NICOLA Sturgeon has hailed a new co-operation deal between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru as the “emergence of grown-up politics”.

Tweeting after both parties’ ruling bodies agreed to the terms of the deal, the First Minister compared it to her own party’s agreement with the Scottish Greens.

Sturgeon wrote: “Following @thesnp @scotgov/@scottishgreens Co-operation Agreement in, interesting to see the emergence of grown up, collaborative politics in too, with this proposed deal between @Plaid_Cymru and @WelshLabour.”

On Sunday, the two Welsh parties agreed to a wide-ranging deal featuring 46 policy areas – including extending free school meals, introducing a localised tourism tax, reforming housing law and creating a National Care Service.

READ MORE: Labour and Plaid Cymru agree Welsh government co-operation deal

Welcoming the agreement, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “We can achieve more for people in Wales by working together and the co-operation agreement is both a response to the external challenges we face and a chance to build on the opportunities in our future.”

Welsh Labour gained 30 seats in the last election, falling one short of a majority.

Meanwhile, pro-independence Plaid Cymru landed 13 seats, making them the third-largest party in the Senedd.

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: “The challenges we face require real ambition to deliver radical ideas.

“The fallout from leaving the European Union, the legacy of the pandemic and the UK Government’s determination to erode the Senedd’s powers all increase the need for transformational change.

“Taken together, the bold policy pledges will unite Wales and benefit every generation, from all primary school pupils receiving free school meals to a national care service, free at the point of need.

“I am pleased this pioneering co-operation agreement is founded on common ground on a range of issues that will make a long-lasting difference to people’s lives.”

READ MORE: The REAL Scottish Politics: Truth about Labour and LibDems exposed

The deal does not provide Plaid Cymru with any ministerial roles and the deal does not amount to an official coalition.

It follows on from a similar co-operation deal agreed with the SNP and Scottish Greens in August.

The SNP, like Welsh Labour, also fell one short of a majority.

But after the agreement with the Scottish Greens, it took Holyrood to a pro-independence majority.

Some 72 out of the 129 MSPs in the Scottish parliament are from pro-independence parties.

The Scottish deal saw Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater gain ministerial roles.

Harvie became Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights while Slater is now Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity.