LONDON - The Labour backbencher opposed to the government's devolution plans - claimed yesterday that he had won a "victory for free speech".
Mr Llew Smith, MP for Blaenau Gwent, applauded the Prime Minister's "tolerance" after Mr Blair confirmed that "no one was going to be expelled for saying that they did not agree with devolution."
Mr Smith had accused the Welsh Secretary, Mr Ron Davies, of threatening to throw him out of the party.