More powers for the Welsh Assembly Government? Well, yes, that is the question on which there is to be a Referendum in March 2011 (next year, boyos). See excellent article by John Osmond on IWA website.

The Electoral Commission has studied and made a judgement on the text of the question posed initially by the Secretary State for Wales and has commented…

“Participants in our public opinion research generally had a low level of public awareness that a referendum on law-making powers of the Assembly is to be held; what the referendum is about or, indeed, what a referendum is.”

I like that bit where the Commission appears to doubt the ability of Welsh voters to know what a referendum actually is. This is abit insulting to say the least. I expect that most people know what a referendum is ; what they may be less certain about is the subject matter of the referendum or what the question is they are supposed to be deciding on. This is a tricky subject and the Commission is probably right in its analysis that the Question as it was originally posed was misconstrued. Nevertheless, although the Commission’s alternative version seems more intelligible (to those that care) it still requires a complicated explanatory ‘preamble’ . I suspect  that most people are wondering why we need to have a referendum on this at all – it is hardly a life and death issue. Also, all the signs point to the fact that the ConDem coalition is busy divesting itself of powers and responsibilities as fast as possible. These minor powers so desired by WAG will probably accrue to them purely as a result of just asking the coalition for them  – it is an open door that they are pushing at.  They’re like that child in the classroom who is always constantly asking permission to go to the toilet – for God’s sake go!

Please Miss! Please Miss! Please Miss!