Tomorrow’s Wales welcomes All Wales Convention’s report
“The National Assembly and its Government should now commit itself to making the recommendations of the All Wales Convention a reality following the publication of the Jones-Parry report today” says Tomorrow’s Wales.
Tomorrow’s Wales chair Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales said: “Following exhaustive study and consultation, the All Wales Convention has found that the case for making the National Assembly into a proper parliament by granting it primary law-making powers is overwhelming. The example of the Scottish parliament since 1997 has shown the enormous advantage of a having a clear set of powers with the responsibilities at the Westminster and Scottish levels precisely defined. Granting primary law-making powers to the Assembly would strengthen Welsh democracy and give us a stable and effective system of government. We could then get on with addressing the needs of the people and communities of Wales by developing practical and distinctively Welsh policies and deliver them effectively, free from the constraints of a complex and frustrating process of transferring powers”.
The Convention’s findings that public opinion in Wales has moved steadily towards support for law-making powers confirms what Tomorrow’s Wales has found in its work throughout Wales.
Welsh rugby legend and British Lions team manager Gerald Davies said, “It is vital for the people of Wales to grasp this opportunity to establish a clear system of governance that serves Wales effectively.”
Gerald Davies is a member of Tomorrow’s Wales’ executive committee and a signatory of its Declaration for Welsh Democracy which calls for primary law-making powers for the National Assembly. Those who have supported the Declaration include Chair of Tomorrow’s Wales, the Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan and the Secretary General of the Muslim Council for Wales Saleem Kidwai; Wales and British Lions international Jamie Roberts and Olympic swimmer David Davies; two of Wales’s National Poets, Gillian Clarke and Gwyneth Lewis, and actor Mathew Rhys. Musicians Gruff Rhys and Rhydian Roberts, as well as DJ Huw Stephens have also signed up.
Archbishop Barry Morgan added, “Following the Convention report, Tomorrow’s Wales will be expanding our activities to promote popular understanding of the devolution process and supporting the campaign for proper law-making powers for the National Assembly. This report gives Wales the evidence and thus the confidence to make that a reality.”
Tags: All-Wales Convention, Referendum