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Michael warns of coalition damage Michael warns of coalition damage
(about 5 hours later)
Ex-Labour First Secretary Alun Michael says the prospect of a Plaid, Tory and Lib Dem coalition taking charge in the Welsh assembly is "very worrying". Ex-Welsh Labour leader Alun Michael says the prospect of a Plaid Cymru-Tory-Lib Dem coalition running the assembly is "very worrying".
He told the website ePolitix.com that investors could be put off Wales if the country is seen as unstable. Mr Michael told the website ePolitix.com that investors may be put off if the nation is seen as unstable.
But opposition politicians accused Mr Michael of being out of touch with Cardiff Bay politics.
He resigned as the assembly's first leader in 2000 when opposition parties backed a no confidence vote in him.
It certainly does not show Wales in a good light and instability is very worrying Alun Michael, Cardiff South and Penarth MP
Labour is five seats short of a majority in the Welsh assembly and running a minority administration.Labour is five seats short of a majority in the Welsh assembly and running a minority administration.
Mr Michael resigned as first secretary in 2000 when opposition parties backed a no confidence vote in his leadership. Mr Michael's successor, Rhodri Morgan, was re-appointed first minister last month after a deal between Plaid, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to form an administration fell through.
It certainly does not show Wales in a good light and instability is very worrying Alun Michael
Mr Michael's successor, Rhodri Morgan, was re-appointed first minister last month after a deal between Plaid Cymru, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to form an administration fell through.
The failure of a senior meeting of Lib Dems to back a three-party alliance was blamed, but two days later the wider Lib Dem membership voted at a special conference to go ahead with a coalition.The failure of a senior meeting of Lib Dems to back a three-party alliance was blamed, but two days later the wider Lib Dem membership voted at a special conference to go ahead with a coalition.
Opposition figures have indicated that Labour's days in power could be numbered.Opposition figures have indicated that Labour's days in power could be numbered.
Mr Michael, MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, said the three other parties could seek "some kind of pretext to call a vote of no confidence".Mr Michael, MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, said the three other parties could seek "some kind of pretext to call a vote of no confidence".
He said: "It certainly does not show Wales in a good light and instability is very worrying.He said: "It certainly does not show Wales in a good light and instability is very worrying.
"If investors have the choice between going somewhere unstable or going somewhere where they think things are very dependable and straightforward then it's a no-brainer as to which one they are going to choose.""If investors have the choice between going somewhere unstable or going somewhere where they think things are very dependable and straightforward then it's a no-brainer as to which one they are going to choose."
'Uniquely qualified'
Mr Michael said it was difficult to see how the so called "rainbow coalition" made sense.Mr Michael said it was difficult to see how the so called "rainbow coalition" made sense.
He added: "You have the Conservatives who opposed the establishment of the assembly and never really reconciled themselves to it as a party through to the nationalists who didn't want devolution - actually they wanted to separate Wales off from the United Kingdom."He added: "You have the Conservatives who opposed the establishment of the assembly and never really reconciled themselves to it as a party through to the nationalists who didn't want devolution - actually they wanted to separate Wales off from the United Kingdom."
'Out of touch' Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "Perhaps people should be reminded of his failure to engage other parties in constructive dialogue when he led a minority Labour government, as a consequence he lost his job."
Welsh Conservative assembly group leader Nick Bourne has dismissed Mr Michael's comments. Welsh Conservative assembly group leader Nick Bourne said: "After his own brief spell as first secretary, Alun Michael is uniquely qualified to talk about instability in the assembly.
He said: "After his own brief spell as first secretary, Alun Michael is uniquely qualified to talk about instability in the assembly. "He is very much out of touch with events in the assembly if he thinks Rhodri Morgan and the Labour Party are capable of delivering stable government over the next four years."
"He is very much out of touch with events in the assembly if he thinks Rhodri Morgan and the Labour Party are capable of delivering stable government over the next four years. Liberal Democrat AM Jenny Randerson said that Labour was "struggling" to provide stable government while ruling as a minority.
"The Labour Party is hardly in a position to criticise others on the economy. After a decade in power Wales is now the poorest part of the United Kingdom." "Without a majority in the assembly, and the backing of just one in three voters across Wales, Labour cannot offer long-term stable government," she added.