One Wales
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First Minister of Wales
Post-First Minister
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One Wales (
History
On 3 May 2007, Labour won 26 of 60 seats in the 2007
After one month of minority government, talks between Ieuan Wyn Jones and Rhodri Morgan resulted in the One Wales agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru,
In March 2010 Labour and Plaid Cymru AMs refused to cross the
Content
The first page of the agreement states that it "delivers a progressive, stable and ambitious programme for government over this Assembly term." Under its terms, Ieuan Wyn Jones became Deputy First Minister and Rhodri Morgan remained First Minister. Other posts were divided up among members of the two parties by Morgan in consultation with Jones.
The key policy proposals of the deal focused on increasing the amount of affordable housing in Wales through various incentives and schemes; investing in a comprehensive rail programme to link
This last section was criticised by Welsh Labour MPs
The referendum was held on 3 March 2011. The outcome was 'yes', with 63.49% of the participants for and 36.51% against; 35.2% of the electorate participated.
Analysis
The agreement was seen variously as a first step towards independence,[9] a sell-out on Plaid's part that propped up a Labour government,[10] and part of a wider shift towards nationalism in the British Isles.[11] According to polling by the BBC in January 2007, only 20% of Welsh voters favoured independence,[12] but 22.4% of Welsh voters supported Plaid Cymru — just one of a number of nationalist parties and candidates in the 2007 Assembly election. This was put down to more general dissatisfaction with Labour's Tony Blair in the media,[13] suggesting that any growth in nationalist sentiment might have been less important to the electorate's shift away from Labour than Westminster political scandals.
One Wales Delivery Plan 2007–2011
The Welsh Government published the One Wales Delivery Plan 2007-2011, setting out 228 specific commitments in One Wales to be delivered by April 2011. Each section of the plan included a vision statement and success criteria.[14]
See also
- Politics of the United Kingdom
- Leader of the Oppositiondesignate in the Assembly at the time of the One Wales agreement
- 2007 Scottish Parliament election on the same day as the Welsh one, resulting in a Scottish National Party minority government.
References
- ^ a b "Historic Labour-Plaid deal agreed". 27 June 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ a b "Labour-Plaid coalition is sealed". 7 July 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Labour minority rule for Wales". the Guardian. 25 May 2007.
- ^ "Labour MPs worried by Plaid deal". 29 June 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Labour agrees historic coalition". 6 July 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Rhodri Morgan has artery surgery". 9 July 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Labour assembly minister sacked". 18 July 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Parties miss debate due to picket". 24 March 2010 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ a b c "Senior MPs condemn Plaid deal". 5 July 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Powys, Betsan (9 July 2007). "On the move". Betsan's Blog. BBC.
- ^ "Michael White: Momentous day for nationalists". the Guardian. 10 July 2007.
- ^ Huw, Alwyn ap. "Creating our Own Agenda".
- ^ Owen, Paul (2 February 2007). "Blair not an issue in Wales, says first minister". The Guardian.
- ^ Welsh Assembly Government | One Wales Delivery Plan 2007-2011