If a political deal can be reached today with Labour, Plaid Cymru will become the third nationalist party this year to be part of Government in the Celtic countries.
Indeed a deal looks likely to be made between Labour and Plaid following a period of intense talks behind the scenes between the two parties. Coalition Government negotiations between Labour and Plaid were taken up following the breakdown of 'rainbow' coalition talks between Plaid, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives towards the end of last month.
However, an ICM Poll conducted for the BBC in Wales, published yesterday, revealed that the majority of the Welsh population favoured a rainbow coalition deal, rather than a Labour-Plaid led Government. Whatever the outcome of today's talks will be, any deal would have to be later ratified by party members. The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, Mike German, has also recently made the claim that the Liberals are now ready to enter into further negotiations with Plaid, should their talks with Labour prove unfruitful, amid criticism from his own party members that he has no authority to make such a claim.
Whatever results between Plaid and Labour and despite currently being a party of opposition, Plaid's position looks more favourable than any other time in its history. A rainbow coalition would undoubtedly mean that Ieuan Wyn Jones would become the Welsh First Minister, replacing Rhodri Morgan of Labour, but if a a deal can be hacked out with Labour, a future referendum on securing more powers for the Assembly looks likely.
These developments coincide with SNP Leader Alex Salmond's call recently for a re-formation of the Council of Nations, with the aim of working more closely with the Governments of the other devolved ministries of Wales and Northern Ireland. We will have to wait to see if this is the beginnings of a Celtic political revolution, but what does look certain is that Plaid will probably play a future role, at least within this administration.
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
26/06/07
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