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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Coalition 'at risk of collapsing' | Coalition 'at risk of collapsing' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The coalition government between Labour and Plaid Cymru in Wales is in danger of collapsing, BBC Wales understands. | 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. | 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." | 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 | 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 response 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 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 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. | 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. | Welsh ministers have said they are committed to holding a poll, if it is winnable, by May 2011. |
| Legislative powers | 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 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. | 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. | "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. |
| Can I assure you, first minister, that Plaid Cymru will not let Labour drag its feet on this Dai Lloyd AM, Plaid Cymru | |
| "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." | "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." |
| Mr Morgan is stepping down as Welsh Labour leader and first minister next month, with his successor to be announced on 1 December. | |
| One Labour AM told BBC Wales: "People are furious and this morning's group meeting was both shocked and angry. | 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." | "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." |
| In a statement to AMs on the convention later in the afternoon, Mr Morgan said: "The assembly government intends in the new year to bring forward a motion for a full debate on the convention's report. | In a statement to AMs on the convention later in the afternoon, Mr Morgan said: "The assembly government intends in the new year to bring forward a motion for a full debate on the convention's report. |
| Hour-long meeting | |
| "I am reassured that the convention believes that our 'One Wales' (coalition) agreement to hold a referendum during this assembly is both practical and achievable, but I must leave the details to my successor as first minister." | "I am reassured that the convention believes that our 'One Wales' (coalition) agreement to hold a referendum during this assembly is both practical and achievable, but I must leave the details to my successor as first minister." |
| It is understood the wording of Mr Morgan's statement to AMs was agreed in an hour-long meeting between Mr Morgan, and the Plaid leader and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones in the morning, before the Labour news release was issued. | It is understood the wording of Mr Morgan's statement to AMs was agreed in an hour-long meeting between Mr Morgan, and the Plaid leader and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones in the morning, before the Labour news release was issued. |
| Plaid Cymru AM Dai Lloyd told Mr Morgan in the Senedd chamber: "Can I assure you, first minister, that Plaid Cymru will not let Labour drag its feet on this". | |
| Mr Morgan replied that moves towards a referendum had to work around the general election, expected in May or June. | |
| "It's for Ieuan, me now, my successor in a week or so's time to look at exactly what that means in terms of the windows available for how we proceed from here to a successful referendum campaign," he said. | |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams accused Labour of outlining its "desire to stall a decision on a referendum until after the general election, making the autumn referendum all other parties desire impossible to deliver". | |
| Ms Williams said Plaid "must now be furious" and said the | |
| "Plaid Cymru, who joined with Labour on the promise of a referendum in 2011, must now be furious," she said. | |
| "I call on Plaid Cymru to challenge Labour's position for the sake of devolution in Wales. | |
| "It is also critical that whoever replaces Rhodri Morgan as leader of Welsh Labour is able to stand up to Peter Hain and reject the statement Welsh Labour have issued today," Ms Williams added. | |
| Mr Hain has previously warned that a referendum within two years would be lost. |