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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Labour to vote on Plaid coalition | Labour to vote on Plaid coalition |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Welsh Labour will decide later if they should form a coalition with Plaid Cymru in the Welsh assembly. | Welsh Labour will decide later if they should form a coalition with Plaid Cymru in the Welsh assembly. |
| A special conference will be held in Cardiff on Friday where Labour party representatives will be asked to vote on a power-sharing programme. | A special conference will be held in Cardiff on Friday where Labour party representatives will be asked to vote on a power-sharing programme. |
| The deal has already been backed by the two party executives but criticised by some senior Welsh Labour MPs and four of the 26-strong assembly group. | The deal has already been backed by the two party executives but criticised by some senior Welsh Labour MPs and four of the 26-strong assembly group. |
| Plaid will hold a meeting of its national council in mid Wales tomorrow. | Plaid will hold a meeting of its national council in mid Wales tomorrow. |
| The two meetings will provide opportunities for grassroots members to have their say on an unprecedented coalition between two parties whose members have often been bitterly opposed. | The two meetings will provide opportunities for grassroots members to have their say on an unprecedented coalition between two parties whose members have often been bitterly opposed. |
| There will be two parts to the Labour vote, with half of it shared between the 40 constituency parties, 14 county parties and 17 women's forums. | There will be two parts to the Labour vote, with half of it shared between the 40 constituency parties, 14 county parties and 17 women's forums. |
| WHAT DOES ONE WALES PROPOSE? To increase affordable housing Improve road and rail links between north and south WalesReferendum on full law-making assembly powers "as soon as practicable" in or before 2011Labour and Plaid agree "in good faith to campaign for a successful outcome" to a referendumMoratorium on existing plans for community hospital changesA commission to tackle climate change | WHAT DOES ONE WALES PROPOSE? To increase affordable housing Improve road and rail links between north and south WalesReferendum on full law-making assembly powers "as soon as practicable" in or before 2011Labour and Plaid agree "in good faith to campaign for a successful outcome" to a referendumMoratorium on existing plans for community hospital changesA commission to tackle climate change |
| The other half is shared out between 16 trade unions and other affiliated organisations. | The other half is shared out between 16 trade unions and other affiliated organisations. |
| If the deal makes it through, the process at Plaid's national council will be much simpler, with the vote going to a council of elected members and representatives from groups and branches within the party. | If the deal makes it through, the process at Plaid's national council will be much simpler, with the vote going to a council of elected members and representatives from groups and branches within the party. |
| Labour leader Rhodri Morgan and Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones's One Wales 43-page power-sharing document is supported by a majority of each party's AMs. | Labour leader Rhodri Morgan and Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones's One Wales 43-page power-sharing document is supported by a majority of each party's AMs. |
| Labour's Welsh executive and Plaid's national executive have also backed the deal. | Labour's Welsh executive and Plaid's national executive have also backed the deal. |
| Speaking to BBC Wales on Friday morning, First Minister Rhodri Morgan said he hoped people would "vote with their heads and not with their hearts" at Friday's conference. | |
| "I understand the very strong emotions involved - I hope they will see this as a historic opportunity to deliver Labour's manifesto," he said. | |
| But members of both parties have expressed their reservations, with an "overwhelming majority" of Welsh Labour MPs are said to have "serious concerns". | |
| 'Suicide' | |
| Former Wales Office Minister Don Touhig has joined former Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy, fellow MP Kim Howells and four AMs in urging his party to reject the deal. | Former Wales Office Minister Don Touhig has joined former Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy, fellow MP Kim Howells and four AMs in urging his party to reject the deal. |
| Mr Touhig told the podcast ePolitix.com that Labour would be committing "suicide" if it decides to share power with Plaid. | Mr Touhig told the podcast ePolitix.com that Labour would be committing "suicide" if it decides to share power with Plaid. |
| He said: "Our supporters will not understand it at all. The document that has been agreed is pushing a nationalist agenda, not a Labour agenda. | |
| Senior Welsh MPs Paul Murphy and Don Touhig oppose the deal | |
| "This is wholly wrong and it is suicide for Labour. The party is walking into a trap. " | "This is wholly wrong and it is suicide for Labour. The party is walking into a trap. " |
| AMs Lynne Neagle, Karen Sinclair, Ann Jones and Irene James broke ranks with fellow Labour AMs to oppose coalition with Plaid. | AMs Lynne Neagle, Karen Sinclair, Ann Jones and Irene James broke ranks with fellow Labour AMs to oppose coalition with Plaid. |
| They issued a statement saying they had "serious objections to a number of the Plaid Cymru-inspired policies". | They issued a statement saying they had "serious objections to a number of the Plaid Cymru-inspired policies". |
| They said they believe the document "represents a significant departure from what people voted for in the original devolution settlement in 1997." | They said they believe the document "represents a significant departure from what people voted for in the original devolution settlement in 1997." |
| The four AMs are particularly opposed to the part of the One Wales document which would commit Labour to campaign for a positive outcome to a referendum to turn the assembly into a Scottish-style Parliament by 2011. | The four AMs are particularly opposed to the part of the One Wales document which would commit Labour to campaign for a positive outcome to a referendum to turn the assembly into a Scottish-style Parliament by 2011. |
| 'Disappointed' | |
| Plaid supporters of the deal argue such an early referendum would not have been attainable had the party opted to enter a 'rainbow coalition' with the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. | Plaid supporters of the deal argue such an early referendum would not have been attainable had the party opted to enter a 'rainbow coalition' with the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. |
| But opponents like Plaid Pembrokeshire councillor Moira Lewis say a union with Labour would do harm her party's credibility with voters who backed her party to remove Labour from power. | But opponents like Plaid Pembrokeshire councillor Moira Lewis say a union with Labour would do harm her party's credibility with voters who backed her party to remove Labour from power. |
| She said: "I know many (Plaid members) who are disappointed. Also, I've spoken to people who previously voted Labour and this time voted Plaid and are rather disillusioned by what's going on." | She said: "I know many (Plaid members) who are disappointed. Also, I've spoken to people who previously voted Labour and this time voted Plaid and are rather disillusioned by what's going on." |
| The party meets in Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion on Saturday. | The party meets in Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion on Saturday. |
| The assembly itself will then break for summer recess next Thursday. | The assembly itself will then break for summer recess next Thursday. |
| If a coalition is not agreed over the next two days then, in the words of Caerphilly Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert, the situation will be "back to square one" with a minority Labour government. | If a coalition is not agreed over the next two days then, in the words of Caerphilly Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert, the situation will be "back to square one" with a minority Labour government. |