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Education Minister Leighton Andrews resigns Education Minister Leighton Andrews resigns
(35 minutes later)
Education Minister Leighton Andrews has resigned. Education Minister Leighton Andrews has resigned following a row over his defence of a school which faced closure under his own surplus places policy.
AMs criticised Mr Andrews for backing a campaign to save a school facing closure in his Rhondda constituency as a result of his surplus places policy. Mr Andrews had been seen holding a banner in support of Pentre Primary School in his Rhondda constituency.
At First Minister's Questions in the Senedd Carwyn Jones failed to defend him from opposition claims he undermined his own policy. First Minister Carwyn Jones failed to defend him from opposition claims he undermined his own policy.
Mr Jones had previously rebuked Mr Andrews for his actions in defending a local hospital from possible cuts.
Roles 'confused'
In a letter to the first minister released on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Andrews said: "I feel I have no option but to offer you my resignation today.
"I regret that my commitment to my constituents may have led me to an apparent conflict which led to difficulty for the government."
Mr Jones accepted the resignation saying in a written response that the ministerial code aimed to define boundaries between the two roles, and that on this occasion he believed those roles were "confused".
Mr Andrews was photographed early this month holding a sign saying "Save Pentre Primary School".
The minister said he was standing up for his constituents as Rhondda's assembly member.
Mr Andrews has repeatedly warned councils across Wales that they must close and amalgamate schools to deal with excess capacity.
He was at the centre of a political row over health two weeks ago when he was rebuked by Mr Jones for using the Labour party's name to oppose potential cuts to specialist accident and emergency services at the Royal Glamorgan hospital in Llantrisant which serves his constituency.
Plaid Cymru education spokesman Simon Thomas welcomed Mr Andrews' resignation.
"This is the correct decision to take when collective cabinet responsibility has been abdicated and you find yourself arguing against your own policies," he said.
Former Labour Welsh Secretary Peter Hain described Mr Andrews' resignation as "catastrophic for Welsh Labour".
In a message posted on Twitter he described him as an "incredibly able and dynamic Education Minister [who] refused to accept low standards".
Detailed objections
Rhondda Cynon Taf council (RCT) has just completed a consultation on closing Pentre Primary School which has just 73 pupils, despite having room for 202.
The council issued a statement saying every council in Wales was "under a clear direction" from the Welsh government to tackle the matter of surplus places within its schools.
The authority confirmed Pentre has the highest percentage of surplus places - 64% - of any school within Rhondda and so had to be considered.
"The minister wrote to every [council] cabinet member for education last year, instructing local authorities to increase the pace of reductions in surplus places, or the Welsh government would take direct intervention itself.
"Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has a strong track record in taking the very difficult decisions necessary to reduce surplus places within schools, and in doing so, improving the provision of education for children locally."
Mr Andrews had written a detailed objection to the council's plans for Pentre on the grounds that Welsh government guidance had not been properly followed by the Labour-run council.
In a submission to the council, he questioned how issues such as the effect on education standards and safety of journeys to school, were covered by the consultation.
Mr Andrews also questioned whether the council had thought about the impact on the community.