'Yes' expected to win Welsh Devolution Referendum

Opinion polls indicate Wales will vote for more law-making powers for the Welsh National Assembly in the March 2011 Referendum.

Opinion polls indicate Wales will vote for more law-making powers for the Welsh National Assembly in the March 2011 Referendum.

The referendum on full law-making powers for the National Assembly for Wales is to be held on 3 March 2011.

Opinion polls throughout 2010 have consistently shown the Yes vote ahead across all parts of Wales.

The January 2011 YouGov poll showed 46% will vote Yes, 25% will vote No, 21% are undecided and 8% will not vote.

The 'Yes for Wales' campaign has united political rivals, with all Welsh political parties campaigning together for a Yes vote.

The Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said the point of winning full law-making powers for Wales was about getting "the tools for the job".

The No campaign, under the umbrella organisation 'True Wales', calls to vote against Wales getting more powers saying further Devolution is an "unjustifable grab for power by failed elitist politicians" and a "slippery slope" to independence.

But leading spokesman for True Wales, Paul Matthews, was accused of putting down Wales as he said the Welsh people "are not the most innovative or creative, and very often those that are, move out of Wales."

At present, the National Assembly for Wales has limited powers to make laws for Wales on some areas such as health, agriculture, education, the environment, social services and local government.

But under the current Devolution settlement, the Welsh assembly must first obtain agreement from the UK Parliament in London, which then decides whether or not the Welsh Assembly can make those laws.

If Welsh people vote Yes in the referendum, the Assembly will gain powers to pass laws without needing the agreement of London, saving time and resources, and allowing a prompt implementation of policy.

If most people vote No, then the present Devolution settlement will continue.


www.yesforwales.com - Official website of the Yes Campaign.
www.tomorrow-wales.co.uk - Official website of a cross-sector, multi-faith Yes Campaign.
www.truewales.org.uk - Umbrella organisation for the 'No' campaign.

See also: Welsh rugby stars back referendum 'Yes' campaign