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What now for Lab-Plaid coalition? | What now for Lab-Plaid coalition? |
(about 20 hours later) | |
It took nine weeks since the 3 May Welsh assembly election, dozens of meetings and countless hours of talks. | It took nine weeks since the 3 May Welsh assembly election, dozens of meetings and countless hours of talks. |
But we can now finally say with certainty that a majority Welsh Assembly Government is to be formed. | But we can now finally say with certainty that a majority Welsh Assembly Government is to be formed. |
After a "brief moment of rejoicing", to quote Winston Churchill, who also led a coalition government, Rhodri Morgan and Ieuan Wyn Jones can plan how to govern. | After a "brief moment of rejoicing", to quote Winston Churchill, who also led a coalition government, Rhodri Morgan and Ieuan Wyn Jones can plan how to govern. |
Until now, Mr Morgan and Mr Jones - who will become his deputy - could shake but not sign on the dotted line. | Until now, Mr Morgan and Mr Jones - who will become his deputy - could shake but not sign on the dotted line. |
Now that their two party conferences have endorsed the deal, the leaders of Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru can put their signatures to it and agree a coalition cabinet. | Now that their two party conferences have endorsed the deal, the leaders of Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru can put their signatures to it and agree a coalition cabinet. |
With sensible foresight, Mr Morgan had already reduced the number of ministers he appointed when running the show as a minority administration. | With sensible foresight, Mr Morgan had already reduced the number of ministers he appointed when running the show as a minority administration. |
That has left seats free round the cabinet table for Plaid Cymru AMs without ruffling more Labour feathers than strictly necessary. | That has left seats free round the cabinet table for Plaid Cymru AMs without ruffling more Labour feathers than strictly necessary. |
As leader of his party, Mr Jones will become deputy first minister - as Mike German did when Labour previously struck a coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats in 2000. | As leader of his party, Mr Jones will become deputy first minister - as Mike German did when Labour previously struck a coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats in 2000. |
All will become clear in the next couple of days, but trying to predict which Plaid colleagues will join him at the top table becomes highly speculative. | All will become clear in the next couple of days, but trying to predict which Plaid colleagues will join him at the top table becomes highly speculative. |
This is because it depends which posts Labour offers its new political partner. | This is because it depends which posts Labour offers its new political partner. |
That said, the deputy Plaid assembly group leader Rhodri Glyn Thomas must be in with a shout. | That said, the deputy Plaid assembly group leader Rhodri Glyn Thomas must be in with a shout. |
LONG WINDING ROAD TO POWER 3 May: Labour wins 26 out of 60 seats, Plaid 15, Tories 12, Lib Dems 6, independent 18 May: Rhodri Morgan says talks with Plaid and the Lib Dems are choice between "inedible and the unpalatable"17 May: Lib Dems suspend talks with Labour to pursue a "rainbow coalition" with Plaid and Tories23 May: Senior Lib Dem split seems to pull the plug on three-party deal, but Tories back alliance 25 May: Mr Morgan re-nominated First Minister26 May: Lib Dem conference endorses deal with Plaid and Tories12 June: Ieuan Wyn Jones resumes talks with Labour to ensure "we have considered all the options"26 June: Labour AMs and executive back "One Wales" deal with Plaid27 June: Plaid AMs back Labour deal; three days later, so does Plaid executive6/7 July: Labour and Plaid conferences support deal | LONG WINDING ROAD TO POWER 3 May: Labour wins 26 out of 60 seats, Plaid 15, Tories 12, Lib Dems 6, independent 18 May: Rhodri Morgan says talks with Plaid and the Lib Dems are choice between "inedible and the unpalatable"17 May: Lib Dems suspend talks with Labour to pursue a "rainbow coalition" with Plaid and Tories23 May: Senior Lib Dem split seems to pull the plug on three-party deal, but Tories back alliance 25 May: Mr Morgan re-nominated First Minister26 May: Lib Dem conference endorses deal with Plaid and Tories12 June: Ieuan Wyn Jones resumes talks with Labour to ensure "we have considered all the options"26 June: Labour AMs and executive back "One Wales" deal with Plaid27 June: Plaid AMs back Labour deal; three days later, so does Plaid executive6/7 July: Labour and Plaid conferences support deal |
There was a suggestion he would have a senior post had Plaid chosen the so- called "rainbow option" of combining with the Conservatives and Lib Dems rather than Labour. | There was a suggestion he would have a senior post had Plaid chosen the so- called "rainbow option" of combining with the Conservatives and Lib Dems rather than Labour. |
Seven months before the assembly election, Mr Thomas told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme that a Labour-Plaid marriage was a future possibility - talk regarded back then by many as pure fantasy. | Seven months before the assembly election, Mr Thomas told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme that a Labour-Plaid marriage was a future possibility - talk regarded back then by many as pure fantasy. |
Now, Mr Thomas appears to be in a good position to work with Labour ministers. | Now, Mr Thomas appears to be in a good position to work with Labour ministers. |
Plaid's chief whip Jocelyn Davies is another possibility for a cabinet seat. | Plaid's chief whip Jocelyn Davies is another possibility for a cabinet seat. |
She played a key role in negotiations leading up to the deal and established a level of trust which might be helpful during the sensitive early months of the new administration. | She played a key role in negotiations leading up to the deal and established a level of trust which might be helpful during the sensitive early months of the new administration. |
The sight of Plaid's first cabinet members will be an obvious sign of how Welsh politics has changed. | The sight of Plaid's first cabinet members will be an obvious sign of how Welsh politics has changed. |
There has also been a marked shift in the balance of power in the Welsh Labour Party from Westminster to Cardiff Bay. | There has also been a marked shift in the balance of power in the Welsh Labour Party from Westminster to Cardiff Bay. |
Lick their wounds | Lick their wounds |
Labour AMs' decision to support a coalition with Plaid to avoid being ousted from power prevailed, despite opposition from Welsh MPs. | Labour AMs' decision to support a coalition with Plaid to avoid being ousted from power prevailed, despite opposition from Welsh MPs. |
The MPs should forgive the phrase, but while the parliamentary "turkeys" might not have voted for Christmas, Labour AMs have successfully basted them. | The MPs should forgive the phrase, but while the parliamentary "turkeys" might not have voted for Christmas, Labour AMs have successfully basted them. |
It means the MPs have been shifted nearer the hot oven, and are facing a referendum on full law-making powers in Cardiff Bay within four years. | It means the MPs have been shifted nearer the hot oven, and are facing a referendum on full law-making powers in Cardiff Bay within four years. |
A yes vote in a referendum would make a fall in the number of Welsh MPs more likely, as their responsibilities would be further reduced. | |
Despite inevitable opposition from some party members and supporters, Plaid expect to acquire increased credibility by entering government and will aim to build on this over the next four years. | |
The Conservatives become the official opposition in Cardiff Bay, and will seek to replace Plaid as the alternative to Labour. | |
But the Liberal Democrats find themselves pushed to the margins, largely as a result of their own actions. | But the Liberal Democrats find themselves pushed to the margins, largely as a result of their own actions. |
Senior Lib Dems had decided to pull the plug on talks with first Labour and then Plaid and the Tories at crucial moments. | Senior Lib Dems had decided to pull the plug on talks with first Labour and then Plaid and the Tories at crucial moments. |
That leaves the Lib Dems - who had seemed born for coalition - left licking their wounds while watching Labour and Plaid govern. |