Labour Desperately Seeking Partner

Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan is desperately seeking a deal.

Labour, the largest party after May's election, may be forced out of power if a coalition between Plaid Cymru, Conservatives and Lib Dems is formed. Following the 3 May election, Labour remained the largest party in the assembly with 26 seats but was left without a majority in the 60-seat chamber. Plaid Cymru has 15 seats in the new assembly, the Conservatives 12 and Liberal Democrats 6.

On Thursday, Lib Dem AMs and the Welsh party's national executive met in Llandrindod Wells where they decided to suspend talks with Labour in favour of seeking a deal with Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives.

Mr Morgan, who has been first minister since 2000, said he believed Labour could still form a government,"We are ready to govern but with a partner."

Morgan continues to say,"I still think there are many twists and turns in this tale before it's all over." This particular statement I agree with. It shall be interesting and all we can do now is watch the saga unfold.

A new first minister must be chosen by 30 May to avoid another election.

Scotland In Crisis After Lib Dems Refuse Coalition with SNP

Scotland was in turmoil last night after Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen refused Alex Salmond's offer of a share in a coalition government. Stephen demanded that the SNP instantly drop their demands for a referendum on independence.

In a powerful statement issued after two days of talks Stephen said that the way was now open for nationalists to try to form a minority government as the Liberal Democrats had earlier also categorically ruled out a coalition deal with Labour. It now appears that a minority SNP administration is Mr Salmond's only option.

The Scottish Parliament will meet to swear in new MSPs on Tuesday and have only 24 days to elect a First Minister or a new election must be called.

Blair To Announce His Resignation Next Week

Tony Blair promised yesterday that he would stand down in the next few weeks. He is expected to announce his resignation next Wednesday or Thursday in a last minute attempt to avoid a substantial protest vote against labour in the mid-term elections tomorrow.

Put the champagne on ice ... it's almost time to celebrate, or is it? Blair endorsed Gordon Brown as his successor ending months of speculation as to whether he wanted the Chancellor to take over or would prefer another member of the Cabinet to succeed him. The question is, do we seriously expect Brown to be any better?

It will be interesting to see the results of the election. Blair obviously has his concerns. He fears that disillusioned Labour voters intend to give Labour a "kicking" because they are angry with him over issues such as Iraq. This fear is not without basis. Blair and "new labour" have managed to create an environment in which the voting public are disillusioned, angry and have lost faith in the labour government they, at one point, enthusiastically supported.

Blair began his day of saying farewell with an appearance on GMTV where he said,"I'll make my position clear next week, I'll say something definitive then."

Approximately seven weeks after Mr Blair resigns, an electoral college will be held, almost certainly in London, attended by delegates from unions and other affiliated organisations, constituency Labour parties, MPs and Euro MPs. That timetable would see Mr Blair going to Buckingham Palace formally to resign on Monday July 2, with his successor being invited to form a government by the Queen shortly afterwards.

According to a poll for BBC 2's Newsnight programme last night almost three quarters of voters think there should be a general election when Mr Blair steps down. Those who want an early election include more than half of Labour voters (52 per cent) who took part in the poll.

Mr Brown has rejected calls for an early general election. Of course Brown has rejected calls for an early election as he knows he would not win. The British public are almost as disillusioned with Brown as they are with Blair. If Brown truly wanted to do what is best for the country he would let the voters decide. Unfortunately, Brown would much rather do what is best for Brown.

David Miliband Declares He Will Support Gordon Brown as the Next Prime Minister

David Miliband, Brown's most serious rival, said publicly for the first time that he will support the Chancellor. At a Labour press conference in Glasgow for the Scottish Parliament election campaign, Mr Miliband denied that he was waiting for the results to decide whether to stand. "I'll be voting for Gordon Brown as Labour leader," he said. "He's done fantastic things for the prosperity of all British people over the last 10 years and I think he's the best qualified candidate across a wider canvas. He'll bring pride to the whole of the UK and when he does I look forward to supporting him."

However Mr Miliband, who is now expected to head an environment and energy department in Brown's Cabinet, argued in a news-paper article that success in the next general election would require the party not to go back on the New Labour project, but to offer "New Labour Plus''.

What exactly is "New Labour Plus?" New Labour was filled with broken promises, airs of corruption, scandals, an increase in the "surveillance society" we now have to endure and many public services including the NHS going downhill. Does New Labour Plus mean even more of the above? Do we now have more broken promises, scandals, and even worse public services to look forward to?

"New Labour" was the country's golden child at one time, today they are nothing more than an embarrassment.