Referendum Fever (or maybe a sniffle)

Well who would have thought it the referendum campaign for more powers for the National Assembly for Wales has finally spluttered into life last week with just over 3 months to go until we vote.

We have had the comedy gold of Peter Black calling Leighton Andrew a cretin and suggesting the blindingly obvious that Labour is using of the referendum as a opportunity for Labour gains in next May’s Assembly elections. Peter may have a point about the Yes Campaign being hijacked but since when have Labour fought for anything, but their own self interest and retaining their position in Wales.

It’s also easy to forget Peter and Leighton are on the same side and whatever legitimate gripes Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru have, it will be Welsh Labour who will deliver the majority of the YES votes if the referendum is to be won, just like in 1997 even a cynic like me knows that.

That was followed over the weekend by BBC Wales raising concerns over the lack of Welsh speakers on the NO side for balance in reporting particularly on the S4C and Radio Cymru. Apparently True Wales have said it’s to do with the intimidation Welsh speaker feel for supporting the no campaign. It’s more likely they haven’t got any Welsh speakers given the hostility many True Wales members have toward the Welsh language just read Betsan Powys blog comments for proof.

And today the Labour leader Ed Miliband urging Labour members to vote Yes on the 3rd March, whatever you think of him at least he has an opinion he willing to campaign on even if it is for Party advantage unlike the Prime Minister David Cameron who is remaining ‘neutral’ although his views on devolution are well known. The less said about Nick Clegg helping out the Welsh Lib Dems and the Yes Campaign at this point the better.

So after months of pretending there was no referendum on more powers we finally have some signs of life, the next thing to do will be to start engaging with voters something the Yes Campaign is doing formally in the New Year at a series of events in January.Any source