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Labour backs historic coalition Labour agrees historic coalition
(10 minutes later)
Labour has voted to back an historic coalition with Plaid Cymru in the Welsh assembly. Labour has voted by a big margin to back an historic coalition with Plaid Cymru in the Welsh assembly.
The party has voted in favour of the deal by 78% at a special party conference in Cardiff. The party has voted in favour of the deal by almost four to one at a special party conference in Cardiff.
The groundbreaking agreement will almost certainly mean that Labour will form the Welsh Assembly Government with Plaid members in the cabinet. It means Labour and Plaid will sit in the same Welsh Assembly Government cabinet if, as expected, Plaid also backs the agreement on Saturday.
The vote comes despite strong opposition from some MPs, AMs and party members. It will create an unprecedented coalition between two parties which have often been bitterly opposed.
Earlier, First Minister Rhodri Morgan urged Welsh Labour to vote with "heads and not with their hearts" on forming a coalition with Plaid Cymru. The vote came despite strong opposition from some Labour MPs, AMs and party members, including leading names such as former party leader Lord Kinnock and ex-Welsh Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy.
The final figures were 78.43% in favour, with 21.57% against.
There were two parts to the vote, with half shared between 40 constituency parties, 14 county parties and 17 women's forums, and the other half between 16 trade unions and other affiliated organisations.
The unions and affiliates were most in favour, with 95.83% in favour 4.17% against.
Supporters of the deal had feared the biggest threat would come from the constituency parties and other groups. But in fact they backed it with 61.02% and 38.98%.
Plaid's grassroots membership is now expected to follow suit and ratify the same agreement at a separate meeting in Ceredigion.
Senior Welsh MPs Paul Murphy and Don Touhig oppose the deal
That would be followed by a new coalition announced on Monday, with Plaid entering government for the first time in its history.
Earlier, First Minister Rhodri Morgan had urged Welsh Labour to vote with "heads and not with their hearts" on forming a coalition with Plaid Cymru.
Before the result was announced, the atmosphere inside the conference hall was described by one person as very tense and fractious.Before the result was announced, the atmosphere inside the conference hall was described by one person as very tense and fractious.
The deal was backed by both party executives but opposed by four Labour AMs and some MPs, including Don Touhig, who said it would be "suicide".The deal was backed by both party executives but opposed by four Labour AMs and some MPs, including Don Touhig, who said it would be "suicide".
Plaid's national council will make its decision in Ceredigion on Saturday on an unprecedented coalition between two parties whose members have often been bitterly opposed.
As he arrived at the Cardiff International Arena for the conference - which is being held in private - Mr Morgan was asked if he was confident of winning and said he was "always hopeful".
Earlier, he told BBC Radio Wales: "I understand the very strong emotions involved - I hope they will see this as a historic opportunity to deliver Labour's manifesto.
"In order to deliver 100% of Labour's manifesto, what part of another party's manifesto do we have to swallow - that's really the proposition that we are putting to the party conference."
Senior Welsh MPs Paul Murphy and Don Touhig oppose the deal
Coalition opponent and Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones said as he arrived that he thought it would go through, but it would be bad for Wales, and harmful to Labour.Coalition opponent and Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones said as he arrived that he thought it would go through, but it would be bad for Wales, and harmful to Labour.
A Labour member, Gwilym Morris, said there would be "electoral anarchy" if the deal was scuppered, and the whole process would become " a shambles".A Labour member, Gwilym Morris, said there would be "electoral anarchy" if the deal was scuppered, and the whole process would become " a shambles".
Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths told the conference: "I do not believe, given all the hard work we have invested in regaining Wrexham from four long years of political obscurity, that we should throw that success away and hand the Tories of all people a massive political advantage."Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths told the conference: "I do not believe, given all the hard work we have invested in regaining Wrexham from four long years of political obscurity, that we should throw that success away and hand the Tories of all people a massive political advantage."
'ONE WALES' PROPOSALS To increase affordable housing Improve road and rail links between north and south WalesReferendum on full law-making assembly powers "as soon as practicable" in or before 2011Labour and Plaid agree "in good faith to campaign for a successful outcome" to a referendumMoratorium on existing plans for community hospital changesA commission to tackle climate change'ONE WALES' PROPOSALS To increase affordable housing Improve road and rail links between north and south WalesReferendum on full law-making assembly powers "as soon as practicable" in or before 2011Labour and Plaid agree "in good faith to campaign for a successful outcome" to a referendumMoratorium on existing plans for community hospital changesA commission to tackle climate change
There were two parts to the Labour vote, with half shared between 40 constituency parties, 14 county parties and 17 women's forums, and the other half between 16 trade unions and other affiliated organisations.
If the deal makes it through, the process at Plaid's national council in Pontrhydfendigaid will be much simpler, with the vote going to a council of elected members and representatives.
The assembly will then break for summer recess next Thursday.
The One Wales 43-page power-sharing document is supported by a majority of each party's AMs, but there are doubts on both sides, and most Welsh Labour MPs have "serious concerns".The One Wales 43-page power-sharing document is supported by a majority of each party's AMs, but there are doubts on both sides, and most Welsh Labour MPs have "serious concerns".
Former Wales Office Minister Don Touhig has joined former Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy, fellow MP Kim Howells and four AMs in urging his party to reject the deal. Former Wales Office Minister Don Touhig joined former Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy, fellow MP Kim Howells and four AMs in urging his party to reject the deal.
Mr Touhig told the podcast ePolitix.com: "Our supporters will not understand it at all. The document that has been agreed is pushing a nationalist agenda, not a Labour agenda.Mr Touhig told the podcast ePolitix.com: "Our supporters will not understand it at all. The document that has been agreed is pushing a nationalist agenda, not a Labour agenda.
'Disillusioned''Disillusioned'
"This is wholly wrong and it is suicide for Labour. The party is walking into a trap. ""This is wholly wrong and it is suicide for Labour. The party is walking into a trap. "
AMs Lynne Neagle, Karen Sinclair, Ann Jones and Irene James broke ranks with fellow Labour AMs to oppose the coalition.AMs Lynne Neagle, Karen Sinclair, Ann Jones and Irene James broke ranks with fellow Labour AMs to oppose the coalition.
The four AMs are particularly opposed to the part of the One Wales document which would commit Labour to campaign for a positive outcome to a referendum to turn the assembly into a Scottish-style parliament by 2011.The four AMs are particularly opposed to the part of the One Wales document which would commit Labour to campaign for a positive outcome to a referendum to turn the assembly into a Scottish-style parliament by 2011.
Plaid supporters of the deal argue such an early referendum would not have been attainable had the party opted to enter a "rainbow coalition" with the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.Plaid supporters of the deal argue such an early referendum would not have been attainable had the party opted to enter a "rainbow coalition" with the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.
But opponents like Plaid Pembrokeshire councillor Moira Lewis said coalition would harm her party's credibility with voters who backed it to remove Labour from power.But opponents like Plaid Pembrokeshire councillor Moira Lewis said coalition would harm her party's credibility with voters who backed it to remove Labour from power.
She said: "I know many (Plaid members) who are disappointed. Also, I've spoken to people who previously voted Labour and this time voted Plaid and are rather disillusioned by what's going on."She said: "I know many (Plaid members) who are disappointed. Also, I've spoken to people who previously voted Labour and this time voted Plaid and are rather disillusioned by what's going on."
If a coalition is not agreed over the next two days then, in the words of Caerphilly Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert, the situation will be "back to square one" with a minority Labour government.