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| Coalition 'at risk of collapsing' | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The coalition government between Labour and Plaid Cymru in Wales is in danger of collapsing, BBC Wales understands. | |
| It follows Labour ruling out any progress towards a referendum on giving the assembly full law-making powers until after the UK general election. | |
| Senior Plaid Cymru sources said this was the most serious threat to the coalition since its formation in 2007. | Senior Plaid Cymru sources said this was the most serious threat to the coalition since its formation in 2007. |
| The party called Labour's statement a "serious breach of trust" and "completely unacceptable". | The party called Labour's statement a "serious breach of trust" and "completely unacceptable". |
| A senior source said: "There is no way the party would allow its ministers to sit around the table with Labour if this is allowed to stand." | |
| Welsh Labour's Welsh joint policy committee has met, prioritised the need to campaign for a general election victory, and agreed to start considering the All Wales Convention report in detail as a prelude to stepping up wider party consultation with AMs and MPs, councillors, trade unionists and members as soon as the general election is over Welsh Labour statement | |
| Labour's statement was issued at midday on Tuesday as a joint reponse by the Welsh Labour leadership to a report by the All Wales Convention published last week. | |
| The report was commissioned by the assembly government as a central part of the Labour-Plaid coalition, which was formed in 2007 after the last assembly election. | |
| The convention concluded that the assembly should be given full law-making powers in devolved areas through a referendum. | |
| The report said that a "yes" vote in favour of boosting powers was obtainable in a referendum, but not guaranteed. | |
| Welsh ministers have said they are committed to holding a poll, if it is winnable, by May 2011. | |
| Legislative powers | |
| The statement was issued in the name of Welsh Labour chair Garry Owen, First Minister and Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan, and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain. | |
| The statement said: "We welcome the detailed report by the All Wales Convention and reaffirm Welsh Labour's commitment to primary legislative powers for the Welsh assembly and to campaign for these in a successful referendum. | |
| "Because a 'No' vote in a referendum could set back devolution for several decades, triggering the referendum process needs to be based on a firm prospect that public opinion is ready to respond positively in the referendum. | |
| "Our internal policy process has already begun: Welsh Labour's Welsh joint policy committee has met, prioritised the need to campaign for a general election victory, and agreed to start considering the All Wales Convention report in detail as a prelude to stepping up wider party consultation with AMs and MPs, councillors, trade unionists and members as soon as the general election is over." | |
| One Labour AM told BBC Wales: "People are furious and this morning's group meeting was both shocked and angry. | |
| "Rhodri cannot bind his successor [on a referendum]. We could again be seen as being on the back foot and losing public confidence. This cannot be allowed to stand." |