Morgan warns against ‘pig in a poke coalition’
Labour has launched a last-minute plea to regain power in the Welsh assembly, as all parties enter the final stage of the campaign ahead of tomorrow’s election.
The party are tipped to lose their majority in the assembly, with the latest opinion polls indicating Labour will lose seats to Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives. Currently on 40 seats, Labour will likely still be the single largest power but will be vulnerable to a coalition attempting to seize power.
In a press conference at Cardiff Bay, Labour leader Rhodri Morgan urged voters not to choose a “pig in a poke” coalition over a “grown up Labour party.”
Tomorrow’s election is the first major test of Labour’s popularity since 2005 and party figures have been forced to accept it has become less a political contest and more an indictment on the leadership’s popularity.
However, Mr Morgan urged the electorate to take the issues seriously; arguing only a vote for Labour would protect public services in Wales.
“We are going flat out for an appeal to the people of Wales not to put at risk the achievements that we have made and to re-elect a Labour government,” he said.
Amid speculation surrounding his political future, Mr Morgan said they would not “take our cricket bats home” if Labour fails to win a majority tomorrow.
“I don’t think it would be right for me to say ‘I will do this if that happens and I will do this if that happens’,” he told reporters.
“What I have said before, and I will say it again, is that all of us, every politician, will be studying the election results and working out what they mean.”
Labour lost their majority in the assembly in 2005 when AM Peter Law became an independent.
Pundits are tipping tomorrow’s result as the least predictable election since 1999.
Plaid Cymru claim that the margin of error is now such that they could emerge as the second largest party. However, the Lib Dems are also keen to maintain their status in the assembly and insist the nationalists are living on “planet Plaid” and argue their policies have not been costed.
Meanwhile, Nick Bourne, leader of the Tories, has claimed theirs is the only vote Labour fear.
