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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Senior MPs condemn Plaid deal | Senior MPs condemn Plaid deal |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| On the eve of Labour's final vote on a proposed coalition with Plaid Cymru, two senior Welsh MPs have urged his party to reject the deal. | On the eve of Labour's final vote on a proposed coalition with Plaid Cymru, two senior Welsh MPs have urged his party to reject the deal. |
| Paul Murphy, the Torfaen MP and former Welsh Secretary, and former Wales Officer Minister Don Touhig, who represents Islwyn, have spoken out. | Paul Murphy, the Torfaen MP and former Welsh Secretary, and former Wales Officer Minister Don Touhig, who represents Islwyn, have spoken out. |
| Mr Murphy said Labour should continue in minority government Mr Touhig said power-sharing was "the wrong step". | |
| Labour will vote on the coalition at a special conference on Friday. | Labour will vote on the coalition at a special conference on Friday. |
| Mr Murphy told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye he thought the coalition would be approved, but did not think it was in the best interests of the party. | Mr Murphy told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye he thought the coalition would be approved, but did not think it was in the best interests of the party. |
| He said he believed many Welsh Labour MPs and party members did not support the deal and that a Labour minority government in the assembly "could last three years". | He said he believed many Welsh Labour MPs and party members did not support the deal and that a Labour minority government in the assembly "could last three years". |
| "A coalition with the biggest opposition party, whose ideals and values do not sit comfortably with many of our own, should not be entered into lightly," he said. | "A coalition with the biggest opposition party, whose ideals and values do not sit comfortably with many of our own, should not be entered into lightly," he said. |
| There is no point in pretending the party is in any way united on this issue. There is considerable discomfort right across Wales about this. Paul Murphy | There is no point in pretending the party is in any way united on this issue. There is considerable discomfort right across Wales about this. Paul Murphy |
| Mr Murphy said he understood the dilemma faced by First Minister Rhodri Morgan, but maintained he had a right to express a view about the content of the One Wales document which forms the basis of the coalition proposal. | Mr Murphy said he understood the dilemma faced by First Minister Rhodri Morgan, but maintained he had a right to express a view about the content of the One Wales document which forms the basis of the coalition proposal. |
| "The party is certainly divided on the issue and we will have to see when we get that vote on Friday," he said. | "The party is certainly divided on the issue and we will have to see when we get that vote on Friday," he said. |
| "There is no point in pretending the party is in any way united on this issue. There is considerable discomfort right across Wales about this. | "There is no point in pretending the party is in any way united on this issue. There is considerable discomfort right across Wales about this. |
| "In the end, the party will decide and there is nothing wrong in members of parliament, members of the assembly, members of trade unions [and] members of constituency parties disagreeing on issues because that's what they call debate." | "In the end, the party will decide and there is nothing wrong in members of parliament, members of the assembly, members of trade unions [and] members of constituency parties disagreeing on issues because that's what they call debate." |
| Rhodri Morgan and Ieuan Wyn Jones agreed the One Wales deal | Rhodri Morgan and Ieuan Wyn Jones agreed the One Wales deal |
| Mr Touhig, meanwhile, said it was time to "be blunt". | Mr Touhig, meanwhile, said it was time to "be blunt". |
| "We are a great family the Labour Party and we have this conference tomorrow, and I think we'll hear a lot of home truths on both sides of the argument. I think this is crucial for Wales and crucial for the Labour party. | "We are a great family the Labour Party and we have this conference tomorrow, and I think we'll hear a lot of home truths on both sides of the argument. I think this is crucial for Wales and crucial for the Labour party. |
| "The people of Wales did not vote for this in the assembly elections, they voted for a majority Labour administration. We got most of the votes and we should carry on in power." | "The people of Wales did not vote for this in the assembly elections, they voted for a majority Labour administration. We got most of the votes and we should carry on in power." |
| A number of Labour politicians have already broken ranks over proposed coalition. | A number of Labour politicians have already broken ranks over proposed coalition. |
| On Wednesday, Torfaen's Lynne Neagle was first to speak publicly against the "One Wales" deal, and she was later backed by colleagues Karen Sinclair, Ann Jones and Irene James. | On Wednesday, Torfaen's Lynne Neagle was first to speak publicly against the "One Wales" deal, and she was later backed by colleagues Karen Sinclair, Ann Jones and Irene James. |
| Labour MP Kim Howells is also said to have warned it would help "nationalists to the gates of independence." | Labour MP Kim Howells is also said to have warned it would help "nationalists to the gates of independence." |
| The One Wales agreement has received backing from both Labour and Plaid AMs and Labour's Welsh executive, as well as Plaid's national executive. | The One Wales agreement has received backing from both Labour and Plaid AMs and Labour's Welsh executive, as well as Plaid's national executive. |
| Rainbow alliance | Rainbow alliance |
| But an "overwhelming majority" of Welsh Labour MPs are said to have "serious concerns". | But an "overwhelming majority" of Welsh Labour MPs are said to have "serious concerns". |
| Labour failed to win a majority in the 3 May election and has been running a minority administration at Cardiff Bay. | Labour failed to win a majority in the 3 May election and has been running a minority administration at Cardiff Bay. |
| But a historic power-sharing deal with Plaid Cymru was agreed in principle by First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones. | But a historic power-sharing deal with Plaid Cymru was agreed in principle by First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones. |
| Plaid abandoned the idea of a "rainbow alliance" with fellow opposition parties, the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, in favour of the move. | Plaid abandoned the idea of a "rainbow alliance" with fellow opposition parties, the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, in favour of the move. |
| Tory leader Nick Bourne has said that creating an anti-Labour government in Cardiff Bay was "more urgent than ever before" and it would be "foolish" to cast aside a rainbow deal into which "much hard work, time and thought" had been dedicated. | Tory leader Nick Bourne has said that creating an anti-Labour government in Cardiff Bay was "more urgent than ever before" and it would be "foolish" to cast aside a rainbow deal into which "much hard work, time and thought" had been dedicated. |
| Plaid Cymru will follow's Labour discussions on the alliance with their own special conference on Saturday. | Plaid Cymru will follow's Labour discussions on the alliance with their own special conference on Saturday. |