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Labour to vote on Plaid coalition Morgan's final plea on coalition
(about 2 hours later)
Welsh Labour will decide later if they should form a coalition with Plaid Cymru in the Welsh assembly. First Minister Rhodri Morgan has urged Labour to vote with "heads and not with their hearts" on forming a coalition with Plaid Cymru.
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 later where Labour representatives will vote on sharing power in the assembly.
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. It is backed by both party executives but criticised by four AMs and some MPs, including Don Touhig, who said it would be "suicide" and a "trap".
Plaid will hold a meeting of its national council in mid Wales tomorrow. Plaid's national council will make its decision in Ceredigion on Saturday.
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 changeWHAT 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. Mr Morgan said he hoped people would "vote with their heads and not with their hearts" at Friday's conference in Cardiff.
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. "I understand the very strong emotions involved - I hope they will see this as a historic opportunity to deliver Labour's manifesto," he told BBC Radio Wales.
Labour's Welsh executive and Plaid's national executive have also backed the deal. If the deal makes it through, the process at Plaid's national council in Pontrhydfendigaid will be much simpler, with the vote going to a council of elected members and representatives from groups and branches within the party.
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. The assembly itself will then break for summer recess next Thursday.
"I understand the very strong emotions involved - I hope they will see this as a historic opportunity to deliver Labour's manifesto," he said. The One Wales 43-page power-sharing document is supported by a majority of each party's AMs.
But members of both parties have expressed their reservations, with an "overwhelming majority" of Welsh Labour MPs are said to have "serious concerns".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: "Our supporters will not understand it at all. The document that has been agreed is pushing a nationalist agenda, not a Labour agenda.
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 the coalition.
They issued a statement saying they had "serious objections to a number of the Plaid Cymru-inspired policies". Senior Welsh MPs Paul Murphy and Don Touhig oppose the deal
They said they believe the document "represents a significant departure from what people voted for in the original devolution settlement in 1997." 'Disillusioned'
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. They had "serious objections to a number of the Plaid Cymru-inspired policies," and said the document "represents a significant departure from what people voted for in the original devolution settlement in 1997."
'Disappointed' 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.
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 said coalition would harm her party's credibility with voters who backed it 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 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.