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| Bitter-sweet election for Labour | Bitter-sweet election for Labour |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Labour has suffered blows in the Welsh assembly election, losing five seats, but a vital victory in Wrexham could help keep it in power. | Labour has suffered blows in the Welsh assembly election, losing five seats, but a vital victory in Wrexham could help keep it in power. |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who had said he would resign if Labour did badly, said he would "know in my bones" if he and his party had been rejected. | First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who had said he would resign if Labour did badly, said he would "know in my bones" if he and his party had been rejected. |
| A mostly bad Labour night was a good one for Conservatives and Plaid Cymru. | A mostly bad Labour night was a good one for Conservatives and Plaid Cymru. |
| The far-right British National Party (BNP) had record results in the regional lists, coming fifth in some. | The far-right British National Party (BNP) had record results in the regional lists, coming fifth in some. |
| The full picture will take some time to emerge, with the last results not expected before 0600 BST. | The full picture will take some time to emerge, with the last results not expected before 0600 BST. |
| We will have to see what the message from the people of Wales is First Minister Rhodri Morgan | We will have to see what the message from the people of Wales is First Minister Rhodri Morgan |
| After about 30 constituency results were declared, Labour was on about 32% of the vote, Plaid 23%, Conservative 20%, and Lib Dem 16%. | After about 30 constituency results were declared, Labour was on about 32% of the vote, Plaid 23%, Conservative 20%, and Lib Dem 16%. |
| Labour's vote was down 8.5%, while Plaid and Tories were up between 1% - 2% and Lib Dems up about 1%. | Labour's vote was down 8.5%, while Plaid and Tories were up between 1% - 2% and Lib Dems up about 1%. |
| Turnout was also up, at about 43%, from 38% four years ago. | Turnout was also up, at about 43%, from 38% four years ago. |
| While the BNP did relatively well, and looked as though it could take almost 5% of the vote on the lists, that was unlikely to be enough to capture any seats. | While the BNP did relatively well, and looked as though it could take almost 5% of the vote on the lists, that was unlikely to be enough to capture any seats. |
| Minister Alun Pugh was beaten by Conservative Darren Millar | Minister Alun Pugh was beaten by Conservative Darren Millar |
| Plaid's Helen Mary Jones turned a Labour majority of 21 in Llanelli into a 3,884 winning margin of her own. | Plaid's Helen Mary Jones turned a Labour majority of 21 in Llanelli into a 3,884 winning margin of her own. |
| Conservatives took a series of seats from Labour: Clwyd West, Preseli Pembrokeshire, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, and Cardiff North. | |
| Clwyd West provided the biggest casualty of the night when Sport, Culture and Welsh Language Minister Alun Pugh lost his seat to Tory Darren Millar, who survived a controversy late in the campaign about alleged comments he made about homosexuality and teaching creationism in schools. | |
| Labour was also again beaten by independent Trish Law in its former valley heartland seat of Blaenau Gwent. | Labour was also again beaten by independent Trish Law in its former valley heartland seat of Blaenau Gwent. |
| But after a string of poor results, Labour enjoyed a valuable victory when Lesley Griffiths won back Wrexham from independent John Marek, a former Labour MP and AM. | But after a string of poor results, Labour enjoyed a valuable victory when Lesley Griffiths won back Wrexham from independent John Marek, a former Labour MP and AM. |
| The Wrexham win may mean that Labour can hit the important target of 25 or even 26 seats, which could open the way to reviving a coalition with the Lib Dems. | The Wrexham win may mean that Labour can hit the important target of 25 or even 26 seats, which could open the way to reviving a coalition with the Lib Dems. |
| It's always the case when you've been in government after 10 years - it gets harder and harder Llanelli Labour MP Nia Griffith | It's always the case when you've been in government after 10 years - it gets harder and harder Llanelli Labour MP Nia Griffith |
| Mr Morgan, speaking after retaining his Cardiff West seat, said he did not want to tempt fate by predicting the overall result, but it still looked as if Labour would be by far the biggest party. | Mr Morgan, speaking after retaining his Cardiff West seat, said he did not want to tempt fate by predicting the overall result, but it still looked as if Labour would be by far the biggest party. |
