He tells tomorrow's Wales on Sunday:

"I've done what I can, in a sense. My wife is retiring and I need to give my association time to find a new candidate.

"I've been in for 12 years and I'm coming up to 65. It's just retirement and I think it's healthy, personally. I've always said three sessions and that would be it. My proudest thing is just to serve the people - that's what I've always been about."

It'll be sad to see the back of the man who won Wales on Sunday's Buffoon of the Year award so many times that it now bears his name. But we'll always have the memories, be it turning up in the chamber in a Santa outfit, being accused of treating the National assembly like a circus, or, most memorably, giving the Presiding Officer the finger. Will we ever see his like again?

The Tories failed to capitalise and increase their share of the vote significantly. They're still bumping along.

He's right, of course. Neither the Conservatives nor Plaid managed to fully take advantage of Labour's nosedive. But wouldn't today be a day for a bit of contrition and humility rather than desperation to try to desperately spin this into a Tory failure story?

Stll, in the straw-clutching stakes, Mr Jones has competition from Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams, who writes on her Twitter page:

KirstyAM: Is pleased the Welsh Lib Dems vote share increased last night - well worth all the hard work

Being beaten by a Ukip candidate who barely bothered campaigning wouldn't, on the face of it, appear to be well worth all the hard work, but there you go: it seems last night wasn't bad news for anybody after all.

I think it also sends a very clear message to voters in Wales that if you don't vote Labour - if, for example, you vote Plaid Cymru - you will get the Tories. That hasn't happened for nearly a century in Wales and that is a very clear message.

In the end people in Wales need to reflect very carefully on last night's result. Not only on the need for Labour to listen to its citizens much more, but also on the dangers of a Conservative victory because they are promising multi-billion pound cuts which would devastate the Welsh Assembly Government's budget and see cuts to health and schools, right to housing and all the way across the board, which would take us back to the misery which was wreaked across Wales in the 1980s and 1990s, and this reality is now staring us right in the face.

The essential message is: if you don't vote for us next year, don't come crying to us the next morning when you wake up and find you've got a Conservative government. Which kind of misses the point: Labour didn't get heavily beaten in Wales because of disaffected voters casting their ballot for Plaid Cymru and splitting the vote. They got heavily beaten because more people voted Conservative than for any other party. And if Labour's strategy in Wales now rests on warning people that the consequence of not voting for them means them not being in power anymore, Heaven help them. Because it would appear that's exactly what people want.

When it started, it seemed half the members had popped outside for an ice-cream, so sparsely populated was the chamber. And then it didn't get much better.
Former Shadow Health Minister Jonathan Morgan (Conservative, Cardiff North) - sat close enough to leader Nick Bourne to flick things at the back of his head, should he have wished - asked about old people being forced to give up work before they wished.
"You will be aware that the UK Equality Bill still retains a compulsory requirement age of 65," he told the First Minister. "The UK Government has not budged on this particular matter."
Rhodri Morgan, 69, replied: "Well, when you mentioned that some people can perfectly adequately carry on after 65 I was thinking that I should take it as a compliment from you, Jonathan, I don't know," in a response even a particularly myopic mole could have seen coming from 60 yards away. T continue the football theme, Morgan Jr sets 'em up, and Morgan Snr puts 'em in.

There was some bits of agreement. Shadow Environment Minister Angela Burns complained about the number of consultations currently being looked at - 92 alone from the environment department this year so far, including, quite brilliantly, "how to take care of a rabbit". Mr Morgan agreed, to an extent, but pointed out not inaccurately that, were the Assembly Government to make decisions without consulting it would be "accused of acting in a high-handed manner".

Mr Bourne, apparently aware that trying to tackle Mr Morgan on the economy is to invite a history lessons on 1980s Reagonomics, chose to go on education instead, in particular the growing gap between attainment in Wales and England.
Mr Morgan argued that the two countries had different educational targets, Wales wanting to improve the lot of those who previously would have left school with no qualifications, while the English were only interested with those getting A-C grades. Mr Bourne asked again. Mr Morgan disagreed. It really was getting awfully hot in there.

At least he was asking about the Assembly Government. Chris Frank (Plaid Cymru, South Wales Central) asked a question about the conduct of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.
"There's no responsibility for managing councils," interjected Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas. "He's managing the Welsh Assembly Government."
"Plenty of work for me, young man," said Mr Morgan to Mr Franks, before ruffling his hair and giving him a lollipop (he didn't really do the last bit).
Kirsty Williams tried her luck on youth unemployment and further education colleges, but failed to land many blows on the First Minister.

And we had a questions from Sandy Mewies (Labour, Delyn)! Sandy Mewies! I had to check my handbook to make sure she was still an AM and hadn't just wandered in, so low-profile is she.
And she pulled no punches! "Would you agree with me that it's very heartening to see young people taking an interest in the democratic process," she asked, "and the petition committee is a good way for them to take part?" Hmm, Let's hope it's a better question next time (currently scheduled for 2012).

