FIRST Minister’s Questions descended into chaos today, as opposition AMs angrily heckled Carwyn Jones and shouted for him to resign.

There were loud jeers and heckles from the opposition benches as the first minister was quizzed on the Welsh Government’s threat to take the Welsh Assembly to court over a planned motion calling for the release of a report into the alleged leaking of Carl Sargeant’s sacking.

Ukip Wales leader Neil Hamilton even compared the first minister to corrupt US president Richard Nixon, calling him “The Tricky Dicky of Welsh politics”.

Although presiding officer Elin Jones tried her hardest to keep control, repeatedly calling on AMs to allow the first minister to finish his answers, her calls fell on deaf ears.

Proceedings became particularly heated during an exchange between the first minister and Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM Adam Price.

Mr Price said the legal threat showed “a leadership culture within Welsh Government that is dedicated to crushing opposition, whatever the personal cost, and whatever the political cost in terms of public trust in our democratic institutions."

Addressing Labour AMs, he said: “My question is a very simple one, but perhaps it's best directed to the people behind you: at what point do we say enough is enough?”

But Mr Jones replied with a pointed reference to Mr Price moving to America after stepping down as Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP in 2010, saying: “I prefer to stay with the people of Wales. I didn't disappear to America.

He continued: “I stayed and I fought my case with the people of Wales”, before being drowned out by jeers and shouts of “resign”.

Proceedings descended into chaos with Mr Price saying: “You attack me personally on a question about personal attacks”, and Mr Jones hitting back: “Adam Price stood in this chamber and just attacked me personally – he complains when he gets it back, but it's not one law for one and one law for the other.”

Repeated attempts by Ms Price to bring the chamber to order went unheeded, with her eventually saying: “Let’s just get through this”.

Only Labour AMs remained quiet, looking stony-faced behind the first minister.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mr Jones left the chamber as soon as First Minister’s Questions was over.