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Labour 'wanted vote change talks' | Labour 'wanted vote change talks' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan has hinted he was prepared to discuss changes to the voting system to secure a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. | Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan has hinted he was prepared to discuss changes to the voting system to secure a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. |
The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Plaid are to continuing with talks on forming an assembly government without the largest party, Labour. | The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Plaid are to continuing with talks on forming an assembly government without the largest party, Labour. |
The Lib Dems pulled out of talks with Labour last week after a party meeting. | The Lib Dems pulled out of talks with Labour last week after a party meeting. |
Mr Morgan told BBC Wales' Politics Show Labour had been about to negotiate on the voting system with the Lib Dems. | Mr Morgan told BBC Wales' Politics Show Labour had been about to negotiate on the voting system with the Lib Dems. |
'Quite promising' | 'Quite promising' |
Following the 3 May election, Labour remained the largest party in the assembly with 26 seats but was left without a majority in the 60-seat chamber. | Following the 3 May election, Labour remained the largest party in the assembly with 26 seats but was left without a majority in the 60-seat chamber. |
The party has held talks with the Lib Dems and Plaid, but has been unable to secure the support of one of the parties to form a government. | The party has held talks with the Lib Dems and Plaid, but has been unable to secure the support of one of the parties to form a government. |
Talks have also been continuing between Plaid, the Conservatives and Lib Dems, who have 33 seats between them, to form a three-party coalition. | Talks have also been continuing between Plaid, the Conservatives and Lib Dems, who have 33 seats between them, to form a three-party coalition. |
A new first minister must be chosen by 30 May to avoid another election. | A new first minister must be chosen by 30 May to avoid another election. |
Mr Morgan told the Politics Show that he has not given up trying to form a government and that there were "many twists and turns before this is over". | |
He said talks with Plaid Cymru were "looking quite promising" but added there were "some difficult issues on both sides". | |
Mr Morgan said he believed most Lib Dem voters would prefer the party to back a Labour-led administration rather than one headed by Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones. | |
He added: "There is a big question to be asked by the Liberal Democrats - is it a denial of democracy to try to seek to leave the largest party out?" | |
The Welsh Labour leader said of Lib Dem demands for greater proportional representation in local government: "That was one of the issues that was going to be looked at." | |
He also said a Wales-wide opinion poll should be organised to determine who should be first minister. | He also said a Wales-wide opinion poll should be organised to determine who should be first minister. |
Conservative AM Alun Cairns said a three-party coalition assembly government without Labour would be difficult but feasible. | Conservative AM Alun Cairns said a three-party coalition assembly government without Labour would be difficult but feasible. |
Mr Cairns said that his party, along with Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems, needed to be honest about their ideological differences if they form an alliance. | Mr Cairns said that his party, along with Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems, needed to be honest about their ideological differences if they form an alliance. |
And he said that voters felt "venom" towards Labour in a similar way that they did towards the Conservatives in 1997. | And he said that voters felt "venom" towards Labour in a similar way that they did towards the Conservatives in 1997. |
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