Morgan disowns 'vampire' video

First Minister Rhodri Morgan has distanced himself from a Labour video showing Wales' Tory leader as a vampire and Plaid Cymru's in a clown hat.

The video, adapting the song Delilah, has been removed from the Labour-supporting Aneurin Glyndwr website.

A statement on the site said it had been removed after some complaints.

Mr Morgan said there was "no advance authorisation or awareness on my part... of the plans to develop this website - none whatsoever".

Mr Morgan said, as leader of Labour in Wales, he would expect those who were involved with the video to "live and learn".

He said: "Least said, soonest mended" after the video was removed. It was online for less than a week.

But he denied having any prior knowledge of the site's "content or style" and said he had not approved it.

A quote from Mr Morgan did appear on the site: "This brand new political website is definitely one to watch!"

But he said the media were being "naughty" by suggesting this meant that he endorsed the website.

Former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain was among those who promoted the controversial video, which was published ahead of the forthcoming European elections.

Labour MEP Eluned Morgan re-penned the lyrics to the tune of Tom Jones' Delilah.

Plaid Cymru's leader and colleagues were mocked in the video

Her version "Why, why why" claimed Labour's assembly coalition partner Plaid Cymru was against European aid money for Wales.

It also attacks the Conservatives' economic record under Margaret Thatcher

Describing Plaid as "very shoddy", it said voters should choose Labour rather than Plaid to avoid a breakup of the United Kingdom and increasing poverty in Wales.

In response Welsh Conservatives criticised the video as "childish" and Plaid Cymru said it was "probably the worst website ever produced by members of a mainstream political party".

A statement published on the Aneurin Glyndwr site on Tuesday says: "We have removed our Why, Why, Why? video from YouTube after we were informed that some nats (nationalists) and Tories had complained.

"It's a real shame that these sensitive souls are so easily offended, and find criticism so hard to take! C'est la vie, we think we got our message across."

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