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Welsh Assembly talks to break first minister deadlock | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Formal talks between Labour and Plaid Cymru to try to break the deadlock in electing the next first minister will begin later. | |
They come two days after an attempt to reinstall Carwyn Jones to the job failed in a tied Senedd vote. | |
BBC Wales also understands Mr Jones has discussed appointing Lib Dem AM Kirsty Williams as a cabinet minister. | |
Ms Williams was the only opposition AM to support him against Plaid leader Leanne Wood in the vote. | |
Ms Wood was backed by the Conservatives and the seven UKIP AMs as well as her own party. | |
Labour fell short of a majority at the 5 May election and needs opposition support to govern. | Labour fell short of a majority at the 5 May election and needs opposition support to govern. |
Jane Hutt will represent Labour and Simon Thomas Plaid Cymru in the talks taking place in Cardiff at midday, with neither party leader expected to attend. | |
Labour AM Vaughan Gething told BBC Wales on Thursday: "We do recognise we're a minority, so we're having conversations". | Labour AM Vaughan Gething told BBC Wales on Thursday: "We do recognise we're a minority, so we're having conversations". |
Mr Thomas added: "We are pleased that Labour has approached us in order to find consensus." | Mr Thomas added: "We are pleased that Labour has approached us in order to find consensus." |
Plaid Cymru AMs insist they did not do a deal with other parties before the vote. | |
But Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies told BBC Radio Wales that his party and Plaid had held three sets of "substantial" talks beforehand involving two AMs from either side. | |
"You don't get a vote like that, where everyone votes in unison, especially a roll-call vote where everyone has to speak the name of the person they're voting for, without some degree of co-ordination," he said. | |
Mr Davies said there had been "an appetite to look at" different models of governing Wales which would have excluded Labour, but the talks failed to reach agreement. | |
The Welsh Tory leader said he had also spoken with Mr Jones, but without any resolution. | |
Meanwhile, Labour and the Lib Dems confirmed talks were continuing between their parties, but refused to reveal what had been discussed. | |
A well-placed Lib Dem source said Ms Williams had discussed an offer to take up a post as a cabinet minister. | A well-placed Lib Dem source said Ms Williams had discussed an offer to take up a post as a cabinet minister. |
A Labour source said there was "an open dialogue with Kirsty about what might be possible in the future". | A Labour source said there was "an open dialogue with Kirsty about what might be possible in the future". |
Even with Ms Williams as part of a new administration, Labour would still need some sort of arrangement with another party in order to endorse Mr Jones as first minister. | Even with Ms Williams as part of a new administration, Labour would still need some sort of arrangement with another party in order to endorse Mr Jones as first minister. |
Earlier on Thursday, some UKIP AMs suggested they could switch their votes if parts of the party's manifesto were made law, although Mr Gething said for Labour: "That is not something we would consider." | |
AMs have until 1 June to nominate a first minister or an another election will be held. | AMs have until 1 June to nominate a first minister or an another election will be held. |
At the assembly election Labour won 29 seats, Plaid Cymru 12, the Conservatives 11, UKIP seven and the Liberal Democrats one. | At the assembly election Labour won 29 seats, Plaid Cymru 12, the Conservatives 11, UKIP seven and the Liberal Democrats one. |