Huw Irranca Davies makes the case in the Western Mail this morning for delaying the referendum beyond 2011. I’ve heard very serious people outside the Labour Party say the same thing.
I am concerned about the game of chicken that seems to be going on within the Cardiff Bay bubble, with enthusiasts for a referendum goading each other to race across the road confident of avoiding the juggernaught of public opinion.
Though there is merit in Geraint Talfarn Davies’ argument that “our politicians are going to have to make their own weather on this issue”, the consequeneces of losing the referendum are too great to rush into it.
My own view is that the All Wales Convention has not properly addressed the long-term issues and has locked itself into the sterile trajectory of Peter Hain’s Government of Wales Act
As I’ve argued repeatedly in recent days, the offer on the table is not so much extra powers but a different way of aquiring them. The Assembly would still be the poor relation of the Scottish Parliament, both in scope and shape.
Public opinon is volatile and the narrative of a yes campaign not yet clear. I’m less concerned about the sub-text of Huw Irranca Davies’ argument (that Labour need time to unite before a referendum is triggered), than I am about the need to get this right.
I would rather time to build a consensus around revisiting the settlement and fighting a referendum on a stable model of devolution that would last more than 10 years, rather than risk defeat for another flawed outcome.
carl 12:15 pm on 20 November, 2009 Permalink
The juggernaught of public opinion is in favour of a referendum and in favour of one before 2011. If anything it is the anti-devolutionists in the Labour MP group that are risking running into that juggernaught not the enthusiasts
Cynog Dafis 2:51 pm on 20 November, 2009 Permalink
True, the offer is not ‘extra powers’ as everyone keeps on saying but a better way of getting the power to legislate. Nevertheless giving the Assembly the general power to legislate in 20 policy areas would establish proper parliamentary government in Wales – a momentous development. Anything beyond that – elements or all of the Richard package – could reasonably be seen as a tidying-up exercise, by no means inevitable but to be considered as and when.
To unwind the Convention process, which has been imperfect but has produced an unequivocal and solid report, would be to make the perfect the enemy of the far better.
We need to exude confidence, go for it and, as Lee says, get the narrative of the Yes Campaign agreed and right.
T
tom 6:47 pm on 20 November, 2009 Permalink
Referendum WHY.
The Welsh Assembly has simply proven its capabilities to be a clone of the commons,full of pompous career politicians who are along for the wages and the expenses.
Why even bother with a referendum if this bunch of gangsters are going to be ruling over us.
Tom
The consequences of a No vote « This is my truth 5:52 pm on 2 February, 2010 Permalink
[...] still not entirely convinced of the wisdom of this course, as previously discussed. But if it going to happen then it needs to be won. In my view perhaps one of the most misleading [...]