Welsh farming minister Alun Davies has been sacked after it emerged he had asked civil servants to provide him with information on his political opponents' claims for funds under the Common Agricultural Policy.

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Details on the opposition AMs' subsidy payments were not in the public domain. This is the second time evidence has emerged of Mr Davies breaching the ministerial code of conduct in recent days.

First minister Carwyn Jones spared Davies after a separate scandal erupted last week, when it emerged that the minister had lobbied Natural Resources Wales over its decision to oppose a proposed motor racing track in his South Wales constituency. On Wednesday Davies, AM for Blaenau Gwent, admitted to fellow AMs that he had not adequately separated his interests as both a minister and representative of a local constituency over the race track issue.

However, he was sacked on Tuesday in light of revelations that he had repeatedly attempted to obtain fellow members' private information with which he could potentially launch a "smear campaign."

Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and one of the MPs targeted, reacted on Tuesday; "The actions of Alun Davies as a Minister are atrocious and completely unacceptable for anyone serving in public office. Alun Davies has been mired with controversy throughout his ministerial term.

"I am proud to be married to a farmer. Our family has been farming in Brecon and Radnorshire for over 100 years. The fact that Alun Davies used his Ministerial office to start a smear campaign against those that dared to hold him to account is disgraceful."

Welsh Tory leader Andrew Davies was also amongst the MPs whose details Davies had requested. First Minister Carwyn Jones said Davies' actions were "poorly judged" and "inappropriate."

The Welsh Government said that a new environment minister will be appointed on Tuesday (8^th July).