Labour-Plaid talks cannot go on forever, says Mark Drakeford

Mark Drakeford (left) has been in talks with Plaid Cymru's Adam Price

Talks between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru cannot go on forever and need to come to a conclusion, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

Both parties have been talking about a potential co-operation pact for at least a month, but no agreement has been reached.

Mr Drakeford, Welsh Labour leader, agreed the clock was ticking on the discussions.

Plaid Cymru's Sioned Williams said the talks were continuing.

The Labour Welsh government is in a minority in the Senedd and needs the help of at least one opposition Senedd member to pass laws and budgets.

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In an interview with BBC Wales, Mr Drakeford said: "I agree that the discussions need to come to a conclusion.

"There has been a great deal of discussion this week involving members of my cabinet and members of the Plaid Cymru group here.

"There are things we still need to resolve in those discussions, but they can't continue forever."

Ms Williams, Plaid Cymru's Member of the Senedd (MS) for Arfon, said talks were detailed and there was "lots of common ground".

She said: "I agree that perhaps the programme for government we've had from Labour isn't ambitious enough.

"Plaid Cymru have the ideas to ensure that this Senedd builds a better Wales over the next five years, so yes, we do need to get on with it."

She told Newyddion it was "a normal thing across Europe" for political parties to co-operate where there was common ground.

The two sides are not discussing a coalition, and Plaid are not expected to be entering government.

But they have been looking at policies where they can work together in the Senedd.

'A question of helping Wales'

Prior to the interview Plaid leader Adam Price would not be drawn on the state of the discussions.

But he denied Plaid was giving up its ability to hold the government to account as an opposition party.

"It's not a question of helping the government but a question of helping Wales' people," he said.

"And that's the litmus test, if you like, does an agreement make a positive difference to Wales's people?"

Could there be a larger Senedd in 2026?

One of the issues the two parties might come to an agreement on is constitutional reform - both party leaders believe the Welsh Parliament needs to be larger.

Speaking after the official opening of the sixth Senedd by the Queen, Mr Drakeford said he hoped there would be more than 60 Members of the Senedd at the next official opening, after elections in 2026.

"It's clear to me that it doesn't have the capacity it really needs to do the job we ask it to do," he said.