Finally, Leanne Wood (Plaid, South Wales Central) asked a question about the closure of Treherbert Swimming Pool by...Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.
"I've made it clear that the First Minister is not accountable for Rhondda Cynon Taf," said Lord Elis-Thomas, rebuking her.
"I'm not sure what else I can add to that majestic statement, Llwydd," said Mr Morgan.
Which kind of summed the day up really. AMs had either not been listening to what went before, or they actually would rather be in a council chamber asking questions about a pool.

"The Wales Green Party leader Jake Griffiths has criticised the First Minister Rhodri Morgan [sic] green vision for Wales which was launched today as being large on rhetoric with very little to show for 14 years of Labour government in Wales," it runs.

It goes on:

Jake Griffiths, Wales Green Party Lead European candidate, said: "After 14 years of Labour government in London and now a Labour/Plaid government in Cardiff there is very little evidence of achievement on environmental issues."

Quite. Just one question: where on earth does he get 14 years from?

Unless expressly so stated, nothing in this email is on the record, or for publication, or can be taken to represent the views of anyone other than the author.

Some post-smeargate barn-door-bolting?

Cardiff Bay saw a live rendition today. First Minister Rhodri Morgan was determined throughout to keep the topic firmly on the Conservatives - more specifically, Thatcher's Conservatives of the 1980s.
There was talk of Thatcher. Even Ronald Reagan got namechecked in his answers twice. He only needed to add Max Headroom and we could have all partied like it was 1985.

It began from the off when Shadow Communities Minister Darren Millar asked about the impact of last week's Budget statement on public services in Wales. Mr Morgan, apparently forgetting the First Minister is supposed to answer questions rather than pose them, chose to ask where the Tories would make cuts.
"The closer we get to a general election, the more you should be asking your colleagues David Cameron and George Osborne what they will do when they're elected," he fumed.

Mr Millar's leader, Nick Bourne, had another go. Where would the Assembly Government be making cuts when unemployment in Wales was already higher than when Labour took office?

Unemployment, eh? Mr Morgan dusted off his history book and reminded Mr Bourne that unemployment in Wales grew "in 17 of the 18 years that the Tories were in power".
Mr Bourne replied, not entirely unreasonably: "The First Minister talks as if he's just got into power, or Labour has. You've been in power for the last 10 years here, 12 in Westminster."

Mr Morgan was not having this. He was not here to discuss the present!

He returned to the Thatcher and Major governments. "For 17 of the Tory years employment was higher in every single month," he repeated.
"Don't weep crocodile tears for the people of Wales over the record of unemployment. Your record when in office for 17 of the 18 years was absolutely appalling."

Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams had just as little joy when she too tried to ask Mr Morgan where he was going to find £150m of cuts. Last week's Budget was "rose-tinted", she said.
Mr Morgan replied: "I don't know about rose-tinted. I didn't see much that was rose-tinted about last week's Budget. I thought it was broadly frank and honest."
But Ms Williams, persevered, asking again where the savings were coming from. Mr Morgan replied it was more incumbent on the Conservatives to say where they would make cuts. Queue raucous shouting.

"It's not so easy is it, First Minister, to give an answer to that question which you ask to others," said Ms Williams, i a kind of dangerous tone redolent of a Bond villain.
"I'm sorry you're confusing not having an answer to not giving you the answer that you want," said Mr Morgan, in what sounds an awful lot like a Morrissey lyric.

In a marathon FMQs session, other topics came up. Eleanor Burnham (Lib Dem, North Wales), waved around a photocopied front page of the Daily Post and insisted the First Minister arranged for grass in North Wales to be cut at night to prevent disruption for traffic, which is apparently making life a "misery".
"I always try to sort misery wherever it is in Wales but I can't always wave a magic wand," said Mr Morgan.

Peter Black (Lib Dem, South West Wales) asked about comments on the Welsh Labour website Aneurin Glyndwr which were highly critical of Ieuan Wyn Jones, Mr Morgan's deputy. Just the name 'Aneurin Glyndwr' gets a big laugh in the chamber.
"You're referring to my favourite bedtime reading now," said Mr Morgan.
"With my well-known obsession with blogs and well-known obsession with Twitter".

Biggest cheer of the day, however - although it might have been ironic - went to Alun Davies (Labour, Mid and West Wales), who earlier that day had announced his intention to gain his party's nod for the Blaenau Gwent seat at the next Assembly Election.
So what did he do? Asked a fawning question along the lines of whether the First Minister would agreed Labour was doing a sterling job.

Ah, unquestioning devotion to the party! From what I recall, that worked really well for Labour in Blaenau Gwent the last couple of times.

Still, it could have been worse.

An initial attempt to pull people in with curry turned out to be a bit of a shambles. But fear not: Sir Emy has hit on another winner. Dancing.

According to the Evening Leader, when the Conventions sits in Denbigh next week "after the traditional tea and cakes, people will have the opportunity to work off the calories by taking to the floor under the guidance of a qualified dance instructor".

