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Welsh First Minister: UKIP AM Gill to back Carwyn Jones Welsh First Minister: UKIP's Gill may back Carwyn Jones
(about 3 hours later)
UKIP AM Nathan Gill is preparing to back Carwyn Jones's re-election as first minister, BBC Wales understands. UKIP AM Nathan Gill has said he is prepared to back Carwyn Jones's re-election as first minister if some of his party's manifesto can become law.
There was deadlock in the Senedd as Mr Jones and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood were tied 29-29, with Lib Dem Kirsty Williams siding with Labour.There was deadlock in the Senedd as Mr Jones and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood were tied 29-29, with Lib Dem Kirsty Williams siding with Labour.
The Conservatives and the seven UKIP AMs joined Plaid in backing Ms Wood.The Conservatives and the seven UKIP AMs joined Plaid in backing Ms Wood.
Mr Gill, who is UKIP Wales leader but not assembly group leader, said his party has not ruled anything out.
Another UKIP AM, Mark Reckless, told BBC Wales the whole UKIP group could back Labour if it supported the scrapping of the Severn Bridge tolls.Another UKIP AM, Mark Reckless, told BBC Wales the whole UKIP group could back Labour if it supported the scrapping of the Severn Bridge tolls.
Mr Jones had been expected to be reinstated as first minister of a minority Labour government in the first Senedd session of the new assembly term on Wednesday.Mr Jones had been expected to be reinstated as first minister of a minority Labour government in the first Senedd session of the new assembly term on Wednesday.
But the meeting had to be adjourned to a later date after a roll call of AMs resulted in a tie, with no prospect of a fresh vote giving a different result.But the meeting had to be adjourned to a later date after a roll call of AMs resulted in a tie, with no prospect of a fresh vote giving a different result.
'Up for negotiation' 'Nobody ruled out'
Speaking to BBC Wales on Wednesday, Mr Reckless said: "I don't understand the prevalent assumption within media and political circles how Carwyn Jones was just going to come back unchallenged as first minister. UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill said: "We would back Carwyn Jones if we could get some of our manifesto into law. We said all along that we would work with any party.
"The only complication for me was the leadership vote within our group … that was my focus, to keep things together, that we were a cohesive seven on that for Leanne." "We did not rule anybody out."
But Mr Reckless added: "All of us would be willing to back Labour and Carwyn if they were to give us sufficient of what we want in our manifesto. He added: "The first thing we would want to see is the tolls on the Severn Bridges removed."
"We want to scrap the [Severn Bridge] tolls," he said, describing it as a "red line" on which UKIP support for any potential first minister depended. Mr Gill echoed his party colleague Mark Reckless, who told BBC Wales: "All of us would be willing to back Labour and Carwyn if they were to give us sufficient of what we want in our manifesto."
"If we can be assured that would happen we would be up for negotiation for whoever would do that." Currently, responsibility for the Severn bridge tolls are not devolved, although there have been calls for powers over them to be handed to Cardiff Bay.
A Labour group spokesperson said: "There are no formal talks with any parties currently and certainly not UKIP. A Labour group spokesman said: "There are no formal talks with any parties currently and certainly not UKIP.
"Nathan Gill, like almost every AM, wanted to speak to the First Minister yesterday. The First Minister wasn't available so he spoke to a senior member of our group."Nathan Gill, like almost every AM, wanted to speak to the First Minister yesterday. The First Minister wasn't available so he spoke to a senior member of our group.
"Over the coming days we will speak to AMs from every party to ensure Wales has a stable government in the soonest timeframe possible, but there's no deal with Nathan or with UKIP as seems to have been suggested.""Over the coming days we will speak to AMs from every party to ensure Wales has a stable government in the soonest timeframe possible, but there's no deal with Nathan or with UKIP as seems to have been suggested."
'Level of desperation''Level of desperation'
Simon Thomas, Plaid AM, told the BBC's Daily Politics programme: "I'd be amazed after what the Labour party said yesterday that they'd be prepared to do a deal with an individual UKIP member like Nathan Gill.Simon Thomas, Plaid AM, told the BBC's Daily Politics programme: "I'd be amazed after what the Labour party said yesterday that they'd be prepared to do a deal with an individual UKIP member like Nathan Gill.
"It just shows the level of desperation that the Labour party are potentially in at the moment.""It just shows the level of desperation that the Labour party are potentially in at the moment."
Earlier, he told BBC Radio Wales that relationships between Plaid and Labour were "not at their best".Earlier, he told BBC Radio Wales that relationships between Plaid and Labour were "not at their best".
Labour AM Alun Davies told the station his party had the "right and mandate to govern", but added: "I accept completely that we need to be more open.Labour AM Alun Davies told the station his party had the "right and mandate to govern", but added: "I accept completely that we need to be more open.
"We need to be transparent. We need to be inclusive. We have to reach out. That isn't in question.""We need to be transparent. We need to be inclusive. We have to reach out. That isn't in question."
'No deal''No deal'
All parties insisted that no deals had been done before the vote on first minister.All parties insisted that no deals had been done before the vote on first minister.
Tory AM Paul Davies told BBC Radio Cymru's Post Cyntaf programme: "What we wanted to show yesterday is that Labour doesn't have some divine right to govern.Tory AM Paul Davies told BBC Radio Cymru's Post Cyntaf programme: "What we wanted to show yesterday is that Labour doesn't have some divine right to govern.
"At the end of the day, Labour doesn't have a majority.""At the end of the day, Labour doesn't have a majority."
Liberal Democrat AM Kirsty Williams told BBC's The Wales Report: "I have not done a deal with the Labour Party. My decision was based on the reality of the election result."Liberal Democrat AM Kirsty Williams told BBC's The Wales Report: "I have not done a deal with the Labour Party. My decision was based on the reality of the election result."
AMs are expected to meet again next week to vote again for a first minister.AMs are expected to meet again next week to vote again for a first minister.
They have until 2 June - 28 days after the election - to choose a leader or face the prospect of a fresh election.They have until 2 June - 28 days after the election - to choose a leader or face the prospect of a fresh election.