Thursday, September 04, 2008
Just saying 'No!'
I am torn as to how best to react to Monmouth Tory MP, David Davies' initiative in launching a cross-party campaign 'No!' vote campaign in the promised referendum on full lawmaking powers for the National Assembly.
On the one hand I am tempted to point out that this is the real face of the Welsh Conservative Party, out of touch with their electors, hostile to devolution, barely tolerating the antics of the Assembly Tory group in calling for more powers whilst milking their participation in the democratic process for all it is worth.
On the other hand I welcome the creation of a cross-party 'No!' campaign even though I would not touch it with the proverbial barge pole.
If we are to win a referendum then we need to have a vigorous debate in which all the arguments for and against are thrashed out and scrutinised in the full glare of publicity. Not only would such a spectacle test the validity of each side's points of view but it would also have the effect of increasing turn-out. There is a real danger otherwise that the referendum will turn out to be a damp squib.
The other reason to welcome this initiative is that it makes more urgent the need to set up a cross-party 'Yes!' campaign. All that we have at the moment is Labour and Plaid Cymru faffing around with a meaningless convention that is rapidly turning into the talking shop many of us suggested it would become.
Political campaigns are not won by wandering aimlessly around the country taking the temperature of public opinion. They are won by active campaigning and debate, in which parties go out and make their case and persuade people to their point of view. At present, no matter whether the referendum is held before or after 2011, those advocating more powers are sleep-walking to defeat.
David Davies' initiative makes that outcome more likely unless all those in favour of the devolution project get off their backside and reciprocate.
On the one hand I am tempted to point out that this is the real face of the Welsh Conservative Party, out of touch with their electors, hostile to devolution, barely tolerating the antics of the Assembly Tory group in calling for more powers whilst milking their participation in the democratic process for all it is worth.
On the other hand I welcome the creation of a cross-party 'No!' campaign even though I would not touch it with the proverbial barge pole.
If we are to win a referendum then we need to have a vigorous debate in which all the arguments for and against are thrashed out and scrutinised in the full glare of publicity. Not only would such a spectacle test the validity of each side's points of view but it would also have the effect of increasing turn-out. There is a real danger otherwise that the referendum will turn out to be a damp squib.
The other reason to welcome this initiative is that it makes more urgent the need to set up a cross-party 'Yes!' campaign. All that we have at the moment is Labour and Plaid Cymru faffing around with a meaningless convention that is rapidly turning into the talking shop many of us suggested it would become.
Political campaigns are not won by wandering aimlessly around the country taking the temperature of public opinion. They are won by active campaigning and debate, in which parties go out and make their case and persuade people to their point of view. At present, no matter whether the referendum is held before or after 2011, those advocating more powers are sleep-walking to defeat.
David Davies' initiative makes that outcome more likely unless all those in favour of the devolution project get off their backside and reciprocate.
Comments:
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Peter,
I am not so sure that the Welsh conservatives are out of touch with their electors on the issue of more powers to a devolved government in Wales. Firstly, bear in mind the geography of the referendum result,there was, as I recall, a distinct West-East split and one can hardly claim an overwhelming majority in favour of devolution.
Secondly and perhaps more importantly, the experience of East Wales over these last ten years of a devolved Welsh Assembly is certainly not very positive. There is a widespread perception that the benefits of devolution have accrued almost exclusively to the cardiff area in the first instance, and to West Wales and the Valleys in the second instance. Certainly rural areas of East Wales see little benefit at all from devolution and quite a few disbenefits. Thirdly, for the conservatives, their electors seem to be predominantly in rural Wales and rural East Wales in particular. For these reasons, it could be argued that they are very much in touch with their electors.
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I am not so sure that the Welsh conservatives are out of touch with their electors on the issue of more powers to a devolved government in Wales. Firstly, bear in mind the geography of the referendum result,there was, as I recall, a distinct West-East split and one can hardly claim an overwhelming majority in favour of devolution.
Secondly and perhaps more importantly, the experience of East Wales over these last ten years of a devolved Welsh Assembly is certainly not very positive. There is a widespread perception that the benefits of devolution have accrued almost exclusively to the cardiff area in the first instance, and to West Wales and the Valleys in the second instance. Certainly rural areas of East Wales see little benefit at all from devolution and quite a few disbenefits. Thirdly, for the conservatives, their electors seem to be predominantly in rural Wales and rural East Wales in particular. For these reasons, it could be argued that they are very much in touch with their electors.
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