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Plaid suspends Welsh Labour talks Plaid suspends Welsh Labour talks
(20 minutes later)
Plaid Cymru has suspended talks with Welsh Labour and will continue discussions for a Plaid-led coalition government, it has been announced. Plaid Cymru has suspended talks with Welsh Labour and will continue discussions for a Plaid-led coalition government.
Labour is five seats short of an overall majority in the assembly and had hoped Plaid Cymru would agree to help it stay in power.Labour is five seats short of an overall majority in the assembly and had hoped Plaid Cymru would agree to help it stay in power.
The move came after the Plaid group met for several hours on Tuesday. Plaid's decision came after several hours of talks on Tuesday.
The party considered two proposals - one from Labour and the other from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The party had considered two proposals - one from Labour and the other from the Tories and the Lib Dems.
On Monday, Mr Jones had warned he could halt talks with Welsh Labour saying he was "disappointed" at the party's "lack of enthusiasm" for an agreement. Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said that the document with the proposals for forming a coalition with the Conservatives and Lib Dems "offered the best prospect of getting an agreement".
He said that Labour's proposal was "very late and had a number of questions that remained unanswered".
We are committed to continuing talks with Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats Nick Bourne AM
Mr Jones said the debate in the Plaid group had been "very mature".
He also said that because Labour had not succeeded, he felt that it was his responsibility now to try and form a Government.
If the agreed programme gets passed in crucial meetings of each of the Welsh parties over the next few days, it would see Ieuan Wyn Jones elected as the new First Minister for Wales at a special session of the National Assembly for Wales next week.
It would mean that there were Nationalist First Ministers in charge of both Wales and Scotland for the first time since the devolution of power across the UK in 1999.
It would also result in the first Conservative ministers anywhere in Britain since 1997.
Nick Bourne, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, welcomed Mr Jones's decision to suspend talks with Labour, calling it "a significant development which makes a non-Labour administration governing Wales a real possibility".
It is with regret that we do not agree with the decision made in our group meeting Leanne Wood AM
"Welsh Conservatives have always argued for the need to establish stable, lasting government in the National Assembly.
"We are committed to continuing talks with Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats to achieve that.
"Talks with both parties have continued and remain cordial and constructive".
Lib Dem leader Mike German said he also welcomed the announcement.
"Now we are all focused on a single outcome, I hope we can hammer out the remaining issues both on what we will do together, and how we will achieve it, in order to put forward a plan to each of our parties to consider," he said.
"Each of us is committed to giving Wales a fresh start. This announcement has taken us another step in that direction."
Opposition
However, within minutes of Plaid's announcement on Tuesday night, a group of Plaid AMs released a statement issuing their opposition to a rainbow coalition.
The Plaid group met for several hours on Tuesday afternoon
Leanne Wood, Bethan Jenkins, Helen Mary Jones and Nerys Evans said they were against a coalition with the Tories.
Leanne Wood said: "It is with regret that we do not agree with the decision made in our group meeting. We respectfully disagree.
"We fought this election on a platform to deliver a proper Parliament for our nation. A deal with the Conservatives would undermine the chance of delivering that goal."
Helen Mary Jones added there was a clash of values and principles between Plaid and the Tories.
"We have thought long and hard about making a public statement," she said.
"But, we think it is now right that we seek to convince our members to oppose what we believe would be a mistaken decision."
Discussions
On Monday, Ieuan Wyn Jones had warned he could halt talks with Welsh Labour saying he was "disappointed" at the party's "lack of enthusiasm" for an agreement.
He gave Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan a deadline of Tuesday afternoon to move on certain issues.He gave Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan a deadline of Tuesday afternoon to move on certain issues.
Mr Jones and Mr Morgan held further talks at lunchtime to try to strike a deal, before Mr Jones entered separate negotiations with assembly Conservative group leader Nick Bourne and Mike German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrat group.Mr Jones and Mr Morgan held further talks at lunchtime to try to strike a deal, before Mr Jones entered separate negotiations with assembly Conservative group leader Nick Bourne and Mike German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrat group.
The Conservative AMs also met on met on Tuesday afternoon. The Conservative AMs also met on met on Tuesday afternoon and will meet again on Wednesday morning.
The BBC understands that, despite some tense moments during those discussions, the process leading to Plaid agreeing to a deal with its two rivals appeared to remain on track.
The Tory assembly group will meet again on Wednesday morning.
Five key meetings over the next four days must all approve any deal between Plaid, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.Five key meetings over the next four days must all approve any deal between Plaid, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats' assembly group and national executive meet in Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday evening, before a special party conference in the town on Saturday.The Welsh Liberal Democrats' assembly group and national executive meet in Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday evening, before a special party conference in the town on Saturday.
The Welsh Conservatives' management board approval would be needed when it also meets in Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday evening.The Welsh Conservatives' management board approval would be needed when it also meets in Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday evening.
And there are two key Plaid Cymru meetings - the party executive in Cardiff on Thursday and national council in Aberystwyth on Saturday.And there are two key Plaid Cymru meetings - the party executive in Cardiff on Thursday and national council in Aberystwyth on Saturday.
Labour is the largest party in the assembly with 26 seats but is five short of a majority in the 60-seat chamber.Labour is the largest party in the assembly with 26 seats but is five short of a majority in the 60-seat chamber.
A new first minister must be nominated by 30 May to avoid another election.A new first minister must be nominated by 30 May to avoid another election.