Welsh Gov and Plaid Cymru in formal talks on ‘co-operation agreement’
The Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru are in talks to thrash out a possible co-operation agreement.
They have issued a joint statement which says with the pandemic, the climate emergency, the consequences of Brexit, and the threat to devolution it’s “more important than ever that political parties work together”.
It confirms that they have had “initial discussions” on working together “around a number of defined policy priorities”.
The statement says: “As Wales prepares for a stronger future beyond the coronavirus pandemic; responds to the climate emergency, the ongoing consequences of leaving the European Union, and threats to devolution; it is more important than ever that political parties work together wherever they have common interests on behalf of people in Wales.
“Constructive initial discussions have taken place between the Welsh Labour Government and Plaid Cymru exploring ways of building a more equal, just and democratic nation for all.
“These discussions are continuing to explore an ambitious co-operation agreement to be based around a number of defined policy priorities and the governance arrangements on which the Welsh Labour Government and Plaid Cymru can work together to deliver for Wales.”
‘Lunacy’
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, said that the agreement was a sign that the Labour party was “out of ideas”.
“But turning to nationalists with no mandate is an act of desperation and lunacy,” he said.
“Meanwhile, Plaid claim to be a party of change but always deliver for their Labour masters.
“The NHS in Wales is on its knees. Children have missed months of school. The economy needs support. Just watch as promises of Covid recovery turn into a nightmarish prospect of state-building and hoarding powers.
“They are both totally divorced from people’s priorities.”
Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS has responded to a statement jointly agreed by the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru on a working agreement.
She said: “Now more than ever it is important that parties are able to work together to confront the big issues affecting Wales.
“I look forward to seeing the detail, but be assured that as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats I will continue to demand better for ordinary people across Wales and hold them to account.
“Against a backdrop of job insecurity, the rising cost of living, and the coronavirus, people across Wales need to see in practice what this agreement will mean for their everyday lives.”
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And there was me thinking this was the grown up way to do politics, two centre left parties cooperating for the public good.
Regardless of your political views working together is the best way forward – and that includes the different independence fractions too ! In Welsh Labour I suspect there is more inclination towards independence than many people think. By cooperating with Plaid that inclination may one day become much more. First the party must ditch its English connections, the UK party does not and never will put Wales first.
I’m torn with this news. I want to know the details. If and agreement means propping up Welsh Labour without any major concessions, want nothing of it. I can recall in 2011 Plaid in coalition enable a legislative referenda, meaning the end to that demeaning New Labour designed LCO system (Legislative Competent Order) where before a Senedd bill was scrutinised by four layers of Government. The Senedd. Welsh Secretary. The House of Commons and House of Lords. Once it took only one layer to stop a Welsh bill dead in its tracs. And it would be sent back to the… Read more »
Yeah, I’m similarly torn. Is this a Labour shift to truly being Llafur Cymru, or a few shiny baubles offered to Plaid in order that they don’t push too hard in the coming decade (a hedge against an SNP type situation, however unlikely that may seem right now)? Dunno. Here’s a hot take that guarantees this post gets thumbs down – I really hope the Tories win the next Westminster election and form a majority government again. The wider the gulf between Westminster and Cardiff Bay, the better; let’s hope that Drakeford works the outdated unionist bile out of his… Read more »
‘Propping up’ Welsh Labour? The same Welsh Labour that romped through the election with an increased majority?
They don’t have a majority. They have 30 out of 60 seats in the Senedd, which is one short of a majority.
….. and doesn’t command a super majority to enlarge the Senedd. Johnson’s brats are our enemy not each other.
Although I am a supporter of independence I think we need to be very careful about pushing for an independence referandum, if such a vote was lost it would do huge damage to devolution itself and set Wales back many years. Be careful what you wish for. Plaid Cymru should push for more teaching of Welsh history and the Welsh language first first. Cymru am byth 🏴
What is required from both is a commitment to get rid of the culture of cro yism within Welsh quangos,public bodies, 3rd sector, grant giving, that permeates Welsh life. We have a culture of putting people in charge not because they are competent but because they are mates. Also a commitment to stop taking people from England in with social and health problems and giving them houses. Also stop wasting our money on projects that will never clearly work. Fair housing and development of technology to enhance work opportunitues and new techno industries. Feasible and practical, revolutionary Welsh language policies… Read more »
You are partially right in what you say. Labour offered us up to the Tories to devour. Yes, Labour Anti-devolution protagonists in London ensured Wales had 18yrs of Thatcher rule by destroying any hope of winning the 1979 Assembly vote. And the same influenced Tony Blair to redact our devolution bill resulting in Wales flawed devolution settlement, which meant from 1997 to 2011, 14yrs were wasted due to the Senedd having no powers to stop either New Labour or Conservatives from forcing as they did Draconian policies on Wales. One example was ATOS. A French private company agency employed by… Read more »
Why would Welsh Labour entertain any co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru? they have a larger majority now than they have had in decades. Unless DINO is the real fear, it would certainly explain the Tories attitude to this announcement.
Personally I lost all faith in Adam Price when he asked all members to vote Lib-Dem in the Brecon and Radnor by-election in an effort to prop up a ‘no’ vote in the Brexit vote.
in my view A leader prepared to drop his party’s candidate in favour of another to favour his own personal view doesn’t deserve to lead his party.
Pre the coalition stich-up Brecon and Radnor, was strongly Lib Dem and Plaid stood no chance of doing anything other than splitting the ‘rational’ vote. He would have been a fool not to. A real leader puts the good of the people above his party.
Erisian… That’s obviously a view of a remainer.. which you’re entitled to. What about the party supporters who were in favour of leaving?
Also, following your logic, there’d be no point in standing in heavily Labour supporting constituencies.
This is the right thing to do for the sake of our country and all our communities. Let’s show solidarity in the face of Westminster aggression. And shun tribal politics.