Assembly votes for new £27m chamber

Lord Rogers' plan has been chosen by the AMs

Assembly Members have voted in support of Richard Rogers's design for a new £27m state-of-the-art Welsh Assembly debating chamber.

Members voted against an option, backed by the Assembly's minority Labour administration, for an extension to their existing temporary headquarters in Cardiff Bay.

Instead, they endorsed the more expensive but more prestigious Rogers building.

In a free vote, AMs had been asked to consider three different options for their new home:

The costliest - the Richard Rogers design, preferred by Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and a minority of Labour members.

A smaller scheme to extend the current building, preferred by Assembly First Secretary Rhodri Morgan and the Assembly Cabinet.

The status quo - staying in the existing building, favoured by the Conservatives.

First Secretary Rhodri Morgan: Delayed decision

First Secretary Rhodri Morgan had inherited the Richard Rogers plan from his predecessor Alun Michael, and had put it on hold while he considered whether it was good value for money.

He then opened the matter to an Assembly decision, saying he thought the Richard Rogers option should be ditched in favour of a cheaper extension.

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, the Assembly's presiding officer, vacated the chair at the start of the debate, saying he had an interest in the matter. The debate was chaired by his deputy Jane Davidson.

Rhodri Morgan said the opposing camps were made up of "cavaliers", who wanted a new building, "hairshirts", who wanted to stay in the existing cramped accommodation, and "roundheads", who wanted the best practical option of the extension.

However, the discussion quickly became heated, with Mid and West Wales AM Glyn Davies launching a blistering attack on Mr Morgan, accusing him of promoting a "bog on stilts" in preferring the option of an extension on a raised site in the existing Assembly carpark.

Glyn Davies AM: Attack

He said the cabinet's position was a "face- saving stunt", a "ridiculous carbuncle option", and a "shameful attempt to save Mr Morgan's face," for having delayed a decision on the Richard Rogers design.

In some of the most bad-tempered scenes ever seen in the Assembly he said he had "sheer undiluted contempt" for Mr Morgan and his cabinet.

He said they were a disgrace to democracy and that their motion of promoting the extension was a charade. He said the Assembly should stay in its existing accommodation so the money could be spent on public services.

'Monument to mediocrity'

Rhodri Morgan shouted back and pointed at him, although his words could not be heard.

Some Labour AMs also strongly criticised their own leader's option. Brian Gibbons said the extension would be "a monument to mediocrity".

He called for the Richard Rogers option to be endorsed as a symbol of the new democratic Wales.

Liberal Democrat Assembly Leader Michael German said that the building would not be for AM's alone but would be a national public building.

He said AM's should vote for the Rogers option if they wanted the best for Wales for generations to come - a powerful statement about the new Welsh democracy.

Labour's option of an extension was defeated by 35 votes to 22. AMs then voted on the Richard Rogers plan, with 47 voting in favour and nine against.