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Rathbone sacking defended by Carwyn Jones Rathbone sacking defended by Carwyn Jones
(35 minutes later)
The first minister has defended his sacking of a Labour committee chair who criticised Welsh government spending on M4 relief road plans.The first minister has defended his sacking of a Labour committee chair who criticised Welsh government spending on M4 relief road plans.
Jenny Rathbone had said she was "appalled" that £20m was being spent this year preparing for a road she hoped would never be built.Jenny Rathbone had said she was "appalled" that £20m was being spent this year preparing for a road she hoped would never be built.
Carwyn Jones told AMs that the chair of the committee overseeing EU spending in Wales should act in the "spirit of collective responsibility".Carwyn Jones told AMs that the chair of the committee overseeing EU spending in Wales should act in the "spirit of collective responsibility".
Opposition AMs criticised the decision.Opposition AMs criticised the decision.
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "Backbench AMs have a duty to scrutinise the use of public money, not toe the party line.
"Carwyn Jones' admission that he cherry-picks committee chairs to uphold 'collective responsibility' is deeply damaging."
'Unhealthy culture''Unhealthy culture'
Labour Pontypridd AM Mick Antoniw - who has also been critical of plans for a £1bn M4 relief road around Newport - has been appointed to replace Ms Rathbone on the EU committee.Labour Pontypridd AM Mick Antoniw - who has also been critical of plans for a £1bn M4 relief road around Newport - has been appointed to replace Ms Rathbone on the EU committee.
He told BBC Wales he did not agree with the Cardiff Central AM's claim of an "unhealthy culture" which discouraged dissent.He told BBC Wales he did not agree with the Cardiff Central AM's claim of an "unhealthy culture" which discouraged dissent.
"I speak up on all sort of issues," he said."I speak up on all sort of issues," he said.
"I've challenged ministers very robustly, I've attacked ministers and criticised policies in the assembly, and I've not woken up in the morning and found a horse's head in my bed.""I've challenged ministers very robustly, I've attacked ministers and criticised policies in the assembly, and I've not woken up in the morning and found a horse's head in my bed."
Ms Rathbone was backed by Cardiff Central Labour MP Jo Stevens.Ms Rathbone was backed by Cardiff Central Labour MP Jo Stevens.
Ms Stevens said she was "very disappointed" that an "extremely effective" chair had been removed from the EU committee.Ms Stevens said she was "very disappointed" that an "extremely effective" chair had been removed from the EU committee.
"Jenny raised reasonable and legitimate concerns about the M4 relief road consultation spend," she said."Jenny raised reasonable and legitimate concerns about the M4 relief road consultation spend," she said.
"Projects of this magnitude and cost must be properly scrutinised.""Projects of this magnitude and cost must be properly scrutinised."