Rearranging
As I rearrange the contents of my case, rumours are getting louder by the minute in Cardiff Bay that Ieuan Wyn Jones is about to rearrange something rather more significant: the contents of the Plaid Ministerial team.
The Heritage Minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, who hit the headlines when he announced the wrong winner at the Welsh Book of the Year awards, is facing questions about allegations that he broke the smoking ban earlier this week by carrying a lit cigar inside a pub.
Major incident? Apparently not. Witnesses say he was told he 'couldn't bring that in here' and left. But 'accident prone' is the kind of phrase no politician wants to claim and is one that's increasingly lending itself to the Heritage Minister.
Tonight he opens the new Kyffin Williams gallery at Oriel Ynys Mon in Llangefni on Anglesey. On August 2nd the Plaid Heritage Minister will face a long and important week at the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff. The question in the Bay is whether it'll be the same Plaid Heritage Minister as they were expecting.
I'm Betsan Powys, BBC Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on 
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To hell with politics Betsan, time to chill out.
Get thee down to Tenby, away from all these terrible people who post such disgraceful and rude contributions on here.(!)
Indulge yourself, but not too many treats at Fecci's mind. All that ice cream and fish and chips......just think of all those calories!
Still, a bracing jog up and down the south beach a few times will soon get you fit enough to sort out all those politicians.
Have a good time,
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Are we really determined to make ourselves the laughing stock of UK and possibly World politics? Politicians should resign over policy issues not because they decided to have a smoke. The people who started to spread this story really need to grow up. What does this say about Rhodri Glyn Thomas? At least he seems to resemble other members of the human race warts and all unlike so many modern politicians. I dread to think what some people would have made of the antics of politicians in the past such as Lloyd George and Aneurin Bevan. Lloyd George with his womanising and Bevan lying on oath in a libel trial wouldn't have lasted long in the world where lighting up a hamlet in a grotty pub in the Bay seems to be capital offence.
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I think it is disgusting if Rhodri Glyn Thomas gets the boot over something so stupid. Why, has he fiddled expenses? Has he lied? No! Rhodri Glyn Thomas walked into a Pub with a lit cigar.
It would be disgraceful if someone of his calibre gets the boot over a simple mistake in Wales, we need all the honest politicians we can get and in my option Rhodri Glyn Thomas is one of the honest one.
I have always thought Rhodri Glyn Thomas is honest and he as increased my option of both plaid and the assembly we can not afford to lose our best while the ones that have their noses in the troth remain.
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I never do understand why politicians have to resign over issues completely unrelated to their work. If you were on a night out and your boss saw you smoking and drinking he wouldn't expect your resignation. And besides look at his track record! The only mistake he's made is incorrectly announcing a name which easy enough if someone gives you the wrong envelope! It is a shame that politicians feel that they must resign when unrelated allegations like this creep up.
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Sounds absurd to me; a moment of absent-mindedness, that's all. I'm certainly not a fan of Plaid but this is surely not a resigning offence. Makes me feel that he's really quite a decent chap. If he was pushed, something is rotten.....
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playing devils advocate here (so dont flame me, hehe)
Betsan used the phrase "accident prone", and what may really be at issue is 'appearent' absentmindedness in the public via media reports.
He may be a great guy and preform his responsibility with professionalism unrivaled. But if he is seen as absentminded by the public, and the trend continues, then this would detract ultimatly from the sense of authority and professionalism he has, possibly undermining his ability to do his job.
Understanding that the One Wales Coalition is under extream scrutiny, by the media, rival parties, and by anti-coalition members from within the two parties, Mr Thomas' trending towards 'appearent absentmindedness' could also work towards discrediting the coalition and ultimatly the goals of the One Wales agreement.
From this point of view, Mr Thomas' resignation (as opposed to sticking through it) was a self sacrifice designed to end any hint of future scandle.
Again... playing devils advocate.
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Rhodri Glyn should get the award for Outstanding Contribution to Welsh Culture 2008...or someone who looks very like him at the back of the hall... after a few.
"Colourful"
Indeed.
Happy Hols Betsan...
No building massive Richard Rogers Assembly (sand) Castles on Tenby beach...with executive meeeedya room... itza health and safety hazard.
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There's more to this than meets the eye. Our Rhodri Glyn drops an almighty clanger at a awards ceremony. So stupid in fact it almost passeth all understanding.
Then, in a well known Cardiff Pub, he walks in smoking a cigar, and there is a confrontation with members of the staff.
If I had done that, at the very first moment I became aware of my sin, the cigar would have been discarded and apologies would have filled the air. There would have been no 'trouble' whatsoever....
Unless I had been drunk.
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The award gaffe was embarrassing, to walk into the Ely Jenkins with a lit cigar is stupid, but I can imagine easily done, neither of these seems a resigning matter. Unless we have now reached the point where the media demands the head of everyone for any minor issue... such that once you have a name for gaffes you are hounded until more are made and you are slung out. In a week where we see that public perception is created by the press - see the coverage over perception of crime levels - then maybe its not the politicians that need to be held to account but the press?
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It could easiely happen if he was talking to someone while he was entering the pub. How many of us can say we have not made stupid mistakes like that, unless those who are making an issue out of it are perfect, doubt it though.
As regards the awards issue could it be that he was set up, by someone putting the envelopes in the wrong order. They were handed to him after all. just a thought.
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It must be admitted that Rhodri Glyn Thomas is accident-prone and suffers from short-comings. To be honest about it we all do, yet Rhodri is, or was, in a position of trust and responsibility. He was the Heritage Minister and as such he must maintain high standards of behaviour and integrity and not trangress the limits of public accountability and respect. He must take great care in avoiding making unnecessary "gaffes" which inevitably are blown up by the media and circulated throughout the nation and beyond.
It is indeed unfortunate that he has been persuaded, or has felt the need, to resign as Heritage Minister, but Wales needs a person who is no less committed to the promotion of Welsh language and culture, who is no less colourful and dedicated, but who is aware of the high profile position which the job entails and who is able to bring steady resolve and undying purpose to the role of Heritage Minister without creating an personal aura and without stumbling from one embarrassing incident into another. Let us hope that another appointee exhibits the qualities which are a sine qua non for such a crucial and fundamental position in Welsh national affairs.
Posted by alanindyfed
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I think there was more to this than meets the eye, Vaughan Roderick seems to suggest that excessive drinking was part of the problem. Was Rhodri Glyn the Welsh version of the infamous Lord George Brown?
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Do these people really think Rhodri Glyn Thomas was sacked for playing with a cigar?
Perhaps Ieuan Wyn Jones should aim for a little more clarity in explaining the decision, but it does seem that the assurances he gave about Rhodri Glyn's future behaviour when he became a minister could no longer be sustained.
A pity, because Rhodri Glyn had talent and ability, but the decision was right. Let's hope that his colleagues will be able to help him confront his problems.
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