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Former Plaid Cymru leader Lord Elis-Thomas has confirmed that he will be supporting the Welsh Government during this Assembly term – effectively handing Labour an overall majority.

He resigned from Plaid in October and now sits as an Independent AM representing Dwyfor Meirionnydd. At the time of his resignation, he told us that instead of adopting a “narrow oppositionist stance”, Plaid should have negotiated a coalition with Labour after May’s Assembly election.

He said: “In fact, I think Plaid made a mistake in 2011 when it fought an election opposing Labour after being in coalition in the One Wales Government for four years. They should have carried on working with Labour. I am in politics to achieve things for my constituents and for Wales. I believe that could best be achieved by working collaboratively with Labour.”

But he said there was no question of his joining the Labour Party: “If they want my vote, they will have to ask me for it, as Labour did in Westminster when I was an MP from the 1970s. Labour has not asked me to join – I don’t think they would want me to. And I wouldn’t if they asked me.”

He said Plaid was wrong to suggest he had misled voters by standing as a Plaid candidate in May: “I did so because my local party wanted me to.”

In the months leading up to May’s Assembly election, Lord Elis-Thomas was told by Plaid not to make any further criticisms of the party’s strategy. Earlier he had criticised Ms Wood for saying that people who voted for Ukip were being “unWelsh”. He was removed from a committee chairmanship and incurred further wrath when he endorsed Labour’s candidate in the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s election.

Now he has told BBC Wales: “Following my recent discussions with the First Minister I can confirm my positive intention to support the current Welsh Government for the duration of the fifth Assembly. This provides the stable majority a government needs to continue to develop devolution opportunities and negotiate a continuing relationship with mainland Europe, both key issues for the area I am proud to represent.”

A spokesman for the First Minister said: “We said from outset of this Assembly that no one party has all the answers and we would seek to work with people across the chamber to deliver for Wales. This is all the more important given the deep divisions within the country following the vote to leave the EU. We will continue to seek to work together with others to deliver for the businesses and communities of Wales.”

Welsh Government sources insisted no offer of a Cabinet post or anything similar has been made to him.

In a statement made on Monday, a Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: “Tomorrow, the finalised version of the budget agreed by Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government will be published.

“Constructive working has produced the best budget seen in Wales for many years. Lord Elis-Thomas chose not to participate in that work.

“We have kept the Compact with the Welsh Government under constant review and are scheduled to discuss it at our next group meeting in the New Year. We look forward to the fruits of the Compact being published in tomorrow’s finalised budget.”