Radio 4's World at One has just reported that a Plaid-Tory-LibDem coalition is "90% likely" to govern Wales. If this emerges both Wales and Scotland will have nationalist first ministers. Welsh Tory leader Nick Bourne (who blogs here) has long hoped to put his Tory group into a grand coalition but that hope only became feasible when Mike German AM pulled out of talks to put his LibDem group into coalition with Rhodri Morgan's Welsh Labour party.
Nick Bourne issued the following statement:
"I can confirm today that an approach has been made by Plaid Cymru for preliminary discussions about the possible form of the next Assembly government. I can also confirm that preliminary talks have already taken place. The stability and credibility of the Assembly, and the delivery of policies that will make a positive difference to the lives of people across Wales remain our key concerns. Welsh Conservatives have always said that we would be willing to work in government with parties other than Labour to achieve that."
The Conservatives have 12 AMs, Labour 26, Plaid 15 and the LibDems 6.
Nick Bourne would be better to follow Annabel Goldie's approach and not enter any formal deal but work with a Plaid-LibDem administration on individual issues.
Posted by: Umbrella man | May 18, 2007 at 13:45
Not sure I like the sound of this. What on earth have we in common with Plaid? Or for that matter the Lib Dems? I hope the lure of office has not proved overwhelming.
Remember if we become part of an administration like this,we will be blamed if (when) things go wrong whether it is our fault or not.
Reminds of the Ken Clarke/John Redwood 'dream ticket'!
Posted by: malcolm | May 18, 2007 at 14:24
With such a distribution of parties in the assembly, I would have put in a Plaid/Lib Dem minority and then supported it on popular policies ("Welsh Tories ride to the rescue on ABC") whilst remaining free to vote down unpopular moves ("Nick Bourne blocks XYZ"). But I can't get terribly excited one way or another. Presumably we get a large slice of the portfolios?
Posted by: William Norton | May 18, 2007 at 14:25
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