Less than one week to go

We are less than one week away from the referendum on Assembly powers; just seven days away from people in Wales deciding whether or not our country should have a stronger voice.

This poll is crucial to the prospects of our country and there can be no room for complacency as we make one last push to convince voters that a ‘yes’ vote is a vote for common sense.

It is an argument that we are winning in the media, in public debates and through canvassing in the streets and over the phones. No campaigners have conducted a dirty tricks campaign based upon rubbishing the Welsh Assembly, its record and perpetuating myths about the implications of delivering a more accountable and democratic law-making system to the people of Wales. It is tantamount to saying that, here in Wales, we do not deserve the same legislative responsibility conferred to the people of Northern Ireland and Scotland because we are somehow inferior and need the approval of Westminster whenever we want to do something. This line of argument is insulting to peoples' intelligence.

Even for those who take a dim view of the Assembly’s performance, it should make sense to support moving to a system that would result in more accountablily. I am of the view that devolution has delivered many benefits, particularly for working people in Wales, but the referendum is not about these success stories. It is about process and whether the people of Wales want to stick with the expensive and convoluted status quo or move to a simpler, leaner and more efficient means of passing legislation.

In light of who has the keys to Number 10 Downing Street and who holds the purse strings at the Treasury, a strong Yes vote takes on even more importance. The stronger the Yes vote, the stronger is Wales's voice.

We have a chance to be waking up in a country with brighter prospects and a stronger voice by the end of next week. Let's hope the vote of confidence in the principle of devolution and in our country is a big one.

Wales wins praise for waste law

"We bin 10 Wembleys full of food a year – what a waste of energy" says the headline in today's Independent on Sunday in an article by Kate Youde. "Wales has shown the way by collecting and reusing kitchen rubbish, but most UK councils lag behind"

Its not mentioned in the article, but Wales's success on this front is down to the Environment and Waste measure which set Welsh waste targets. The measure came about after a wait of almost three years for the Environment Legislative Competence Order which had to be granted by Westminster before the Assembly was free to legislate.

The referendum on the Assembly's law-making powers which takes place on March 3rd will get rid of the costly and cumbersome LCO system, which requires us to ask Westminster's permission before laws which only affect Wales can be made. Why not make it your new year's resolution to vote YES for Wales in March?

Campaigning for a Better Wales

The annual Plaid Cymru conference kicks off tomorrow in Aberystwyth. I’m looking to catching up with fellow-travellers and discussing politics. The next 12 months, with key elections and, hopefully, the referendum on Assembly powers, taking place, will shape Welsh politics for a generation. This conference is Plaid's chance to make sure we are ready.

Plaid leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones has nominated me as the party’s representative on the all-party steering group to campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote. Meetings have been held over the summer and strategies are being drawn up to make sure we can run a campaign we can win. A NO vote in this referendum would be a devastating blow to our confidence as a nation and to the devolution project, which most people see as a positive development in Wales.

We simply have to win this vote.

It's crucial that the Assembly has the tools it needs to do the job. With public spending cuts likely to have a bigger impact in Wales it's vital that our Assembly is strong enough to help Wales withstand the coming storm.

At the moment, the Assembly has to obtain permission from Westminster to make laws in devolved areas. It's a bureaucratic nightmare worthy of a political satire. The debacle over the Housing Legislative Competence Order (LCO), which was left on the back burner for three years before finally being rubber stamped recently, is a case in point.

This is why UNDEB (Plaid's Trades Union arm) has decided to concentrate on the referendum at this year's Plaid Cymru conference. We have teamed up with Cymru Yfory to officially kick start Plaid’s campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum. UNDEB’S Ian Titherington will provide the arguments as to why workers and the trade union movement should support the ‘Yes’ campaign and former Ceredigion MP, Cynog Dafis, will provide practical information about setting up campaign groups, messages and communications on behalf of Tomorrow's Wales.

A NO vote will severely weaken the Assembly's ability to act as a shield to protect those people in our communities who will be most vulnerable to cuts and high levels of unemployment, which are on their way.

Everyone who believes the destiny of this country should be in the hands of this country, should get involved in the ‘Yes’ campaign. I’m hoping there will a good attendance and lively discussion at the fringe event tomorrow.

Referendum - bring it on!

Today sees the publication of the report by the All Wales Convention, and it seems that a majority of people favour the Assembly gaining law making powers, and moving to become a Parliament, similar to Scotland's.

The All Wales Convention, chaired by Sir Emyr Jones Parry, has hosted public consultations to gauge opinion on further powers for the Assembly, received 700 pieces of evidence and has spoken to 2,000 people.

We have seen time after time that the current LCO system has acted as a barrier preventing us in Wales from introducing strong legislation. This halfway house system has enabled MPs to put blocks on our efforts to ensure more affordable housing. They've tied our hands as we tried to ensure that our children can travel safely on buses. They've limiting our powers over the Welsh language and ignored our attempt to legislate to tackle climate change. I hope this report will help to change the system into one where people in Wales can have a much greater input into the laws which we live by.