The Western Mail reports on Cheryl Gillan’s gaff in yesterday’s Welsh Party Leaders’ debate in which she thought that Rhodri Morgan was still First Minister:
The Conservative politician who is expected to become Secretary of State for Wales if her party wins the election was ridiculed by her rivals yesterday when she implied that Rhodri Morgan was still First Minister.
Cheryl Gillan, who is currently Shadow Welsh Secretary but represents the English Home Counties seat of Chesham and Amersham, made the gaffe as she took part in the Welsh leaders’ election debate broadcast by Sky News.
Explaining why spending cuts had to be implemented quickly, Ms Gillan said: “What we have said is we need to make a start now and can I just tackle head-on the Assembly point because I know that Rhodri Morgan has, and you Ieuan [Wyn Jones], because you are the Deputy First Minster, I understand, for the past two years, you have been looking at waste and debt in the Welsh Assembly so you must have some pretty good ideas where you are going to make the cuts there and I think you should be honest with people and tell them what Rhodri’s investigations and your own investigations…”
Domininc Hannigan, Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth said:
“This is a very embarrassing gaffe from the Conservatives however it shouldn’t distract from the real issues that were debated this morning. We saw the Labour party and the Conservatives talk about the tired and old sort of politics that people want to get rid of. The Welsh Liberal Democrats offered honest and straight answers to the people of Wales.”
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