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Lib Dems vote to revive alliance Lib Dems vote to revive alliance
(40 minutes later)
Welsh Liberal Democrats have agreed to try to revive plans for a coalition assembly government with Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives. A Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Assembly Government is possible again after Lib Dems voted to revive a coalition plan with other opposition parties.
A special Lib Dem conference in Llandrindod Wells voted 125 to 77 to resume talks with the other parties. A special Liberal Democrat meeting has voted 125-77 to resume talks.
It comes days after the "rainbow alliance" collapsed when the party executive failed to back the plans. It came only days after a "rainbow alliance" seemed to collapse, which led to Labour's Rhodri Morgan being reappointed first minister.
That led to Labour's Rhodri Morgan being reappointed first minister on Friday. Conservatives welcomed the Lib Dem U-turn and said fellow opposition parties would "reflect" on the result.
Saturday's conference in Llandrindod Wells had been cancelled, but was back on after 20 requests from grassroots Lib Dems.Saturday's conference in Llandrindod Wells had been cancelled, but was back on after 20 requests from grassroots Lib Dems.
Mr Morgan returned to Wales's top post on Friday for the third time at a special session in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. I remain of the belief that a non-Labour alternative in Cardiff is important to bring a sense of direction to government in Wales and a sense of direction to our country Nick Bourne, Conservative
But just hours before Mr Morgan's nomination, Welsh Lib Dem assembly leader Mike German insisted it was still possible his party would join Plaid and the Tories to form a non-Labour assembly government. Conservative assembly group leader Nick Bourne said the Lib Dem vote was "clearly a much more accurate representation of the views of Liberal Democrat members than that of their split executive earlier this week".
Mr Bourne said: "I congratulate them on this result and am sure that opposition parties will want to reflect on it before discussing it further.
"I remain of the belief that a non-Labour alternative in Cardiff is important to bring a sense of direction to government in Wales and a sense of direction to our country."
But a spokesman for Welsh Labour said it would "stick to the promise it made to the people of Wales yesterday when Rhodri Morgan was confirmed as first minister".
A Labour spokesman said: "We will reach across traditional party lines, appeal to progressives within Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats and govern in the interest of the people of Wales."
The latest Lib Dem vote followed three weeks of intense discussion after the 3 May assembly election. Labour won 26 of the 60 seats, with Plaid on 15, Conservatives 12, Lib Dems six, and one independent.
'Keep your promises''Keep your promises'
Labour was forced to seek talks with the other parties, but Lib Dems withdrew. Lib Dems then pulled out of discussions with Plaid and the Tories - until the latest twist revived the possibility of a non-Labour assembly government.
However, the latest Lib Dem decision came a day after Mr Morgan returned to Wales's top post on Friday for the third time at a special session in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
Just hours before Mr Morgan's nomination, Welsh Lib Dem assembly leader Mike German insisted it was still possible his party would join Plaid and the Tories to form a non-Labour assembly government.
Before Saturday's yes vote, Mr German said he would be campaigning "very strongly" in favour.Before Saturday's yes vote, Mr German said he would be campaigning "very strongly" in favour.
"I say to them, if you want to keep your promises to the people of Wales where we said that we would work with other parties to form a stable government, based upon a programme with a Liberal Democrat flavour, then that's what we should be doing (on Saturday).""I say to them, if you want to keep your promises to the people of Wales where we said that we would work with other parties to form a stable government, based upon a programme with a Liberal Democrat flavour, then that's what we should be doing (on Saturday)."
He said his party could not say it believed in proportional representation, but then "can't hack PR when it comes to it."He said his party could not say it believed in proportional representation, but then "can't hack PR when it comes to it."
At the Lib Dem meeting on Wednesday, a crucial vote of the Welsh executive was tied, effectively bringing an end to any agreement on the coalition plans.
Although the prospect of an alternative administration is now back on the agenda, Mr German admitted he was uncertain how it would be delivered.
This would have to be discussed with the other party leaders following Saturday's meeting, he said.
'Progressive people''Progressive people'
Mr Morgan said he hoped that Saturday's Lib Dem conference would also consider a draft programme Labour had previously been negotiating with the party until just over a week ago.Mr Morgan said he hoped that Saturday's Lib Dem conference would also consider a draft programme Labour had previously been negotiating with the party until just over a week ago.
Analysts believe his strategy in the coming weeks and months will be to seek to undermine links Lib Dem and Plaid politicians have established with the Tories.Analysts believe his strategy in the coming weeks and months will be to seek to undermine links Lib Dem and Plaid politicians have established with the Tories.
Mr Morgan hopes that those Plaid and Lib Dem AMs who fought against an alliance with Conservatives will help his plan.Mr Morgan hopes that those Plaid and Lib Dem AMs who fought against an alliance with Conservatives will help his plan.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's, Mr Morgan said he wanted to work with "progressive people there who want to work with Labour and want to stop the Tories from coming back in". Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Mr Morgan said he wanted to work with "progressive people there who want to work with Labour and want to stop the Tories from coming back in".
He told the Today programme that Labour would seek "early consultations" with other parties on budget matters.He told the Today programme that Labour would seek "early consultations" with other parties on budget matters.
"Where your (Plaid or Lib Dem) manifesto says the same thing as ours, roughly speaking, well, let's move ahead," he said."Where your (Plaid or Lib Dem) manifesto says the same thing as ours, roughly speaking, well, let's move ahead," he said.
Mr Morgan suggested that affordable housing and the environment were issues Labour could work on with Plaid and Lib Dems, and "keep the Tories out".Mr Morgan suggested that affordable housing and the environment were issues Labour could work on with Plaid and Lib Dems, and "keep the Tories out".