Welsh Assembly in crisis after failure to select a First Minister

Labour’s Carwyn Jones is not reappointed after the Conservatives and Ukip back Plaid Cymru’s leader Leanne Wood

Labour's Carwyn Jones was hoping to form a minority government (PA)

The Welsh Assembly has been plunged into political crisis after members failed to select a First Minister to lead the devolved administration.

Members were unable to reappoint Labour’s Carwyn Jones after Plaid Cymru’s leader Leanne Wood was backed by the Conservatives and Ukip, leaving the Assembly deadlocked.

With the backing of the other parties, Ms Wood matched Mr Jones’ count of 29 votes. Her selection as the country’s First Minister was only averted after Kirsty Williams, the only Liberal Democrat member of the Assembly, voted with Labour.

With the vote tied 29-29, the Senedd was adjourned, with the parties now commencing talks to break the stalemate.

Labour lost one seat in last week’s Welsh elections, but Mr Jones had hoped to form a minority government in the 60-seat assembly, rather than seek a formal coalition. Plaid is the second party with 12 seats, the Conservatives are on 11, Ukip on seven and Lib Dems on one.


 Carwyn Jones reacts as his reappointment was blocked at the Welsh Assembly 
 (PA)

Plaid AM Rhun ap Iowerth told the BBC that the Assembly was “giving a signal” that Labour could not presume to govern without a majority.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said Mr Jones had no “divine right” to be appointed First Minister.

Labour reacted furiously to the vote. The party’s Westminster MP for Pontypridd, the shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Owen Smith, said that Plaid working with the Tories and Ukip “stinks”.

“Any claim Leanne Wood had to be a socialist or Plaid to be a progressive party has just been destroyed by her alliance with [the] Tories and Ukip,” he said.

The Assembly has 28 days after an election to decide on a First Minister – giving a deadline of 2 June. If no leader is appointed by that date, the UK Government can call a fresh election.