There are a group of about 20 hospitals which have run into financial difficulties and Labour accused the government of wanting to see more of these deals under its shake-up of the health service.
Labour is aware of the difficulties: it delayed implementing the Tories' Sex Offenders Act, which created the register, while it pondered how to use it.
Plaid's internal difficulties have been manna to Welsh Labour and to the Welsh Liberal Democrats, both of whom who hope to capitalise if the discord continues.
He pointed to "record low interest rates" and a lower cost of government borrowing as a sign that the coalition was doing the right thing, and accused Labour of wanting "even more government borrowing" and of having "no credible response" to economic difficulties.
By 2007 - fending off rumours he was about to join Labour - he angered many in his own party by agreeing to advise the government on support for children with learning difficulties.