First minister deadlock: AMs to meet over Labour-Plaid deal

A deal to end the stalemate over who becomes first minister will be put in front of AMs from Labour and Plaid Cymru on Tuesday.

The two parties will hold separate group meetings over the proposal, which could reinstall Carwyn Jones to the head of Welsh Government.

Both sides said they made “good progress” over two days of talks.

The assembly is likely to reconvene on Wednesday for nominations for the top job.

But details on what has been agreed are yet to be made public.

The talks between senior figures from Labour and Plaid Cymru were held after the Senedd tied 29-29 on whether Labour leader Carwyn Jones or Plaid leader Leanne Wood should be first minister last week.

Recalled

UKIP and the Welsh Conservatives had backed Ms Wood, while Liberal Democrat AM Kirsty Williams supported Mr Jones.

However, Tory leader Andrew RT Davies said last week that without an opposition deal he would not be minded to vote for Ms Wood again.

The tied vote came after Labour fell short of a majority at the 5 May election. The party needs opposition support to govern.

A joint statement from Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru on Monday said the negotiations had ended.

“The leadership of both parties will now present the proposed way forward to members of their respective assembly groups,” it read.

“It is anticipated that plenary can then be recalled on Wednesday for the nomination of first minister.”

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