Greens would form coalition to stop Reform, says Wales leader
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Catrin Haf Jones
Wales political correspondent
PA Media
Anthony Slaughter is prepared to form a coalition government in Wales
Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter has said he would have no problem forming a government with other parties to stop Reform getting into power.
This could happen if Reform were the biggest party but more people had voted for other parties in next week's Senedd election.
Reform UK Wales leader, Dan Thomas, said if that were to happen it would be "an establishment stitch up".
But Slaughter said it would merely reflect "more people had voted for someone other than Reform."
The Greens were caught in controversy this week after its leader in England, Zack Polanski,
shared a social media post criticising police
following an attack in Golders Green, London. Slaughter said he had "trust and faith" in Polanski.
This Welsh election will see the
first-past-the-post voting system scrapped with all MSs being elected via a proportional system
.
Polling has consistently suggested Plaid Cymru and Reform are vying to be the largest party after the 7 May vote.
It is unlikely any party will get a majority and will require support from other parties.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the Conservatives have all suggested they are willing to work with Plaid Cymru after the election.
Only the Conservatives have kept the door open to working with Reform.
Slaughter said he was aware of the stitch-up accusations parties would face if a coalition against Reform happened.
"We're going to have four years of Reform saying the election was stolen off them," he said, calling it "nonsense".
"That's democracy, that's proportional representation.
"If that [were to] happen, it would mean more people had voted for someone other than Reform. So I have no problem with that.
"You're electing people proportionally, so that would represent what the people of Wales had voted for."
Reform's Thomas said: "The only way to stop an establishment stitch up that would see Plaid allow Labour back into government is to vote Reform."
Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has said
his party is the only one able to beat Reform
.
A spokesperson added: "The only way to prevent Reform UK from being the largest party and bringing their regressive politics to Wales is to vote for Plaid Cymru."
Wales' Liberal Democrat leader, Jane Dodds, said: "There are no deals to be made between us and Reform UK and the Conservatives."
It has not ruled out working with Plaid Cymru, but it said it would want no money spent on independence preparations.
Plaid Cymru though
has promised
a commission looking into independence.
Dodds said: "We will have discussions with any party that shares our values and they're very clear - we don't want any money that belongs to the Welsh public spent on independence."
Conservative Senedd leader, Darren Millar, said he could work with any party willing to deliver key Tory pledges.
He said: "If those other parties are prepared to help me implement a tax cut for people in terms of the basic rate of income tax, if they're prepared to work with me to roll back the extra members of the Senedd that are being imposed upon the people of Wales this year, if they're prepared to work with me to end that government waste and deliver that cut in stamp duty, I'll work with any of them."
Labour has been approached for comment.
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