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Labour-Plaid coalition is sealed Labour-Plaid coalition is sealed
(40 minutes later)
Plaid Cymru will enter government for the first time in a momentous Welsh assembly coalition with rivals Labour.Plaid Cymru will enter government for the first time in a momentous Welsh assembly coalition with rivals Labour.
The day after Labour voted by a big majority to share power, Plaid followed suit by 225 votes to 18, or 92%.The day after Labour voted by a big majority to share power, Plaid followed suit by 225 votes to 18, or 92%.
Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones will be deputy to First Minister Rhodri Morgan and other Plaid AMs join the cabinet. Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones will be First Minister Rhodri Morgan's deputy and other Plaid AMs join the cabinet.
It also means that eight years after devolution began, nationalists are in government in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It also means that eight years after devolution began, nationalists will be in government in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Hundreds of Plaid members were at the meeting in Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, the morning following Labour's crucial vote in Cardiff. Hundreds of Plaid members were at the national council meeting in Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, the morning following Labour's crucial vote in Cardiff.
I am for the document but I don't have faith in Labour Plaid delegate Rhobert ap Steffan A historic moment in the life of our party, in the life of our politics and the life of our nation Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones
Plaid's national council discussed the "One Wales" document, the agreement between the two parties. Plaid ratified the One Wales document, as Labour had done by 78.4% to 21.5% at a special party conference in Cardiff on Friday, even though a number of Labour AMs and MPs were strongly opposed.
Labour overwhelmingly ratified the document by 78.4% to 21.5% at a special party conference in Cardiff on Friday, even though a number of AMs and MPs were strongly opposed. Mr Jones said he was "absolutely delighted" and "very proud to be the first Plaid leader to be taking the party into government."
Last week Welsh Labour leader and First Minister Rhodri Morgan and the Plaid leader agreed in principle to the historic agreement, which emerged after Labour failed to gain a majority in May's assembly election. He said: "The decision we have come to today has been a long time in the making. It may have taken nine weeks to create a new government for Wales but it has taken Plaid Cymru 82 years to reach this point."
The Plaid leader said the assembly government should represent "all parts of Wales wherever they live and whatever their background," and his party had to ensure the deal was "not in the interests of any one party but putting the interests of the people of Wales first."
He described it as "a historic moment in the life of our party, in the life of our politics and the life of our nation".
'Deliver on policies'
Mr Jones declined to comment how many cabinet seats Plaid will want. At present there are seven cabinet members, but the law says there can be no more than nine.
He said the decision was "at the very top" of the events in Plaid's history since it was formed in 1925.
"I've always wanted to see Plaid as a party of government," he said. "If people vote for you in elections, they want to see you deliver on policies, and now for the first time we have a chance."
Last week Welsh Labour leader and First Minister Rhodri Morgan and the Plaid leader agreed in principle to the agreement, which emerged after Labour failed to gain a majority in May's assembly election.
Ieuan Wyn Jones says coalition is the best way forward for Wales
Most AMs from both parties have also supported the document, as have their national executives.Most AMs from both parties have also supported the document, as have their national executives.
But there also some notable opponents, including former party leader Lord Kinnock, ex-ministers Paul Murphy and Don Touhig, and current minister Kim Howells. But there are also some notable opponents, including former Labour leader Lord Kinnock, ex-ministers Paul Murphy and Don Touhig, and current minister Kim Howells.
Ieuan Wyn Jones says coalition is the best way forward for WalesBefore forming a coalition, Plaid's leader must gain the support of a simple majority at his party's national council.
'Right direction'
Before Plaid voted, Neil McEvoy, a Plaid councillor in Cardiff said: "I have not spoken to anyone who is against it. It's the only option really.Before Plaid voted, Neil McEvoy, a Plaid councillor in Cardiff said: "I have not spoken to anyone who is against it. It's the only option really.
'Constructive opposition'
"We just have to be careful with Labour, possibly have an exit strategy if we must"."We just have to be careful with Labour, possibly have an exit strategy if we must".
Plaid delegate Rhobert ap Steffan said: "I am for the document but I don't have faith in Labour. After the Plaid decision, Cardiff West Labour MP Kevin Brennan said he would have preferred a deal with the Liberal Democrats, who were in coalition with Labour from 2000-2003.
"Having heard the comments some of their MPs were making talking about the helpfully ambiguous wording of the agreement, I am not convinced. Maybe I'll be convinced today." But he said the Lib Dems had an "incredible vacuum in leadership" which led them to pull out of talks.
The coalition means the Conservatives will become the main opposition party in the assembly.
Tory group leader Nick Bourne said there were many parts of the Labour-Plaid deal with which he disagreed, but he promised his party would offer "constructive opposition".
The national council has 380 members made up of elected members and representatives from groups and branches within the party.The national council has 380 members made up of elected members and representatives from groups and branches within the party.
If the deal is agreed, it will commit Labour to campaign for a positive vote in a referendum on full law-making powers for the assembly within four years. The deal commits Labour to campaign for a positive vote in a referendum on full law-making powers for the assembly within four years.
I've spoken to people who previously voted Labour and this time voted Plaid and are rather disillusioned by what's going on Plaid councillor Moira Lewis Plaid supporters of the coalition have argued that an early referendum would not have been possible if they had chosen to form a "rainbow" coalition with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
Gwenllian Lansdown, a Plaid Cardiff councillor, said: "'I think we are doing the right thing. It's going to be a challenge but any other option would have been a challenge too.
"This is the best way to take Wales forward. The document is strong and it gives us the referendum."
Plaid's members who support the coalition have argued that an early referendum would not have been possible if they had chosen to form a "rainbow" coalition with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
Mr Jones has said: "I think it's a radical document and I think the people, having read it, will see that it's going in the right direction."
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."
However, now that Labour has voted yes to coalition, Plaid Cymru's grassroots are also widely expected to ratify it.