This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/6754849.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Morgan concentrates on Plaid deal Morgan concentrates on Plaid deal
(about 1 hour later)
As Welsh Labour chiefs meet to discuss a coalition with Plaid Cymru, First Minister Rhodri Morgan has said he is "between a rock and a hard place". As Welsh Labour chiefs meet to discuss a coalition with Plaid Cymru, First Minister Rhodri Morgan says he is "between a rock and a hard place".
Mr Morgan said he was concentrating on finalising a deal with Plaid, but his door was "open" to the Lib Dems. Mr Morgan said he was concentrating on finalising a deal with Plaid, but his door was "open" to Liberal Democrats.
Labour failed to gain an outright majority in last month's election. The talks are under way after Labour failed to gain an outright majority in last month's assembly election.
Friday's meeting of Welsh Labour's National Executive comes as senior union figures in Wales say they believe trade unions will back a Plaid deal. The Labour national executive meeting comes as senior trade union figures predict unions will back a Plaid deal.
Welsh Labour's executive will also discuss whether to call a special conference to allow members to decide whether to go ahead with a coalition.Welsh Labour's executive will also discuss whether to call a special conference to allow members to decide whether to go ahead with a coalition.
If there is a conference, delegations from trades unions in Wales would control between 50,000 and 80,000 votes, which would almost certainly swing the decision one way or the other. If there is a conference, delegations from unions in Wales would control between 50,000 and 80,000 votes, which would almost certainly swing the decision one way or the other.
There is a tiny minority that probably does believe in walking away, but I think that's a tiny minority Rhodri MorganThere is a tiny minority that probably does believe in walking away, but I think that's a tiny minority Rhodri Morgan
Bill King, the Unison Convenor for Wales, said he could see "no reason" why a Plaid-Labour deal could not last for four years, providing there was reasonable compromise and commitment. Bill King, the Unison convenor for Wales, said he could see "no reason" why a Plaid-Labour deal could not last for four years, providing there was reasonable compromise and commitment.
"What we need is a sustainable government in Wales that is actually going to deliver policies that will benefit the people from Wales and if that means going into coalition, then that's what we have to do," he said."What we need is a sustainable government in Wales that is actually going to deliver policies that will benefit the people from Wales and if that means going into coalition, then that's what we have to do," he said.
And Cath Speight, the regional secretary of Amicus, which is the largest affiliate to the Labour party in Wales, said she could understand if some members were uneasy about a coalition, but said Labour had to remain in power. Cath Speight, the regional secretary of Amicus, which is the largest affiliate to Labour in Wales, said she could understand if some members were uneasy about a coalition, but Labour had to remain in power.
"I think the most important thing is for our members is that we deliver as much of the Labour party manifesto as is possible in the next four years," she said. Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones could take a seat in the cabinet"I think the most important thing is for our members is that we deliver as much of the Labour party manifesto as is possible in the next four years," she said.
"The damage that could be done by the rainbow coalition in four years in power, I don't think that's a price that my members would be willing to pay.""The damage that could be done by the rainbow coalition in four years in power, I don't think that's a price that my members would be willing to pay."
"Rock and a hard place" "Duty bound"
Speaking to BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme, Mr Morgan said he felt only a "tiny minority" of his party believed Labour's future would be best served in opposition.Speaking to BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme, Mr Morgan said he felt only a "tiny minority" of his party believed Labour's future would be best served in opposition.
Mr Morgan said he was duty bound to implement the Labour party's manifesto, "even if it is at the price of implementing somebody else's manifesto as well".Mr Morgan said he was duty bound to implement the Labour party's manifesto, "even if it is at the price of implementing somebody else's manifesto as well".
"In terms of the attitude of the Labour party, they all understand that we are between a rock and a hard place and that there is a tiny minority that probably does believe in walking away, but I think that's a tiny minority," he said. "In terms of the attitude of the Labour Party, they all understand that we are between a rock and a hard place and that there is a tiny minority that probably does believe in walking away, but I think that's a tiny minority," he said.
"I think the majority say....we must not allow the Tories to get back into a position of being ministers looking after public services in Wales." "I think the majority say... we must not allow the Tories to get back into a position of being ministers looking after public services in Wales."
Mr Morgan said he hoped to have an agreement with Plaid in place by Friday afternoon which he "can sell" to his party's Welsh executive.Mr Morgan said he hoped to have an agreement with Plaid in place by Friday afternoon which he "can sell" to his party's Welsh executive.
Mr Morgan added it was up to Liberal Democrat leader Mike German to contact him if he wanted to re-open the door to negotiations. Mr Morgan added it was up to Liberal Democrat leader Mike German to contact him if he wanted to reopen the door to negotiations.
Mr Morgan added he had discussed the way ahead for Labour in the assembly with Gordon Brown, but refused to elaborate on those discussions. Mr Morgan confirmed he had discussed the way ahead for Labour in the assembly with Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown, but refused to elaborate on those talks.