Money has been wasted, but let's not waste any more

Nick Bourne, Welsh Conservative leader

Despite expecting to lose the vote, Mr Bourne demanded an end to the "absolute mess" surrounding the project.

"People in Wales are pretty united against wasting money on this," he said.

"They are more concerned about what happens in the assembly building. They want us to deliver on health, on rural services, on jobs and education.

Finance Minister Edwina Hart

"Money has been wasted, but let's not waste any more.

"Let us draw a line under it now and spend it on public services rather than on a building we don't really need."

Mr Bourne also criticised a "total lack of leadership from the first minister" on the project, which faced a major set-back in July when Finance Minister Edwina Hart sacked architect Lord Richard Rogers.

At the start of the project, the initial budget was just over �26m, but the potential cost of the building rose to between �37m and �47m.

'Unrealistic and irresponsible'

However, former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies - who instigated the building project - described Mr Bourne's calls as "unrealistic" and "irresponsible".

"There's one guaranteed way of wasting more money and that is by cancelling the contract," he said.

Nick Bourne expects to lose the vote

"The millions that have been spent would be wasted.

"There would also be legal challenges which would incur more costs and bring a bigger bill for compensation."

Mr Davies described the project's handling as "less than brilliant" over the last couple of years, but he stressed the importance of the building.

"If we are determined to create the new Wales we are all talking about, then we have to have confidence in ourselves, and a building which people can be proud of."

"At the moment there is a temporary home, and it says a lot about how we perceive ourselves.

"We have a site, we have back-up facilities, we have a world-renowned architect and we have funds put aside.

"What we need now is determination to deliver."

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Edwina Hart is expected to say she is pleased with the bids that have been received from companies keen to take over the project.