Grassroots Lib Dems revive deal

Mike German meets protesters opposing a deal

Liberal Democrat party members have revived plans to discuss joining a coalition Welsh assembly government with Plaid Cymru and the Tories.

A Lib Dem official said 20 requests to hold the special conference on Saturday in Llandrindod Wells had been received.

The party's ruling executive had failed to back a "rainbow coalition", and the conference had been cancelled.

But Labour's Rhodri Morgan looked set to be re-elected first minister as talks between other parties broke down.

Welsh Lib Dem conference committee chair Elgan Morgan issued a statement on Thursday afternoon.

He said: "The chief executive has today received requests from 20 conference representatives to go ahead with a special conference to discuss the document negotiated with Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives in the assembly.

"Under the party's rules, it is now up to conference committee to arrange such a conference.

"Given that Saturday is already in diaries, I have decided that special conference will go ahead this Saturday at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells."

Minority government

There was a tie in a crucial vote of the party's Welsh executive, which met alongside the six AMs and the Lib Dem negotiating team on Wednesday night.

It effectively stopped an agreement on the coalition plan.

This left Welsh Labour with the chance of forming a minority government

A vote on electing the new first minister will still go ahead at Friday lunchtime in Cardiff Bay.

All of the opposition parties are expected to abstain in the vote, enabling Labour to vote Rhodri Morgan in as first minister.

The re-election of Mr Morgan would avoid the prospect of a second assembly election being called and allow a new cabinet to be formed.