The debate over the dragon's future is suddenly on fire

Mandelson Branded the "Referendum Comedian"

Mr Mandelson, the Minister without Portfolio, was campaigning in Cardiff for a "yes" vote in the forthcoming referendum. He said the appointment of Mr Ancram echoed the previous Conservative Government's failure to regard Wales seriously.

The Minister continued: "William Hague has given responsibility for Wales not to a Shadow Secretary of State but to the 13th Marquis of Lothian (Mr Ancram). To choose such an antiquated Scottish hereditary peer is not a tribute but an insult to the people of Wales."

Peter Mandelson is critical of the Tories' Welsh legacy

Describing large class sizes, NHS waiting lists and unemployment as the Tories' legacy in Wales, Mr Mandelson chided: "These are just a few reasons why Wales needs an Assembly, an Assembly whose priorities will be the people's priorities".

The Conservatives immediately hit back at the allegations.

Nigel Evans, Mr Ancram's fellow Tory constitutional affairs spokesman, branded Mr Mandelson "the Referendum comedian" and accused him of seeking to avoid hard questions about the Government's assembly plans.

Mr Evans said: "When Peter Mandelson stops cracking jokes in south Wales he might answer some serious questions. These include why Scotland deserves a tax raising assembly and Wales doesn't."

Nigel Evans says the Minister should stop the jokes

Mr Evans countered that if Mr Mandelson was so concerned about waiting lists and class sizes, he should explain how the £100 million cost of the assembly over the first four years would create a single extra hospital bed or school class.

Privately, senior Tories were said to be "disgusted" that Mr Mandelson had directed his jibe at the former Northern Ireland minister. Mr Ancram rarely uses another of his formal titles, the Earl of Ancram.

He was given the role of heading up the Tories' constitutional affairs team in Mr Hague's shadow cabinet, and the task of masterminding the Conservatives' Parliamentary opposition to Labour's plans for a Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly.