Morgan denies he's late for Queen

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The Welsh Assembly Government has denied First Minister Rhodri Morgan was late for the Queen's 80th birthday service at St Paul's Cathedral.

Opposition parties said he got there minutes before the service in London.

The assembly government said his train from Cardiff was delayed and there was heavy traffic in London, but he arrived "a couple of minutes" before the start.

"We don't think that the first minister attending an engagement on time is much of a news story," it said.

He did arrive at St Paul's Cathedral on time, a couple of minutes before the ceremony started Welsh Assembly Government

More than 30 members of the Royal Family, including Princes William and Harry, were there for the service, along with Prime Minister Tony Blair and faith leaders, among a congregation of about 2,300.

News agency the Press Association reported that Mr Morgan "made it to his seat just in time after arriving late as the congregation stood ready for the Queen's arrival, which had already been announced by a trumpeted fanfare.

"Mr Morgan was ushered to his seat in a front row and barely had time to straighten up his suit before the Queen made her way up the aisle to her place in front of the altar."

The assembly government says Rhodri Morgan was on time

It led to the three main opposition parties in the assembly renewing their attack on Mr Morgan's time-keeping.

In July 2004 Mr Morgan denied that he failed to greet the Queen on her arrival at the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd, mid Wales.

On that occasion Mr Morgan was caught in traffic on his way to the showground and had to get out of his car to walk the final 100 yards.

Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: "It is extraordinary that the first minister of Wales is such an abysmal time-keeper.

He has a reputation for being late, and it doesn't serve Wales particularly well Mike German AM, Liberal Democrat

"You would expect someone in his position to appreciate the protocol surrounding such events and ensure he arrives in good time."

Mike German, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the assembly, who was in the cathedral, said: "It is unacceptable for the first minister of Wales to behave in this way. He ought to have arrived on time.

"He has a reputation for being late, and it doesn't serve Wales particularly well. It certainly caused eyebrows to be raised all around me in St Paul's Cathedral."

Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Plaid Cymru's deputy leader in the assembly, said: "It is one big embarrassment for Wales, but just one more for Rhodri Morgan.

"The people of Wales can see he is becoming a national embarrassment. If he cannot turn up to events in time then his time should be up."

The assembly government's statement in full read: "The first minister was not late.

"He caught the 7.55am train from Cardiff this morning which was delayed and there was very heavy traffic in London but he did arrive at St Paul's Cathedral on time, a couple of minutes before the ceremony started.

"The first minister attending an engagement on time isn't much of a news story."