We hear a lot about Bethan Jenkins and the "Yes" campaign so in the name of balance here at Politics Cymru we thought we'd talk to True Wales who've been heading up the "No" campaign.
Yesterday, Dewi Un chatted to Labour Councillor David Rees from Caerphilly who's been an active member of True Wales.
Many thanks to Cllr Rees for his time.
7 comments:
I can blow his argument out of the water right now, because I'm an "ordinary person on the street" and I want the Assembly to have full law-making powers. It sounds to me like he's very selective in who he listens to.
I think you've got that the wrong way around, we here lots about True Wales, and practically nothing about Bethan's campaign (apart from a blip a few weeks ago). So in the interests of fairness MORE time should be given to the other side, TW have been in the papers for months.
Like Barry, I am the "ordinary person in the street" and I want a full Parliament too.
Barry and Al lguana, thank you for your interesting comments!
What we mean is that so far on this blog we have tended to give Miss Jenkins' fledgling 'yes' campaign considerably more coverage than that given to David Davies' true Wales.
Please click on the Bethan Jenkins label on the right hand side of this blog to find all Politics Cymru's views on the possible launch of a 'yes' campaign.
As it happens we also have reason to believe that next week there will be a new angle on this debate. Stay tuned.
Diolch yn fawr,
Politics Cymru
I am an ‘ordinary person’ too who supports a parliament, but (I haven’t heard the interview as I am in work) most people don’t care for politics, and many show a complete disregard devolution. Surely, in light of this, many people don’t care much for many of the issues that is discussed on blogs and within political circles?
I still think it’s difficult to really make the case that people view devolutionary moves as their priorities – that is not to say it isn’t important, but I believe people are more concerned about tax, jobs, services etc.
I don’t agree with True Wales, I support a full welsh parliament, but they have been skilful in positioning the argument. They have made into a ‘no to politicians’ argument, playing on people’s political apathy and distaste for ‘more’ government. My concern is that the ‘Yes’ campaign is falling into that trap by Politician’s fronting it. Another problem is that despite the LCO system being such a mess that a full welsh parliament is a necessity for better governance, it is a pretty technical argument to make and one which is far less emotive than the ‘True Wales’ argument.
The problem is also that if you do try to make the ‘Yes’ argument more emotive, there is a danger into sliding into the cultural nationalism/independence rhetoric that is simply not popular. Even Plaid Cymru know this, which is why they are using the LCO system as the main argument.
If the Civil Rights legislation had been left to a popular vote in the south. You'd still have segregated toilets and schools. And as bad as that sounds its true. I don't believe in referendums. They are the weapons of populist dictators and demagogues. Its time the UK had a proper written constitution. The assembly could be scrapped as quickly as a Commons vote!
Bywyd Cymru support the suggestion of a proper referendum but would add that a cost benefit analysis be carried out before a vote.
Nationalists are purusing their own agenda and that will benefit few people in Wales, apart from their own followers of course.
We need debate, rational debate, not hysterical mud slinging by people who refuse to listen.
We will ask Gordon Brown to repeal the Government of Wales Acts so that the whole thing can be looked at in a new light, the Welsh Office was quite efficient but now we have a Levithan at large and apparently all we have to show for it is free bus passes and hospital car parking. The negatives are related to affordable housing, education, rural communities single farm payments and dangerous weeds.
Do we need another layer of government? A layer which costs so much yet hasn't produced any visible advantages, aprt from that odd looking building in Cardiff Bay.
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