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Morgan faces his final questions Morgan faces his final questions
(about 1 hour later)
The last questions faced by Rhodri Morgan in the Welsh assembly before the election showed the different worlds political parties inhabit.The last questions faced by Rhodri Morgan in the Welsh assembly before the election showed the different worlds political parties inhabit.
In Mr Morgan's Wales, the economy, health service and education are all on the up, while in the opposition universe the reverse is true.In Mr Morgan's Wales, the economy, health service and education are all on the up, while in the opposition universe the reverse is true.
If the election goes badly for Labour, this might have been the last first minister's questions for Mr Morgan.If the election goes badly for Labour, this might have been the last first minister's questions for Mr Morgan.
Or he may have two years more of them to go before he steps down in 2009.Or he may have two years more of them to go before he steps down in 2009.
Nick Bourne, who leads the Conservatives in the assembly, launched the first attack on Mr Morgan.Nick Bourne, who leads the Conservatives in the assembly, launched the first attack on Mr Morgan.
Hospital waiting lists, according to Mr Bourne, had gone up substantially since 1999, half the people of Wales could not get an NHS dentist and health trusts were "riddled with debt".Hospital waiting lists, according to Mr Bourne, had gone up substantially since 1999, half the people of Wales could not get an NHS dentist and health trusts were "riddled with debt".
Mr Bourne was just getting into his stride, claiming a "funding gap" between the amount of money schools in Wales receive compared to England had "continued to grow," and council tax bills had almost doubled.Mr Bourne was just getting into his stride, claiming a "funding gap" between the amount of money schools in Wales receive compared to England had "continued to grow," and council tax bills had almost doubled.
Laughter erupted around the chamber when he said he didn't want to ask a question about any of these issues, and then made a less partisan point about physical attacks on teachers and NHS workers.Laughter erupted around the chamber when he said he didn't want to ask a question about any of these issues, and then made a less partisan point about physical attacks on teachers and NHS workers.
Mr Morgan had sympathy for Mr Bourne's concerns about assaults on public servants but called the rest of the Tory leader's words "an absurd load of garbage".Mr Morgan had sympathy for Mr Bourne's concerns about assaults on public servants but called the rest of the Tory leader's words "an absurd load of garbage".
All spin and no substance Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones attack on Rhodri MorganAll spin and no substance Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones attack on Rhodri Morgan
Council tax in Wales, said Mr Morgan, was hundreds of pounds lower than in England and Mr Bourne's talk of NHS debt was "complete rubbish" as the health budget this year was on "level pegging".Council tax in Wales, said Mr Morgan, was hundreds of pounds lower than in England and Mr Bourne's talk of NHS debt was "complete rubbish" as the health budget this year was on "level pegging".
The length of time patients waited had "improved dramatically in Wales", maintained Mr Morgan.The length of time patients waited had "improved dramatically in Wales", maintained Mr Morgan.
He said waits longer than 18 months for seeing a consultant and being treated had been "virtually abolished".He said waits longer than 18 months for seeing a consultant and being treated had been "virtually abolished".
'Terrible pressure''Terrible pressure'
As the exchanges continued the chuckling and head shaking from the Tory members grew ever more enthusiastic.As the exchanges continued the chuckling and head shaking from the Tory members grew ever more enthusiastic.
Then Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones took to his feet with his take on eight years of Labour rule in Cardiff Bay.Then Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones took to his feet with his take on eight years of Labour rule in Cardiff Bay.
There had been "terrible pressure" on school budgets, a funding gap between universities in Wales and England had widened and there was a "chasm" of a difference in the money available to Scottish colleges compared to those in Wales.There had been "terrible pressure" on school budgets, a funding gap between universities in Wales and England had widened and there was a "chasm" of a difference in the money available to Scottish colleges compared to those in Wales.
A relaxed Mr Morgan replied that the problem with schools was a 25% reduction in the number of school age children, but "on all the tests" education standards had risen.A relaxed Mr Morgan replied that the problem with schools was a 25% reduction in the number of school age children, but "on all the tests" education standards had risen.
AMs will swap seats in the Senedd for campaigning on the streetsMr Jones, who it must be said was equally relaxed, said his opponent was "all spin and no substance" and should take this "final opportunity" to apologise for Labour's failures.AMs will swap seats in the Senedd for campaigning on the streetsMr Jones, who it must be said was equally relaxed, said his opponent was "all spin and no substance" and should take this "final opportunity" to apologise for Labour's failures.
Mr Morgan responded that his own comments were based on independent figures, and not spin.Mr Morgan responded that his own comments were based on independent figures, and not spin.
'Freebies''Freebies'
The Liberal Democrats' Mike German asked a less adversarial question about the implications of Chancellor Gordon Brown's budget for the mathematics of the budget for Wales' public services.The Liberal Democrats' Mike German asked a less adversarial question about the implications of Chancellor Gordon Brown's budget for the mathematics of the budget for Wales' public services.
But, judging by the glazed eyes around the chamber, few AMs appeared to quite understand either the question or the first minister's answer.But, judging by the glazed eyes around the chamber, few AMs appeared to quite understand either the question or the first minister's answer.
Mr German tried a different tack, returning to a Lib Dem election campaign theme, criticising other political parties for offering so called "free giveaways" to attract voters.Mr German tried a different tack, returning to a Lib Dem election campaign theme, criticising other political parties for offering so called "free giveaways" to attract voters.
Money spent on 'freebies', he warned, would come from core public services such as health and education.Money spent on 'freebies', he warned, would come from core public services such as health and education.
Mr Morgan said any election pledges should be "properly costed" and the programme his party would be putting before the voters would "add up to an affordable programme".Mr Morgan said any election pledges should be "properly costed" and the programme his party would be putting before the voters would "add up to an affordable programme".
He has already said he will stand down from the top job roughly halfway through the next session, whatever the voters decide.He has already said he will stand down from the top job roughly halfway through the next session, whatever the voters decide.
It largely depends on which of the parties' worlds the voters decide is closest to their own when they go to the polls on 3 May.It largely depends on which of the parties' worlds the voters decide is closest to their own when they go to the polls on 3 May.
  • Welsh Conservatives have contacted the police and the elections watchdog after a leaflet making what they describe as "malicious" allegations against one of their candidates was sent in the post to political parties and media organisations.
  • Welsh Conservatives have contacted the police and the elections watchdog after a leaflet making what they describe as "malicious" allegations against one of their candidates was sent in the post to political parties and media organisations.
    • Copies of the anonymous leaflet were posted yesterday afternoon in London, to various addresses across the country.
    A spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives said: "We are referring a malicious, anonymous leaflet regarding one of our candidates to South Wales Police and the Electoral Commission and are asking them to investigate the source of its defamatory content."