| "We will have to see what the message from the people of Wales is." | "We will have to see what the message from the people of Wales is." |
| There was some good news for Labour, however, with former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies failing in his bid to return to the assembly as an independent in his old seat of Caerphilly. | There was some good news for Labour, however, with former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies failing in his bid to return to the assembly as an independent in his old seat of Caerphilly. |
| Labour candidate Jeff Cuthbert, who replaced Mr Davies as Caerphilly AM, held off both his predecessor and a strong Plaid challenge. | Labour candidate Jeff Cuthbert, who replaced Mr Davies as Caerphilly AM, held off both his predecessor and a strong Plaid challenge. |
| Expert Prof Roger Scully said as the results began to come in: "I've been studying election results for over a decade, and I've never been as unsure as this year." | Expert Prof Roger Scully said as the results began to come in: "I've been studying election results for over a decade, and I've never been as unsure as this year." |
| We all have a responsibility to look at the results to see if we can put forward a stable government for Wales Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones | We all have a responsibility to look at the results to see if we can put forward a stable government for Wales Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones |
| Llanelli MP Nia Griffith said voters were "ganging up on what they see as the best option to get rid of Labour". | Llanelli MP Nia Griffith said voters were "ganging up on what they see as the best option to get rid of Labour". |
| She added: "It's always the case when you've been in government after 10 years - it gets harder and harder." | She added: "It's always the case when you've been in government after 10 years - it gets harder and harder." |
| Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones, who retained his Ynys Mon seat, said: "Indications are that in our target seats we are doing extremely well and were are going to pick up seats. That is excellent news for us." | Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones, who retained his Ynys Mon seat, said: "Indications are that in our target seats we are doing extremely well and were are going to pick up seats. That is excellent news for us." |
| Mr Jones said if no party had a clear majority "we all have a responsibility to look at the results to see if we can put forward a stable government for Wales". | Mr Jones said if no party had a clear majority "we all have a responsibility to look at the results to see if we can put forward a stable government for Wales". |
| He repeated that he would not work under a Tory first minister or prop up a minority Labour one, but added that "if an agreement can be reached I'm ready to speak". | He repeated that he would not work under a Tory first minister or prop up a minority Labour one, but added that "if an agreement can be reached I'm ready to speak". |
| Independent Trish Law celebrates after retaining Blaenau Gwent | Independent Trish Law celebrates after retaining Blaenau Gwent |
| In Blaenau Gwent, independent Trish Law retained the seat she won at a by-election in 2006, and with an increased majority. | In Blaenau Gwent, independent Trish Law retained the seat she won at a by-election in 2006, and with an increased majority. |
| Blaenau Gwent had been a solid Labour seat until Mrs Law's late husband, Peter, left the party in a row over women-only shortlists to choose the parliamentary candidate. Peter Law became the independent MP and AM, and his widow won the seat last year after his death. | Blaenau Gwent had been a solid Labour seat until Mrs Law's late husband, Peter, left the party in a row over women-only shortlists to choose the parliamentary candidate. Peter Law became the independent MP and AM, and his widow won the seat last year after his death. |
| Plaid's Elin Jones retained Ceredigion despite a strong Lib Dem challenge. But Lib Dem Jenny Randerson held onto Cardiff Central with 51% of the vote. | Plaid's Elin Jones retained Ceredigion despite a strong Lib Dem challenge. But Lib Dem Jenny Randerson held onto Cardiff Central with 51% of the vote. |
| At the last election in 2003, Labour won 30 seats and formed the assembly government. Plaid Cymru were second with 12 seats, followed by 11 Tory AMs, six Liberal Democrats and one independent. | At the last election in 2003, Labour won 30 seats and formed the assembly government. Plaid Cymru were second with 12 seats, followed by 11 Tory AMs, six Liberal Democrats and one independent. |
| However, by the end of the last assembly term, Labour were down to 29 seats and there were two independent AMs. | However, by the end of the last assembly term, Labour were down to 29 seats and there were two independent AMs. |