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| Labour suffers, but may hold on | Labour suffers, but may hold on |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| It was a mixed night for Labour in the Welsh assembly election, but the party could still hold on to power. | It was a mixed night for Labour in the Welsh assembly election, but the party could still hold on to power. |
| Labour saw its seat total fall to 26, while there were gains for Plaid Cymru, which now has 15 seats, and the Conservatives, which has 12 AMs. | |
| It leaves Labour well short of a majority in the 60-member assembly. | It leaves Labour well short of a majority in the 60-member assembly. |
| The Welsh Liberal Democrats said it was "clear that the people of Wales have decided that no one party should command a majority in the assembly". | The Welsh Liberal Democrats said it was "clear that the people of Wales have decided that no one party should command a majority in the assembly". |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who had said he would resign if Labour did badly, said the party had "proved the doom-mongers wrong" and "we can hold our heads up high". | First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who had said he would resign if Labour did badly, said the party had "proved the doom-mongers wrong" and "we can hold our heads up high". |
| We will want to play our part in the future of the assembly Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, Plaid Cymru | We will want to play our part in the future of the assembly Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, Plaid Cymru |
| Mr Morgan said it was a night when Labour "haven't won but haven't exactly lost" but there was "a shade of grey in the middle." | Mr Morgan said it was a night when Labour "haven't won but haven't exactly lost" but there was "a shade of grey in the middle." |
| He said it was a time for discussion within the party and he did not expect anything to emerge until after the bank holiday. | He said it was a time for discussion within the party and he did not expect anything to emerge until after the bank holiday. |
| "I don't think it will be today, the groups have got to get together and discuss the best way forward." | "I don't think it will be today, the groups have got to get together and discuss the best way forward." |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair said the results were not as bad as many people expected and that he had expected to lose some seats. | Prime Minister Tony Blair said the results were not as bad as many people expected and that he had expected to lose some seats. |
| "In Wales, we are going to retain control and be the largest party and be the government," he said. | "In Wales, we are going to retain control and be the largest party and be the government," he said. |
| 'Hard talking' | 'Hard talking' |
| Plaid's Rhodri Glyn Thomas, the re-elected AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said the party had "had some very good results". | Plaid's Rhodri Glyn Thomas, the re-elected AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said the party had "had some very good results". |
| He said that "some hard talking" would take place over the weekend | He said that "some hard talking" would take place over the weekend |
| Minister Alun Pugh was beaten by Conservative Darren Millar | Minister Alun Pugh was beaten by Conservative Darren Millar |
| "We will be looking at the situation which faces us - obviously we will want to play our part in the future of the assembly," he said. | "We will be looking at the situation which faces us - obviously we will want to play our part in the future of the assembly," he said. |
| "The electors have told us they don't want a single party with a majority. We are all going to have to address that." | "The electors have told us they don't want a single party with a majority. We are all going to have to address that." |
| Earlier, Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones had said 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". | Earlier, Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones had said 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". |
| Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said he was celebrating after the party increased its number of seats. | Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said he was celebrating after the party increased its number of seats. |
| "We're the only party who have gone up in two successive assembly elections," he said. | "We're the only party who have gone up in two successive assembly elections," he said. |
| "It's devastating for Labour to have the lowest share of the vote since the First World War," he added. | "It's devastating for Labour to have the lowest share of the vote since the First World War," he added. |
| Mr Bourne also said that he did not think any coalition deals would be formed on Friday because "everybody's a bit tired". | Mr Bourne also said that he did not think any coalition deals would be formed on Friday because "everybody's a bit tired". |
| Mike German, assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "Wales' experience is that stable government is more effective than the alternative. | Mike German, assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "Wales' experience is that stable government is more effective than the alternative. |
| "The 'partnership government' offered clearer direction, and leadership to Wales, than the drift and muddle that have characterised Labour's minority administration." | "The 'partnership government' offered clearer direction, and leadership to Wales, than the drift and muddle that have characterised Labour's minority administration." |
| Turnout | Turnout |
| After most results were declared, Labour was on about 32% of the vote, Plaid 23%, Conservative 20%, and Lib Dem 16%. Labour's Welsh vote was its worst since World War I. | After most results were declared, Labour was on about 32% of the vote, Plaid 23%, Conservative 20%, and Lib Dem 16%. Labour's Welsh vote was its worst since World War I. |
| 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. |
| Independent Trish Law celebrates after retaining Blaenau Gwent | Independent Trish Law celebrates after retaining Blaenau Gwent |
| Plaid's Helen Mary Jones turned a Labour majority of 21 in Llanelli into a 3,884 winning margin of her own. And Plaid Cymru's Elin Jones retained Ceredigion despite a strong Lib Dem challenge. | Plaid's Helen Mary Jones turned a Labour majority of 21 in Llanelli into a 3,884 winning margin of her own. And Plaid Cymru's Elin Jones retained Ceredigion despite a strong Lib Dem challenge. |
| Meanwhile, the assembly has its first ethnic minority member. Plaid Cymru's Mohammad Asghar - known affectionately as Oscar - was elected via the South Wales East list. | Meanwhile, the assembly has its first ethnic minority member. Plaid Cymru's Mohammad Asghar - known affectionately as Oscar - was elected via the South Wales East list. |
| The Conservatives took a series of seats from Labour: Clwyd West, Preseli Pembrokeshire, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, and Cardiff North. | The 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 Culture Minister Alun Pugh lost his seat to Tory Darren Millar. | Clwyd West provided the biggest casualty of the night when Culture Minister Alun Pugh lost his seat to Tory Darren Millar. |
| 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 the party held onto Caerphilly, despite a challenge from former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies, standing as an independent in his old constituency, and a strong Plaid Cymru showing. | But the party held onto Caerphilly, despite a challenge from former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies, standing as an independent in his old constituency, and a strong Plaid Cymru showing. |
| It also enjoyed a valuable victory when Lesley Griffiths won back Wrexham from independent John Marek, a former Labour MP and AM. | It also enjoyed a valuable victory when Lesley Griffiths won back Wrexham from independent John Marek, a former Labour MP and AM. |
| Elsewhere, Lib Dem Jenny Randerson held onto Cardiff Central with 51% of the vote. | Elsewhere, Lib Dem Jenny Randerson held onto Cardiff Central with 51% of the vote. |
| However, the British National Party (BNP) came within 2,580 votes of winning a north Wales regional seat in the Welsh assembly election, winning 9.4% of regional vote in Wrexham, which has a large Polish community. | However, the British National Party (BNP) came within 2,580 votes of winning a north Wales regional seat in the Welsh assembly election, winning 9.4% of regional vote in Wrexham, which has a large Polish community. |