Will Wales get a first minister today? Talks set to take place to try and break Assembly Deadlock.
Talks between Labour and Plaid Cymru are set to begin today in an effort to break the deadlock over who should be the next first minister.
Both sides will meet after attempts to reinstall Carwyn Jones as first minister failed following a Conservative, Plaid Cymru and UKIP ‘pact’ oting tied with Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood at 29 votes each meaning a stalemate and no minister in position.
Voting was tied between Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and Carwyn Jones at 29 votes each meaning a stalemate and no minister in position.
The BBC say Mr Jones has discussed appointing sole Lib Dem AM, Kirsty Willaims, who voted in favour of Mr Jones, to a government job.
Jones and Wood are not expected at the meeting today in Cardiff, that will be left to Labour AM Jane Hutt and Plaid’s Simon Thomas.
Commenting on the situation in the Assembly, Vaughan Gething AM said:
“Wednesday was not a good day for the Assembly. People who voted last week will have expected better, and will have expected to have a Government in place by now.
We’re very clear that 29 seats out of 60 gives us a mandate to govern, but equally we recognise that we do not have a majority.
That is why we started talks with the other parties after the election.
It is also why Labour members decided not to run for Presiding Officer, ensuring an opposition member was free to take the chair.
“Others have said there is no rush, that this is a five-year term. I don’t agree with that thought process. Our position remains very simple – Wales needs a government in place, soon, for two overriding reasons – the steel crisis and the European referendum which is just a matter of weeks away. We’re not trying to push ahead to shut other parties out – we couldn’t do that even if we wanted to – we are talking about minority government and that of course involves working with others. We are very ready to do that.
Our position remains very simple – Wales needs a government in place, soon, for two overriding reasons – the steel crisis and the European referendum which is just a matter of weeks away. We’re not trying to push ahead to shut other parties out – we couldn’t do that even if we wanted to – we are talking about minority government and that of course involves working with others. We are very ready to do that.
We’re not trying to push ahead to shut other parties out – we couldn’t do that even if we wanted to – we are talking about minority government and that of course involves working with others. We are very ready to do that.
“I’m pleased that talks will take place with Plaid Cymru on Friday and we will see what comes out of that.”
On UKIP rumours:
“There is no deal with UKIP, and there won’t be. Some members of their group offered to support Carwyn Jones in a vote, in return for implementing parts of their manifesto. That is not something we would consider.”
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