A Zoom blunder from Wales's health minister left fellow politicians with their heads in their hands as he was heard swearing about a colleague with his microphone still on.
Vaughan Gething made the remarks after coming to the end of answering questions during a plenary session held over video call due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Referring to Jenny Rathbone, Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, he said to an unknown person: “What the f*** is the matter with her?”
There was a call of "no" as he went on and Elin Jones, presiding officer of the National Assembly for Wales, told Mr Gething to turn his microphone off.
Assembly members could be seen laughing or putting their hands to their faces.
Mr Gething posted on Twitter: “I’m obviously embarrassed about my comments at the end of questions today.
“I’ve sent a message apologising and offered to speak to Jenny Rathbone if she wishes to do so.
“It is an unwelcome distraction at a time of unprecedented challenge.”
After the session, a spokesman for the Welsh Government said: “The minister has contacted the member concerned to apologise.”
The leaders of Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives called for First Minister Mark Drakeford to sack Mr Gething.
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: “He does not have the right attitude, skills or temperament to lead the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic
“To maintain public confidence, the First Minister needs to relieve him of these responsibilities with immediate effect.”
Paul Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, tweeted: “Politicians are entitled to ask serious and challenging questions of Ministers and it’s essential that they are able to do so during this pandemic.
“For a Health Minister to show such unprofessionalism and disdain at this time is completely unacceptable and he should be sacked.”
