On Saturday at Welsh Liberal Democrat conference in Cardiff, a group of party members will be proposing a topical motion calling on the leadership to establish a Yes campaign for a law-making Welsh Assembly.
Dominic Hannigan and I will be proposing the below motion in order to make sure that the devolution debate is led by federalists like ourselves, rather than Nationalists who risk wrecking any future referendum by talking about federalism.
Topical motion: Launching a Yes campaign
Conference notes:
1. the positive BBC opinion poll in February showing that 51% of people supported turning the Welsh Assembly into a full law-making parliament against 39% of people saying no.
2. with concern the Western Mail story of November 2008 that stated that Labour AMs were banned from taking part in a yes campaign
Conference believes that the All Wales Convention is an expensive £1.5 million distraction designed to delay a decision on holding a referendum.
Conference also believes that in order to success the yes campaign should be led by a broad coalition of political parties committed to devolution, and should not be allowed to be tainted in the minds of the public by being solely led by those seeking independence.
Conference therefore calls on the leadership of the Welsh Liberal Democrats to establish a Yes campaign to champion the benefits of the National Assembly for Wales having law making powers and work towards a successful referendum before the May 2011 Welsh Assembly elections.
The topical motion will be debated at 5:10 on the Saturday of conference. Please come along and take part in the debate.
Joseph Carter is a Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillor in Cardiff
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