By Paul Dicken in Cardiff
Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has said the economic downturn presents an opportunity to argue for greater self-government in Wales.
Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has said the economic downturn presents an opportunity to argue for greater self-government in Wales.Jones, who is deputy first minister in the coalition Welsh Assembly Government, told his party’s spring conference on April 4 that ‘there was no better time to argue for more self-government’.
His speech to the conference came two days after he and Labour’s First Minister Rhodri Morgan gave evidence to the All Wales Convention on a referendum for further devolution in Wales.
The convention was set up by the Welsh government to gauge opinion on further devolution and encourage public debate on a referendum. It is due to report at the end of 2009.
In evidence to the convention on April 2, the CBI business lobby said that a referendum would not be appropriate as the Welsh Assembly had yet to prove itself to the business community in Wales.
It added that the Assembly – both politicians and civil servants – did not fully understand the consequences of their decisions on businesses.
At the end of March, the convention commissioned research from agency GfK NOP, which showed that 48% of people in Wales supported greater law-making powers for the Assembly.
The survey of 1,650 people and ten focus groups, carried out in December 2008, found that 73% supported some form of devolved government. However, 35% said they would vote against further devolution.
Convention chair Sir Emyr Jones Parry said the baseline research showed people had some understanding of the Assembly’s powers but were not clear on the process.
