Davies denies threats

Davies Repeats Denial of Threats against Backbencher

His denial follows calls for his resignation by the Conservative vice-chairman. Alan Duncan accused Mr Davies of lying to the Prime Minister after Blaenau Gwent MP, Llew Smith, told several newspapers he had been threatened with expulsion.

Llew Smith

"Because someone has lied to Tony Blair, Tony Blair has ended up not telling the House of Commons the truth," Mr Duncan told GMTV's Sunday programme.

The Prime Minister defended the Welsh Secretary during a heated Commons exchange when challenged by leader of the Opposition William Hague in his first Question Time appearance at the despatch box.

Mr Duncan said: "The Prime Minister has been put in a very, very embarrassing position and I would not accuse him of deliberately lying to the House of Commons. But if it is true, and it is so obvious now that it is ... given what he has done Mr Davies's position as Secretary of State for Wales is untenable."

Mr Davies - speaking to the BBC's On the Record insisted: "It has never been the case that I have threatened people with expulsion or threatened to throw them out of the Parliamentary Party. That is just not true."

Hear the full interview with Ron Davies

He stressed that he had made his position clear both in the House of Commons and outside "I made it absolutely clear that I respected the right of individuals to ask awkward questions ... and to express views that were not necessarily the ones I wanted to hear," he said.

Mr Davies said this "view of tolerance" was shared by him, the Prime Minister and Minister Without Portfolio Peter Mandelson, who made it plain last week that no action would be taken against MPs who spoke their mind against the Government's devolution policy.

But Mr Davies, though indicating that it was not for him to say what Mr Smith could and could not do, said devolved power to Wales was one of the party's key election pledges.

Mr Davies defended MPs' rights to free speech but continued: "I also want to draw attention to the responsibilities people have to live up to their election promises made in the General Election." And he urged MPs to "approach this matter on the basis of unity".

Tories pressing for his resignation would be disappointed, Mr Davies said.

Responding to Mr Davies's remarks, Conservative spokesman on constitutional affairs, Nigel Evans, described the row over Llew Smith and Welsh Secretary Ron Davies as "Rongate" and said it was "the Labour Government's first test of its rhetoric about `open and honest' government".

He repeated his call for Mr Davies to make a personal statement on "the yawning gap between the version of events he describes and the testimony of Mr Llew Smith". He added: "Someone is lying and it looks like Ron Davies is guilty. We look forward to Llew Smith referring this unresolved matter to the Committee on Standards and Privileges early next week if Mr Davies does not or cannot explain himself to the House of Commons."