First Minister fails to reassure Wales that coalition partnership is all hunky-dory

12.00.00am GMT Tue 11th Nov 2008

During today's First Minister's questions, Rhodri Morgan failed to reassure the people of Wales that all is ok in the Labour-Plaid coalition, adding further to speculation about the state of the union.

When asked by Mike German, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, if both coalition partners were happy with the speed of legislative bids and the promised referendum, Rhodri Morgan declined the opportunity to quieten the rumours.

Mike German said:

"The fact that the First Minister failed to deny that there was unease between the coalition partners about the speed of legislation and the promised referendum speaks volumes. If all was hunky-dory, he would have said so.

"We've already heard his coalition partners grumble about lack of action on the referendum for further powers and the speed of powers coming to Cardiff - not denying that there may be trouble ahead could prove dangerous for the stability of this government.

"With internal wrangling between the Labour party and Plaid Cymru and the painfully slow introduction of power gaining bids by the Labour-Plaid government, the current legislative arrangements are creaking at the seems. They are not good for the name of devolution, nor are they good for the people of Wales.

"I'm not sure if the First Minister actually believes that this law-making settlement is good for Wales or he is trying to hold on to power by acting as if everything was running smoothly - whatever he is doing, it is not helping Welsh devolution or the people of Wales.

"The First Minister is living in la-la land if he thinks that the people of Wales are happy with the current devolution settlement - that's not even the case for some in his cabinet. The actual law-making process is as bad as we thought and the evident distrust between the Labour-Plaid Assembly government and the Labour UK government is making it even worse. That is what is at the heart of this problem and the sooner we have a referendum to move to the next stage of devolution the better."