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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Leighton Andrews resigns: Education minister post to be filled | Leighton Andrews resigns: Education minister post to be filled |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Schools and education authorities are waiting to find out who will replace Leighton Andrews who resigned as education minister on Tuesday. | Schools and education authorities are waiting to find out who will replace Leighton Andrews who resigned as education minister on Tuesday. |
| Mr Andrews quit after a row over his defence of a school which faced closure under his own surplus places policy. | Mr Andrews quit after a row over his defence of a school which faced closure under his own surplus places policy. |
| He had been pictured holding a banner in support of Pentre Primary School in his Rhondda constituency. | He had been pictured holding a banner in support of Pentre Primary School in his Rhondda constituency. |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones faces a reshuffle of his cabinet as he decides who will be the new education minister. | First Minister Carwyn Jones faces a reshuffle of his cabinet as he decides who will be the new education minister. |
| In a letter to the first minister released on Tuesday evening, Mr Andrews said: "I feel I have no option but to offer you my resignation today. | In a letter to the first minister released on Tuesday evening, 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." | "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 with "great regret". | Mr Jones accepted the resignation with "great regret". |
| He added: "I recognise very well that there is sometimes tension between the role of a government minister and the demands of a constituency assembly member. | He added: "I recognise very well that there is sometimes tension between the role of a government minister and the demands of a constituency assembly member. |
| "The ministerial code aims to define the boundaries between the two roles and, on this occasion, I believe those roles were confused." | "The ministerial code aims to define the boundaries between the two roles and, on this occasion, I believe those roles were confused." |
| The row began when Rhondda assembly member Mr Andrews was photographed earlier this month holding a sign saying "Save Pentre Primary and our community". | The row began when Rhondda assembly member Mr Andrews was photographed earlier this month holding a sign saying "Save Pentre Primary and our community". |
| It had followed on from a consultation by Rhondda Cynon Taf council (RCT) on closing the 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 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 had the highest percentage of surplus places - 64% - of any school within Rhondda and so had to be considered for closure. | The authority confirmed Pentre had the highest percentage of surplus places - 64% - of any school within Rhondda and so had to be considered for closure. |
| Mr Andrews wrote 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. | Mr Andrews wrote 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. |
| After being photographed, the minister said he was standing up for his constituents as Rhondda's assembly member. | After being photographed, the minister said he was standing up for his constituents as Rhondda's assembly member. |
| But Mr Andrews had repeatedly warned councils across Wales that they must close and amalgamate schools to deal with excess capacity. | But Mr Andrews had repeatedly warned councils across Wales that they must close and amalgamate schools to deal with excess capacity. |
| Mr Jones failed to defend him from opposition claims he undermined his own policy. | Mr Jones failed to defend him from opposition claims he undermined his own policy. |
| And two weeks ago, he rebuked Mr Andrews for his actions in defending a local hospital from possible cuts. | And two weeks ago, he rebuked Mr Andrews for his actions in defending a local hospital from possible cuts. |
| Mr Andrews used 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. | Mr Andrews used 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. |
| Former First Minister Rhodri Morgan said Mr Andrews had received a "yellow card" from Mr Jones for his stance on health service shake-up in south Wales and then a "red card" for his position on the school under threat. | |
| Anna Brychan, director of the head teachers' NAHT Cymru, said she was sorry to see Mr Andrews go despite disagreements and "ding dongs" on some occasions. | Anna Brychan, director of the head teachers' NAHT Cymru, said she was sorry to see Mr Andrews go despite disagreements and "ding dongs" on some occasions. |
| "But I think it's also fair to say an awful lot of work has been done that we do support - the literacy and numeracy frameworks for example, the enormous report that came out last week on the possibility of restructuring education services," she said. | "But I think it's also fair to say an awful lot of work has been done that we do support - the literacy and numeracy frameworks for example, the enormous report that came out last week on the possibility of restructuring education services," she said. |
| "We are now concerned what happens with all that work because one thing you can't deny about Leighton Andrews is that he is a big beast on our political stage and we're at a critical point as far as our education service is concerned. | "We are now concerned what happens with all that work because one thing you can't deny about Leighton Andrews is that he is a big beast on our political stage and we're at a critical point as far as our education service is concerned. |
| 'Headless chicken' | 'Headless chicken' |
| "We do want to see that momentum isn't lost that has been built up over the past few years for which he has been largely responsible." | "We do want to see that momentum isn't lost that has been built up over the past few years for which he has been largely responsible." |
| Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said Mr Andrews would be a loss to the first minister but there were major issues within the Welsh education system. | Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said Mr Andrews would be a loss to the first minister but there were major issues within the Welsh education system. |
| "There's a vacancy around Carwyn Jones's cabinet table but the policies still exist," Mr Davies told BBC Radio Wales. | "There's a vacancy around Carwyn Jones's cabinet table but the policies still exist," Mr Davies told BBC Radio Wales. |
| "What is required here is that Carwyn Jones gets a grip on the situation and instead of running around like a headless chicken he actually starts to deliver on education, health and the economy for the people of Wales." | "What is required here is that Carwyn Jones gets a grip on the situation and instead of running around like a headless chicken he actually starts to deliver on education, health and the economy for the people of Wales." |
| Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Kirsty Williams said it was "quite clear" Carwyn Jones was not willing to defend his education minister. | Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Kirsty Williams said it was "quite clear" Carwyn Jones was not willing to defend his education minister. |
| And Plaid Cymru's education spokesman Simon Thomas said the resignation was the correct decision. | And Plaid Cymru's education spokesman Simon Thomas said the resignation was the correct decision. |
| Former Labour Welsh Secretary Peter Hain described Mr Andrews' resignation as "catastrophic for Welsh Labour" in a post on Twitter. | Former Labour Welsh Secretary Peter Hain described Mr Andrews' resignation as "catastrophic for Welsh Labour" in a post on Twitter. |
| Meanwhile, Labour's Rhondda MP Chris Bryant, seen at the same school and hospital protests, said: "I think there will be a huge cheer of support in the valleys tonight for Leighton Andrews." | Meanwhile, Labour's Rhondda MP Chris Bryant, seen at the same school and hospital protests, said: "I think there will be a huge cheer of support in the valleys tonight for Leighton Andrews." |
| RCT Council issued a further statement, saying: "Leighton Andrews has always provided a strong and effective voice for the Rhondda and will continue to do so. | |
| "Our approach to all school reorganisation proposals is consistent, in accordance, and in response to the clear direction set by the Welsh government." |