Cardiff - Differences between the Welsh Conservatives' leader, Mr Rod Richards, and his former rival, Prof Nick Bourne, yesterday overshadowed the launching of the Tories' election campaign for the Welsh Assembly. Prof Bourne, defeated opponent in the party's recent leadership contest, was surprisingly left out of Mr Richards's 10-member "shadow cabinet" team.
Mr Richards denied personal bitterness and insisted the business law lecturer Prof Bourne had rejected a "very specific and positive offer" of a post. Commenting on the controversy, he added: "Politics is a grown-up game and one has to live with events and circumstances and adapt to them."
But, speaking from Hong Kong where he is lecturing, Prof Bourne claimed he had never received a definite proposal from Mr Richards after earlier indications from an aide that he would be offered the health or transport portfolio.
Nominations for candidates contesting the 60 seats in Assembly elections on May 6th closed yesterday.