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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tory backtracks on Morgan attack | Tory backtracks on Morgan attack |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne has dissociated himself from a dossier issued by his own party attacking First Minister Rhodri Morgan. | Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne has dissociated himself from a dossier issued by his own party attacking First Minister Rhodri Morgan. |
| Tories had issued a 39-page dossier on Mr Morgan calling him the "Clown Prince of Wales" and even criticising his dress sense and hairstyle. | Tories had issued a 39-page dossier on Mr Morgan calling him the "Clown Prince of Wales" and even criticising his dress sense and hairstyle. |
| However, Mr Bourne said it went too far, it was not issued by him, and he had "made his peace" with Mr Morgan. | However, Mr Bourne said it went too far, it was not issued by him, and he had "made his peace" with Mr Morgan. |
| But Tory sources told BBC Wales that Mr Bourne had signed off the dossier. | But Tory sources told BBC Wales that Mr Bourne had signed off the dossier. |
| Mr Bourne told the Richard Evans programme on BBC Radio Wales: "We have good personal relations and I hope we always will. | Mr Bourne told the Richard Evans programme on BBC Radio Wales: "We have good personal relations and I hope we always will. |
| "It was a dossier that was issued by my party and it was not issued by me personally. I did think in certain respects it had gone too far Nick Bourne, Welsh Conservative leader | |
| "I spoke to Rhodri as soon as I got back on Tuesday (from the Conservative conference) and sought him out and we had a very good conversation. | |
| "I did think in certain respects it had gone too far. I told him that. | "I did think in certain respects it had gone too far. I told him that. |
| "We have our political differences and let's focus on those. | "We have our political differences and let's focus on those. |
| "I have given a very clear instruction to my assembly members and to my staff that is what we do." | "I have given a very clear instruction to my assembly members and to my staff that is what we do." |
| The document claimed Mr Morgan's "behaviour and comments" had become "increasingly erratic and unusual." | The document claimed Mr Morgan's "behaviour and comments" had become "increasingly erratic and unusual." |
| Describing the first minister as "noted for his unique dress sense and hairstyle" the dossier listed occasions when it suggests "eyebrows were raised by his attire." | Describing the first minister as "noted for his unique dress sense and hairstyle" the dossier listed occasions when it suggests "eyebrows were raised by his attire." |
| 'Unpleasant' politics | |
| For example, the document observed that Mr Morgan wore a "woolly red jumper and beige cargo pants" at a function in honour of the former Swansea West Labour MP Donald [now Lord] Anderson in 2005. | For example, the document observed that Mr Morgan wore a "woolly red jumper and beige cargo pants" at a function in honour of the former Swansea West Labour MP Donald [now Lord] Anderson in 2005. |
| The dossier accused Mr Morgan of looking to the past rather than preparing for the future, said he had blamed others for his "own shortcomings" and been guilty of "storing up trouble for the future, for his successors, and for Wales." | The dossier accused Mr Morgan of looking to the past rather than preparing for the future, said he had blamed others for his "own shortcomings" and been guilty of "storing up trouble for the future, for his successors, and for Wales." |
| However, Conservative sources have contradicted Mr Bourne's version of events. | However, Conservative sources have contradicted Mr Bourne's version of events. |
| They claimed the dossier, which was issued in Mr Bourne's name, had been "signed off" by him. | They claimed the dossier, which was issued in Mr Bourne's name, had been "signed off" by him. |
| Speaking shortly after the document was issued last weekend, Mr Morgan said he had heard that "there is some really unpleasant political stuff going on and you just have to accept that." | Speaking shortly after the document was issued last weekend, Mr Morgan said he had heard that "there is some really unpleasant political stuff going on and you just have to accept that." |
| "I've chosen to ignore them completely," he said. | "I've chosen to ignore them completely," he said. |