Welsh Assembly to vote on referendum for more powers

4 Feb 10
Welsh Assembly members will vote next week on whether a referendum should be held on greater law-making powers for Wales.
By Paul Dicken in Cardiff

4 February 2010

Welsh Assembly members will vote next week on whether a referendum should be held on greater law-making powers for Wales.

First Minister Carwyn Jones tabled the proposal on February 2, saying the Welsh Assembly Government was asking for a referendum on whether ‘laws which affect the people of Wales – the laws under which our government works – should be made in Wales’.

The vote in the Assembly, scheduled for February 9, would be the trigger for the first minister to write to Welsh Secretary Peter Hain requesting a referendum.

This would then have to be put to both UK Houses of Parliament for approval.

But the process is already dogged with uncertainty as the Welsh Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said they would not support the motion unless they received assurances that a future referendum would not be held on the same date as the Assembly elections in 2011.

The WAG needs at least 40 votes out of 60 for the motion to be carried, and will need opposition support to ensure sufficient votes are secured.

The Welsh Conservatives maintain that holding an election on the same day would be confusing. They would prefer a vote this autumn.

The LibDems, although supportive of devolution, believe a referendum would not be ‘winnable’ if it coincided with the Assembly elections.

Plaid Cymru deputy leader Helen Mary Jones said the future effective governance of Wales should not be endangered over a timing issue. ‘Between them, the opposition parties could vote down dates they don’t like in the future,’ she said.

In a statement Carwyn Jones said issues of timing would be addressed after the general election.

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top