of the opening of the Sir Kyffin Williams gallery on Anglesey this evening. It is the latest gaffe to have put Mr Thomas in the headlines.
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. Earlier this month, the Plaid Cymru AM apologised after mistakenly reading out the wrong name when announcing the winner of the Wales Book of the Year.
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. Neither Mr Thomas, the Eli Jenkins pub in Cardiff or the Welsh Assembly Government has commented on claims he was spotted wandering in to the bar with the lit cigar in his hand.
BBC Wales understands that the AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr has told colleagues he does not expect to be in his job by the end of Friday.
The Eli Jenkins is within yards of the Welsh assembly in Cardiff Bay
He has already pulled out of the opening of the Sir Kyffin Williams gallery on Anglesey on Friday evening.
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones is taking his place at the opening of the gallery, dedicated to the late Welsh artist Sir Kyffin Williams.
Mr Thomas 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 Eli Jenkins is well known to journalists, politicians and staff at the nearby Welsh assembly.
It is claimed Mr Thomas then left. The pub's management has declined to comment. The smoking row comes two weeks after Mr Thomas read out the wrong name when announcing the winner of the Wales Book of the Year.
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.
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.
The moment the minister realised he had read out the wrong name
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.