THE Welsh Government tonight defeated a opposition motion of no-confidence in the health minister Lesley Griffiths amid a row over a report on the NHS.

It came after a heated debate in the Senedd where the first minister Carwyn Jones compared allegations over emails sent between Marcus Longley and civil servants to the “X-files”.

Questions over his independence were raised after emails sent between Professor Longley, who’d claimed some services were in danger of collapse without radical changes, and Welsh Government officials emerged.

But a motion of no-confidence in Ms Griffiths, backed by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Welsh Tories and Plaid Cymru, failed tonight - 28 votes to 29.

Mr Jones said there was no evidence the minister had communicated with Mr Longley.

He said the opposition had meant that “Professor Longley is a liar, the Welsh Government officials are all liars, the NHS Confederation are lying, the local health boards are lying and the minister is lying.

“Welcome to the X-files!”

Kirsty Williams, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the challenges facing the NHS are very real.

But she said emails that requested “killer facts” and evidence to make the case for change were “difficult to understand”, and that the minutes of five local health boards stated they believed the Welsh Government was working with Professor Longley to produce the report.

Paul Davies, AM for Preseli for the Tories, said the emails had shown the government played a key role in framing the report.

“There is a consensus that health service has to change and reorganisation is required but we do need to have an open and transparent discussion,” he said.

However Torfaen Labour AM Lynne Neagle said the Assembly has spent the “best part of two weeks” dancing around a few emails.

Assembly Tory leader Andrew RT Davies said after the debate: “The close nature of this vote reinforces the air of crisis and doubt surrounding the health minister, at a time when the Welsh NHS requires honesty, transparency and accountability.”