Cymru: Nationalists pleased by referendum decision

Welsh nationalists were celebrating yesterday following a positive vote by Welsh Assembly Government Member's (AM's) to hold a referendum on giving Wales more power.

The vote was carried without opposition in the Assembly with 53 AM's supporting it, even though there was initial concerns that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats would abstain. The date of the referendum has yet to be decided, but has to take place before May 2011 as part of the current Plaid – Labour government's `One Wales' agreement.

The public referendum would be a vote about giving the Welsh government full law making powers in devolved areas such as education, agriculture and health and it was stated that whatever the outcome of the next general election the Conservatives, if in government in London, would not block the referendum.

Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd MP said after the vote that:

«The principle that Wales can govern itself has already been agreed across the political spectrum. »This referendum is a tidying-up of that principle so that the Welsh Government can make a real difference without going cap in hand to the Westminster government every time.«

The Celtic League took part in the public consultation exercise last year run by the All Wales Convention – an organisation set up by the Welsh Assembly Government to promote a debate about the current devolution settlement throughout Wales and to gauge public opinion for a referendum.

On her Facebook site after the vote, Plaid's socialist AM Leanne Wood, said that she was celebrating the historic unanimous vote »with a good Welsh beer."

This article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League. For follow-up comment or clarification contact:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209315884 M: 0044(0)7787318666 rhisiart.talebot@... gensec@...

Issued by the Director of Information Celtic League, J B Moffat

11/02/10