THERE have been discussions between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru about an “ambitious co-operation agreement”.

A statement from the Labour Welsh Government and Plaid said the two groups were looking at where they can work together.

After May's elections, Welsh Labour hold 30 of the 60 seats in the Senedd and relies on support from other parties to pass legislation.

In a joint statement, they said: "As Wales prepares for a stronger future beyond the coronavirus pandemic; responds to the climate emergency, the ongoing consequences of leaving the EU, and threats to devolution; it is more important than ever that political parties work together wherever they have common interests on behalf of people in Wales.

"Constructive initial discussions have taken place between the Welsh Labour Government and Plaid Cymru exploring ways of building a more equal, just and democratic nation for all.

"These discussions are continuing to explore an ambitious co-operation agreement to be based around a number of defined policy priorities and the governance arrangements on which the Welsh Labour Government and Plaid Cymru can work together to deliver for Wales."

The potential deal would mirror an agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens in Holyrood.

Two Green MSPs have become government ministers in the SNP-run administration after the parties agreed to work together. The Greens are required to back the Scottish Government in confidence votes and annual budgets as they work on a raft of agreed policy areas.

Green co-leader Lorna Slater, commenting on news of a similar deal in the Senedd, tweeted: "This is what we want to see in politics. Parties rolling up their sleeves and getting to work on the big problems that face us, not just screaming playground insults and negativity at each other across the debating chamber."

Senedd Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies commented: "You only need look at Welsh Labour's policy programme to see how out of ideas it is. But turning to nationalists with no mandate is an act of desperation and lunacy.

"Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru claim to be a party of change but always deliver for their Labour masters – just look at how little they vote against their budgets.

"The NHS in Wales is on its knees. Children have missed months of school. The economy needs support. Just watch as promises of Covid recovery turn into a nightmarish prospect of state-building and hoarding powers.

"They are both totally divorced from people's priorities."

In the last Senedd, Welsh Labour had 29 seats and were joined in government by Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams and independent Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas.