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| Crucial coalition decision looms | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan has urged Welsh Labour to vote with "heads and not with their hearts" on forming a coalition with Plaid Cymru. | First Minister Rhodri Morgan has urged Welsh Labour to vote with "heads and not with their hearts" on forming a coalition with Plaid Cymru. |
| A special conference in Cardiff is under way, where Labour will decide whether to share power in the assembly. | A special conference in Cardiff is under way, where Labour will decide whether to share power in the assembly. |
| It is backed by both party executives but criticised by four AMs and some MPs, including Don Touhig, who said it would be "suicide" and a "trap". | It is backed by both party executives but criticised by four AMs and some MPs, including Don Touhig, who said it would be "suicide" and a "trap". |
| Plaid's national council will make its decision in Ceredigion on Saturday. | Plaid's national council will make its decision in Ceredigion on Saturday. |
| 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 the vote, 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 thathe thought it would go through, but it would be bad for Wales, and harmful to Labour . | |
| "I would like us to carry on as a minority party in government" added Mr Jones. | |
| A Labour member, Gwilym Morris, said there would be "electoral anarchy" if the coalition deal was scuppered at the last minute. He said the whole process would become " a shambles". | |
| Both meetings will provide opportunities for grassroots members to have their say on an unprecedented coalition between two parties whose members have often been bitterly opposed. | Both meetings will provide opportunities for grassroots members to have their say on an unprecedented coalition between two parties whose members have often been bitterly opposed. |
| There are 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. | |
| '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 | |
| 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 from groups and branches within the party. | 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 from groups and branches within the party. |
| The assembly will then break for summer recess next Thursday. | 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. | The One Wales 43-page power-sharing document is supported by a majority of each party's AMs. |
| But members of both parties have expressed their reservations, and an "overwhelming majority" of 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 has 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. |
| "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. |
| 'Disillusioned' | 'Disillusioned' |
| They had "serious objections to a number of the Plaid Cymru-inspired policies," and said the document "represents a significant departure from what people voted for in the original devolution settlement in 1997." | They had "serious objections to a number of the Plaid Cymru-inspired policies," and said the document "represents a significant departure from what people voted for in the original devolution settlement in 1997." |
| 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. | 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. |