We have a question and a date, so where are the YES and NO Campaigns for the Assembly referendum?

With all the focus on the cuts, job losses and the general economic gloom that is dominating the news, debate and every day chat it easy to forget that in just over five months on March 3rd 2011 the historic/tidying up exercise/slippery slope to independence (delete as appropriate) referendum on giving the National Assembly for Wales full law making powers is being held.

And judging from my own friends, family and work colleagues who are quite politically aware, it seems that a lot of people don't know there is even a referendum taking place next year. If this is a reflection of wider public sentiment it proves how hard the task at hand will be to engage people and get them enthused over what most experts agree are minor changes and we’ve got Peter Hain and his 2006 dog’s breakfast of a Government of Wales Act to thank for the referendum after he bowed to the anti devolution sentiment among his Welsh Labour colleages.

But let’s not dwell on this matter, something that would change that situation would be for the phoney war about more powers to end and for the YES and NO campaigns to be formed officially, and then for both sides to start campaigning.

On the YES side Tomorrow’s Wales has been laying some good foundations, but as far as a formal YES Campaign is concerned you are more likely to read about hen’s teeth. On the No Campaign side it seems True Wales are likely to take the lead. It will be interesting to see what sides Labour and Conservative politicians and party members end up on this time as well.

To be fair to the ever shrinking Welsh press they have been trying to get the politicians and campaigners to part with information for months about when things will get going, but are having precious little luck.

So with the UK Government linking implementation of the Holtham Commission that said Wales is underfunded to the tune of £300 million a year to a YES vote in the referendum, you’d think it would give Welsh politicians even more incentive to get out there campaigning, but it seems all sides are happy to sit back and blame the other side for the economic mess were in, rather than focus on something that could help us here in Wales.Any source