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| Tory AM reopens leader's iPod row | Tory AM reopens leader's iPod row |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Conservative AM who lost his job in a shadow cabinet reshuffle has attacked his leader for making a controversial expenses claim for an iPod. | A Conservative AM who lost his job in a shadow cabinet reshuffle has attacked his leader for making a controversial expenses claim for an iPod. |
| Cardiff North AM Jonathan Morgan lost his health spokesman job in February in a move widely seen as shoring up the position of his boss, Nick Bourne. | |
| In a speech, Mr Morgan is to say inappropriate expenses claims show some politicians have "flawed judgement". | In a speech, Mr Morgan is to say inappropriate expenses claims show some politicians have "flawed judgement". |
| Nick Bourne later apologised for his iPod claim and donated cash to charity. | Nick Bourne later apologised for his iPod claim and donated cash to charity. |
| In the speech to his constituency party, Mr Morgan is expected to say that what he calls the "truly appalling" behaviour of elected politicians has made him ashamed of his profession, one he had always seen as being a noble and honourable vocation. | In the speech to his constituency party, Mr Morgan is expected to say that what he calls the "truly appalling" behaviour of elected politicians has made him ashamed of his profession, one he had always seen as being a noble and honourable vocation. |
| Only until we prove ourselves to be beyond reproach, can we speak with authority about being responsible and prudent with broader public finances Jonathan Morgan's expected speech to party colleagues | Only until we prove ourselves to be beyond reproach, can we speak with authority about being responsible and prudent with broader public finances Jonathan Morgan's expected speech to party colleagues |
| Mr Morgan is to say: "Politicians who have claimed inappropriately or illegitimately, whether it be phantom mortgages, iPods, plasma televisions, trouser presses or duck islands for their ponds, have proven their judgement has been flawed and they have lost the moral, ethical and political capacity to show leadership." | Mr Morgan is to say: "Politicians who have claimed inappropriately or illegitimately, whether it be phantom mortgages, iPods, plasma televisions, trouser presses or duck islands for their ponds, have proven their judgement has been flawed and they have lost the moral, ethical and political capacity to show leadership." |
| The reference to claiming for an iPod is a direct reference to Mr Bourne, whose claim for the music player on his office expenses sparked uproar and became emblematic of what was seen as excessive and inappropriate claiming by some assembly members. | The reference to claiming for an iPod is a direct reference to Mr Bourne, whose claim for the music player on his office expenses sparked uproar and became emblematic of what was seen as excessive and inappropriate claiming by some assembly members. |
| Mr Morgan was known to be deeply shocked when he was told by Mr Bourne in February this year that he would no longer hold the health spokesman role he had held since 2003. | Mr Morgan was known to be deeply shocked when he was told by Mr Bourne in February this year that he would no longer hold the health spokesman role he had held since 2003. |
| 'Inconsistency' | 'Inconsistency' |
| He refused a number of other high profile frontbench jobs, leaving him without any current role in the Welsh assembly beyond the chairmanship of the audit committee. | He refused a number of other high profile frontbench jobs, leaving him without any current role in the Welsh assembly beyond the chairmanship of the audit committee. |
| Now, it seems, Mr Morgan is using his newfound freedom on the backbenches to provide a comprehensive and detailed criticism of his leader's strategy over recent years. | Now, it seems, Mr Morgan is using his newfound freedom on the backbenches to provide a comprehensive and detailed criticism of his leader's strategy over recent years. |
| His speech will also include a number of proposals to fundamentally change the system of allowances for elected members. | His speech will also include a number of proposals to fundamentally change the system of allowances for elected members. |
| He is to say: "As politicians in Wales, we must be disciplined and must understand the constraints that every family in Wales is currently experiencing. | He is to say: "As politicians in Wales, we must be disciplined and must understand the constraints that every family in Wales is currently experiencing. |
| "When households across Wales and the UK are tightening their belts, we must show leadership and demonstrate that we our tightening our belts too. | "When households across Wales and the UK are tightening their belts, we must show leadership and demonstrate that we our tightening our belts too. |
| "Moreover, only until we prove ourselves to be beyond reproach, can we speak with authority about being responsible and prudent with broader public finances." | "Moreover, only until we prove ourselves to be beyond reproach, can we speak with authority about being responsible and prudent with broader public finances." |
| 'Voter hostility' | 'Voter hostility' |
| In addition, he is expected to focus on the prospect of deep public expenditure cuts due to the recession. | In addition, he is expected to focus on the prospect of deep public expenditure cuts due to the recession. |
| He will say: "We have been guilty in previous elections of inconsistency: trading short-term opportunism for political gain. | He will say: "We have been guilty in previous elections of inconsistency: trading short-term opportunism for political gain. |
| "We have been guilty of trying to match free or unaffordable policy gimmicks with other parties, like favouring a universal handout to pensioners to assist with council tax bills, yet opposing a universal handout to cover prescription charges. | "We have been guilty of trying to match free or unaffordable policy gimmicks with other parties, like favouring a universal handout to pensioners to assist with council tax bills, yet opposing a universal handout to cover prescription charges. |
| "We wanted to spend £24m on lighting up every home in Wales but we are against providing breakfasts for every school child in Wales. | "We wanted to spend £24m on lighting up every home in Wales but we are against providing breakfasts for every school child in Wales. |
| "We have also been guilty of not standing up for what we really believe in because we were more afraid of voter hostility. Wales cannot afford this lack of vision. | "We have also been guilty of not standing up for what we really believe in because we were more afraid of voter hostility. Wales cannot afford this lack of vision. |
| 'Skilful leadership' | 'Skilful leadership' |
| "We need to start making our case now to prove to the people of Wales that we have a coherent long-term vision and the mettle to deliver it. | "We need to start making our case now to prove to the people of Wales that we have a coherent long-term vision and the mettle to deliver it. |
| "I am confident that the people of Wales would welcome a bold approach but one that is clear and consistent on the spending of public money. | "I am confident that the people of Wales would welcome a bold approach but one that is clear and consistent on the spending of public money. |
| "It's going to take strong and skilful leadership to make that case and it's going to take political will and courage to initiate the vital change that is needed in order to make a real political breakthrough." | "It's going to take strong and skilful leadership to make that case and it's going to take political will and courage to initiate the vital change that is needed in order to make a real political breakthrough." |