Rhodri Morgan was a master of the colourful soundbite
Wales’ former First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who has died at the age of 77, was many things to many people, but throughout his long and distinguished career, he was never short of a colourful soundbite.
Mr Morgan’s way with words never failed to set him apart from his contemporaries.
From his infamous “one-legged ducks” retort to Jeremy Paxman to his remarkable explanation for being late to meet the Queen.
Wales Online have collected just some of his most memorable one-liners – and his unique take on the English language.
“Do one-legged ducks swim in a circle?”
Rhodri’s response to Jeremy Paxman when the Newsnight presenter inquired if he wanted to be First Minister.
“It’s very strange for me to be standing here today talking about a person who shafted me on one occasion but on the other hand, compared to what has happened with Iraq, I think that’s pretty small beer to be honest with you. Life is far too short to be bearing grudges of that sort.”
A unique tribute to Tony Blair
“The only thing which isn’t up for grabs is no change and I think it’s fair to say it’s all to play for, except for no change.”
(Photo: PA)
A memorable contribution to a debate on police reform, for which he won a second Foot in Mouth award for gobbledegook.
“It’s like a child shooting both its parents and then complaining about the food in the orphanage.”
A particularly imaginative castigation of Tory AM Jonathan Morgan after he criticised the quality of Assembly debates in 2003:
“I wasn’t late, the Queen was early.”
(Photo: PA)
On Royal protocol in July 2004
“In New Labour, MP stands for Material for Promotion, Mandelson Poodle and Millbank Pagee.”
Resolutely of the old-school when it came to Blairism.
“A practitioner of gyratory medicine.”
Or, in other words, the Welsh for spin doctor.
“Because their interest is mackerel and my interest is mackerel … I want to be able to communicate with the dolphin to say, ‘well I have changed my diet to something much more like yours now’.”
Telling the BBC he would like to spend his last day in the company of dolphins, whose staple diet of oily fish he adopted after a heart scare:
