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| Plaid suspends Welsh Labour talks | Plaid suspends Welsh Labour talks |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Plaid Cymru has suspended talks with Welsh Labour and will continue discussions for a Plaid-led coalition government. | 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 Welsh assembly and had hoped Plaid would agree to help it stay in power. | Labour is five seats short of an overall majority in the Welsh assembly and had hoped Plaid would agree to help it stay in power. |
| Plaid will now continue talks on a coalition with the Tories and Lib Dems, which would leave Labour in opposition. | Plaid will now continue talks on a coalition with the Tories and Lib Dems, which would leave Labour in opposition. |
| Plaid's decision came after several hours of talks on Tuesday. | Plaid's decision came after several hours of talks on Tuesday. |
| In the meeting, the party's assembly group considered two proposals - one from Labour and the other from the Tories and the Lib Dems. | In the meeting, the party's assembly group considered two proposals - one from Labour and the other from the Tories and the Lib Dems. |
| 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" by the end of the week. | 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" by the end of the week. |
| He said that Labour's proposal was "very late and had a number of questions that remained unanswered". | 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 | We are committed to continuing talks with Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats Nick Bourne AM |
| He also said that because Labour had not succeeded, he felt that it was now his responsibility to try and form a government. | He also said that because Labour had not succeeded, he felt that it was now his responsibility to try and form a government. |
| "A Plaid-led government will deliver an exciting and radical programme for government and will make a real difference to the lives of the people of Wales," he said. | "A Plaid-led government will deliver an exciting and radical programme for government and will make a real difference to the lives of the people of Wales," he said. |
| 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 Welsh assembly next week. | 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 Welsh assembly 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 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. | It would also result in the first Conservative ministers anywhere in Britain since 1997. |
| Reaction | Reaction |
| Nick Bourne, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said Mr Jones's decision to suspend talks with Labour, was "a significant development which makes a non-Labour administration governing Wales a real possibility". | Nick Bourne, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said Mr Jones's decision to suspend talks with Labour, was "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 | 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. | "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." | "We are committed to continuing talks with Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats to achieve that." |
| Lib Dem leader Mike German said he also welcomed the announcement. | 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. | "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." | "Each of us is committed to giving Wales a fresh start. This announcement has taken us another step in that direction." |
| In a statement, the Labour party said it was "extremely disappointed" at Plaid's decision, saying it felt talks had been "constructive and based on a stable programme for partnership". | In a statement, the Labour party said it was "extremely disappointed" at Plaid's decision, saying it felt talks had been "constructive and based on a stable programme for partnership". |
| "We are surprised that the Plaid group has chosen to pursue a course of action which would see them enabling Conservative Ministers to return to office, and in so doing turning their back on the prospect of progressive government of social justice in Wales. | "We are surprised that the Plaid group has chosen to pursue a course of action which would see them enabling Conservative Ministers to return to office, and in so doing turning their back on the prospect of progressive government of social justice in Wales. |
| "That is not what the people of Wales voted for." | "That is not what the people of Wales voted for." |
| Opposition | 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. | 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. |
| HOW THE ASSEMBLY STANDS Labour - 26 seatsPlaid Cymru - 15Conservatives - 12Liberal Democrats - 6Independent - 1 | |
| Leanne Wood, Bethan Jenkins, Helen Mary Jones and Nerys Evans said they were against a coalition with the Tories. | Leanne Wood, Bethan Jenkins, Helen Mary Jones and Nerys Evans said they were against a coalition with the Tories. |
| Ms Wood said: "It is with regret that we do not agree with the decision made in our group meeting. We respectfully disagree. | Ms 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." | "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, and that the AMs who opposed the move had thought "long and hard about making a public statement". | Helen Mary Jones added there was a clash of values and principles between Plaid and the Tories, and that the AMs who opposed the move had thought "long and hard about making a public statement". |
| "But, we think it is now right that we seek to convince our members to oppose what we believe would be a mistaken decision," 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," she said. |
| Discussions | 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. | 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. |
| The Plaid group met for several hours on Tuesday afternoon | |
| Mr Jones and Mr Morgan held further talks at lunchtime to try to strike a deal, before Mr Jones entered separate negotiations with Mr Bourne and Mr German. | Mr Jones and Mr Morgan held further talks at lunchtime to try to strike a deal, before Mr Jones entered separate negotiations with Mr Bourne and Mr German. |
| The Conservative AMs also met on met on Tuesday afternoon and will meet again on Wednesday morning. | The Conservative AMs also met on met on Tuesday afternoon and 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. |
| 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. |