"Mixing salsa and social issues, polka and politics is a way to access a different audience," said Sir Emyr. "I want to make sure we try to speak to as wide an audience as possible throughout Wales.
"In the same way as we've established a social networking group on Facebook to interact with the younger generation, we're hosting a tea dance at Denbigh to meet with the older generation.
"That of course doesn't mean that anyone and everyone can't come along to the event - whether they want to dance or not, it's a chance for people to join in debate," he added.
"Come along to the tea dance at Denbigh Town Hall and have your say on the devolution debate.
"Everyone has the right to express their opinions and feedback their views on what impact the Welsh Assembly has had on their lives.
"Afterwards, why not take the opportunity to put on your dancing shoes and take to the floor.
"Salsa, samba or foxtrot, politics, powers and policies - whatever your take, take part."

Quite. The destiny of Wales' consitutional make-up for the next generation is in safe hands, isn't it?

Whatever, the nation's representatives were in ebullient form, and chief among them was First Minister Rhodri Morgan, fresh from performing a Pontius Pilate-style hand-washing act of Peter Hain and Eluned Morgan's reworking of Delilah in front of the press.
As expected, that particular topic raised its head this afternoon. But not before self-styled Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer for Wales Nick Ramsay offered the First Minister the opportunity to make amend for one of his own previous controversies.

Referring to reports that rivers in Wales could run dry by 2050 thanks to global warming, he asked: "What are you doing to encourage greater water efficiency in Wales and do you stand by your comments that global warming will not necessarily be unhelpful for Wales?"
(For the uninitiated, two years ago Mr Morgan said it would not be "entirely unhelpful" if it brought summer weather similar to California's or Spain's).

The First Minister was not for turning. "I do maintain those comments because, I think, if you look at the Environment Agency records last week there was a very clear message in it that there is an east-west dimension in this," he said.
"There's probably a need for water meters in the south-east parts of England. We have no need for water metering in Wales because of the reasons I made in the speech which got me into some trouble with some environmental groups."
So that's OK, then.

But what we all came for is to see if there was any mention of that video, and Conservative leader Nick Bourne didn't disappoint.
Launching into a tirade against Prime Minister Gordon Brown "striding the world like a colossus" - which was a bit unfair, as he was hardly there to defend himself - Mr Bourne noted that a speech by Tory MEP Daniel Hannan was now the most-viewed political speech on YouTube.
This he compared to the "satirical effort of Hain and Morgan which I notice has been pulled now. Lest anyone think it's about my lack of good humour about it, please leave it up there.
"It's absolutely fantastic and it had me holding my sides with mirth, so please leave it up there."

Mr Morgan, who does not share Mr Bourne's view of the video as "absolutely fantastic", avoided any comment and dealt with Mr Bourne's question, about a lack of rate relief for small businesses. This the First Minister countered by pointing out that only last week Conservative Peter Luff, chair of the House of Commons' Business and Enterprise Select Committee, had praised the Assembly Government's actions on rate relief.
"I know Peter Luff very well, he's a very good friend of mine!," said Mr Bourne, bafflingly.
"Ooooooohhh!," cried the Plaid Cymru benches as one. Post-coalition, this is the kind of role they fill these days. They repeated it again when Mr Bourne tried the bad cop routine, shouting "Look, First Minister!".

Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams, clearly stung by criticism she was barely audible in FMQs, has now begun enunciating her questions v-e-r-y c-l-e-a-r-l-y, like Joyce Grenfell's teacher. She asked a series of worthy questions about a lack of business advice for companies in her constituency.
Mr Morgan said: "I think you're weaving a rather extensive new garment out of a very threadbare piece of wool there." Ms Williams looked deflated. She's sorted her speaking, now she needs some harder-hitting questions.

Finally, Lorraine Barrett (Labour, Cardiff South and Penarth) asked about the number of live music venues in Cardiff, now the Bay's iconic Point venue and shut and there were rumblings over the capital's Clwb Ifor Bach.
"I defer to you on matters musical, Lorraine, knowing your historical interest," said Mr Morgan, adding that he "used to hang around jive nights".
"I do hope to have more time to visit more live venues after my stint as First Minister is over," he said.

Perhaps he'd care to see a live performance of Hain and Morgan's reworking of Delilah. Or, more likely, perhaps not.

"I really hope my friends and constituents in Montgomeryshire enjoy seeing me represent them on the show," he says.

His constituents might prefer he represented them in Parliament, but there we go.

So hats off to the only three Welsh politicians to make the list - Chris Bryant at number nine, Adam Price (incorrectly referred to as "making up 50% of the Plaid parliamentary party") at 37 and Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman at 46, which apparently makes him "the most influential gay Liberal Democrat in local government".

At number one is Lord Mandelson, which is a nice end to a day ruined by being covered in custard by a posh twit who didn't even bother to say what she was protesting about.