Western Mail

Welsh Mps Resign Over Blair

Three Welsh MPs quit their government jobs last night in protest at Tony Blair's refusal to step down as Prime Minister as Labour loyalists deserted their leader. Wayne David, Ian Lucas and Mark Tami gave up their roles as Parliamentary Private Secretaries on a day that saw junior minister Tom Watson and three other PPSs resign too. All seven had signed the controversial letter to Mr Blair calling on him to go, which prompted the current crisis.

Labour and Lib-Dems in Secret Welsh Power Plot

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have secretly agreed in principle to form a coalition Assembly Government after next year's election, the Western Mail has been told. Under the deal, the Liberal Democrats would throw a lifeline to Rhodri Morgan in return for two Cabinet posts, the position of Presiding Officer and a number of policy commitments, with the introduction of proportional representation (PR) in council elections at the top of the list. Last night both party leaders denied emphatica...

Inside

Burberry is closing its South Wales factory, shedding 300 jobs and provoking outrage. FROM PAGE 3: More than 300 jobs to go as Burberry announces it's checking out of Wales:Iconic fashion label Burberry has proposed closing a Welsh polo shirt factory at the end of the year with the loss of more than 300 jobs. In what has been described as a 'bitter blow' to the community, production is likely to move overseas if the factory in Treorchy, Rhondda, shuts. The famous British designer brand stress...

Take the 'Doorstep Challenge'

Do you know what exciting and interesting career opportunities exist on your doorstep with your local council? Check these facts and take the doorstep challenge! 'Well I never knew that!'

Inside

A MID WALES teacher has been accused of trying to start a sexual relationship with a pupil. FROM PAGE 12: 'I want to do things to you that I could go to jail for':A teacher at a large Welsh comprehensive tried to start a sexual relationship with a girl pupil by sending her 'flirty' emails, texts and phone messages, a court heard yesterday. Martin Hosken, 32, of Aberystwyth, sent an email to the teenager saying, 'I want to do things to you I could go to jail for'. And Patrick Griffiths, prosec...

Holding On to Power Is the Aim of the Game Being Played

News of coalition talks taking place behind the scenes at the Assembly between Labour and the Liberal Democrats comes as no real surprise saysMartin Shipton. After all, it has happened before THE result of the Blaenau Gwent by-elections at the end of June will have convinced Rhodri Morgan that he has no realistic prospect of winning an overall majority in next year's Assembly election. It is necessary to be reminded that in neither 1999 or 2003, when Labour was much stronger in the opinion po...

'He has Said He Is Leaving ... What More Do You Want? Cool It'

MPs calling for Tony Blair to stand down need to 'cool it', a key Labour figure said last night. Cynon Valley MP Clwyd, chair of the parliamentary Labour Party, said Mr Blair's assurances that he would be standing down next year should be enough for his critics. And she warned that the dissent being shown would only play into the hands of Tory leader David Cameron.

This Is the Text of the Letter Sent to Tony Blair by Welsh Mps Wayne David, Ian Lucas and Mark Tami. It Was Also Signed by Telford Mp David Wright.

Dear Tony. We have been honoured to serve as Members under your leadership since entering the Commons in 2001. The process of renewal and reinvigoration that your premiership has inspired is without precedent. In each of our constituencies remarkable achievements have resulted directly from the policies of Labour governments since 1997. All of us rightly regard ourselves as loyal to the Labour Party and yourself over many years. We believe however that you have not ended the uncertainty over ...

Who Are the Welsh Parliamentary Secretaries Who Suddenly Resigned in an Apparently Co-Ordinated Bid to Embarrass Blair?

The Parliamentary Secretaries who resigned over Tony Blair's leadership played junior roles in the Government machine. But they performed a vital role working as aides at the bottom of the political ladder and were considered loyal MPs Mark Tami, 43, MP for Alyn and Deeside, became Parliamentary Secretary to Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo last November. Married with two sons, he entered Parliament in June 2001 with more than half the vote, and was returned in 2005.

Blair's Fate Is Now, More Than Ever, in the Hands of Gordon Brown... It's No Wonder He's so Angry

As Tony Blair comes to terms with a mass resignation from the junior ranks of Government, Political Editor Tomos Livingstone explores the issue of how long a fuming PM can hold on to power IT WASN'T meant to be like this. Tony Blair thought that, having come back from his holiday, a broad hint that he would step down in 2007 would keep his critics happy. But his interview with The Times last week, which made clear there would be no timetable announcement at this month's party conference, seem...

Tourist Escapes Jail Over Youth's Death

A british holidaymaker avoided jail when he was given a suspended six-month sentence in connection with the death of a teenage motorcyclist in Cyprus. James Goodwin, 22, from Essex, is one of four British men charged over the death of Christos Papiris. The 17- year-old died of internal injuries after a crash involving his moped and a hire car on a road between the popular resort of Ayia Napa and Protaras on August 18. A second teenager on the motorcycle, Marios Demetriou, 18, was seriously hurt.

Driver Jailed for Blowing Up Camera

A DRIVER who was jailed for four months yesterday for blowing up a roadside camera to evade a ban, need not have bothered. Craig Moore blew up the camera to destroy evidence of his speeding - but it was only a dummy camera which cannot be used to prosecute drivers.

Playstation 3 Misses Christmas

SONY has pushed back the European launch date for its PlayStation 3 console by around four months. The technology giant blamed delays in the production of a component for the PS3's new disc technology.

Bush Admits to Secret Cia Prisons

Teen Captive 'Felt Like Battery Hen'

A N AUSTRIAN teenager who was held captive in a basement for eight years after being kidnapped has described how she dreamt constantly of escape. In one of her first media interviews since her escape last month, Natascha Kampusch, now 18, said she had felt like a 'battery hen'.

Briton Killed in Spanish Bus Crash

A BRITON was among three people killed in a bus crash yesterday in Spain, a Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed last night. The bus, which was carrying 31 UK and German passengers, collided with a lorry on the A49 highway as it travelled from Faro in Portugal to Seville in southern Spain.

Yesterday at Westminster

00.01 The Sun newspaper reports that Tony Blair has set May 31, 2007, as the date he will resign as Labour leader, triggering a contest to succeed him, and leaving office as Prime Minister at the end of the parliamentary session on July 26. 11.00 Mr Blair's official spokesman tells reporters Mr Blair plans to talk to junior Defence Minister Tom Watson 'later today' after he was revealed as one of the MPs who had signed a round robin letter calling on the Prime Minister to stand down. 11.12 Mr...

Brown Is Still Bookies' Favourite for Top Job

Mps' Demands On Blair Are 'Madness'

Senior Cabinet ministers sought to dampen backbench criticism of Tony Blair yesterday - but hinted that Chancellor Gordon Brown should be given a free hand if he takes over. Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said it was 'madness' for MPs to demand conditions from the Prime Minister on his departure. And she said it was clear to everyone that Mr Blair would step down next year - removing any remaining doubt that Downing Street's preference is for the Prime Minister to serve another 12 months. B...

Victory for Couple in Cyprus Villa Battle

A retired British couple have won a significant legal victory over their dream holiday home in Cyprus. David and Linda Orams successfully appealed against the enforcement of two judgments of the District Court of Nicosia in the Athens-backed Republic of Cyprus, which had been obtained by dispossessed landowner Meletios Apostolides. Mr Apostolides, who fled during the 1974 invasion by Turkey in response to a military coup on the island, had owned the plot on which the Orams built their villa a...