Mae Cymru Yfory wedi croesawu penodiad Roger Lewis i swydd cadeirydd yr Ymgyrch Ie. Fel ffigwr annibynnol o’r byd gwleidyddol ac sydd â phrofiad helaeth o fyd busnes, gall Mr Lewis weld pwysigrwydd mwy o bwerau deddfu i’r Cynulliad a sut y gall hyn elwa Cymru gyfan.

Neges o undeb oedd ganddo ddoe. Wrth esbonio ei weledigaeth am y refferendwm sydd i ddod, fe ddywedodd bod angen system llywodraeth glir ac anfiwrocratig i wasanaethu Cymru gyfan, ac fe fynnodd y byddai “pleidlais Ie dros Gymru yn sicrhau fod pwerau deddfu cynradd, deddfau i Gymru, yn cael eu pasio mewn modd amserol, yn dilyn dadl lawn yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol”.

Credwn fod gan Mr Lewis y profiad, y ddealltwriaeth a’r weledigaeth i sbarduno ymgyrch cyffrous bydd yn sicrhau y canlyniad iawn a chyfiawn i Gymru. Y mae nawr yn bwysig fod pawb yn ymateb i’w alwad ac yn gweithredu ar y cyfnod pwysig hwn i Gymru. Ni ellir ennill y refferendwm hwn trwy wleidyddion a sloganau ond trwy bobl ar y stryd yn sylweddoli gwendidau y system bresennol a mynnu system synhwyrol.

Mae Mr Lewis wedi siarad am bwysigrwydd gwneud hyn yn “ymgyrch y bobl” ac mae Cymru Yfory yn gwbl gefnogol o hyn. Am y rheswm hwn rydym eisoes wedi sefydlu rhwydwaith llawr gwlad o grwpiau lleol sydd wedi dechrau ymgyrchu. Bydd y grwpiau hyn yn gweithio yn agos gyda’r Ymgyrch Ie  i gefnogi’r ymgyrch.

Mae Cymru Yfory yn falch fod gwaith yr Ymgyrch Ie yn datblygu ac rydym yn awyddus i gefnogi’r ymgyrch ym mhob ffordd y medrwn. Dan arweiniad Roger Lewis, bydd llais Cymru gyfan yn cael ei glywed ar y 3ydd o Fawrth a chaiff Cymru y trefniant y mae’n haeddu.

Tomorrow’s Wales has welcomed the appointment of Roger Lewis as the chair of the Yes Campaign. As a figure who is independent of politics and who has significant experience in business, Mr Lewis can see the importance of further primary lawmaking powers for the National Assembly and how it will benefit everyone in Wales.

Yesterday, his was a message of unity. In setting out his view of the forthcoming referendum, he explained the need for a clear and unbureaucratic system of government for the whole of Wales and stressed that “a Yes for Wales vote ensures that primary law-making powers, laws for Wales, are passed in a timely fashion, following proper Welsh Assembly debate”.

We believe that Mr Lewis has the experience, grounding and vision for Wales to inspire a clear and vibrant campaign that will deliver the right result. What is now important is that the people of Wales heed this call and respond to this important milestone in Wales’ history.  This is not a referendum that will be won through politicians and slogans but through people on the street recognising the weaknesses of the present settlement and rejecting it in favour of a much more effective system .

Mr Lewis has talked about the importance of making this a “people’s campaign” and Tomorrow’s Wales is entirely supportive of this aim. It is for this reason that we have long set up a grassroots network of local groups which have already begun campaigning in favour of a Yes vote.  These groups will work closely with the Yes Campaign in its campaigning.

Tomorrow’s Wales is glad that the work of the Yes Campaign is progressing and we are proud to support it in any way we can. We hope that under Roger Lewis’ lead, the collective voice of Wales will be heard and that on March 3^rd we will claim the settlement that we deserve.

Last week the results of a poll carried out by ICM Research on behalf of BBC Wales were published, and revealed very promising figures as the campaigning gets underway for a ‘Yes’ vote on the referendum on greater legislative powers for the National Assembly next March.

There are three clear positive signs that we can take from these results.

Firstly we see that 57% of those polled say that they would vote in favour of increased lawmaking powers for the National Assembly. This shows that the people of Wales broadly agree that the National Assembly has been accepted, and that 13 years after devolution was first introduced Wales has the maturity, self confidence and ability to gain further legislative powers to better serve the people of Wales.

The second positive sign that we can draw from the results is that the “Yes Campaign” is ahead in each of Wales’ 22 local authorities while in 1997, eleven local authorities votes against devolution, albeit by small margins in most. Devolution sceptics have been proven wrong, and there is now across the board support for the National Assembly. This pan-Wales support mirrors the cross party consensus that was lacking in 1997.

Thirdly, while only 37% of those polled said that they are certain to vote on March 3^rd, a thoroughly convincing 77% of these said that they would be voting “Yes”. We would obviously like to see a higher proportion of the electorate using their vote in March, but it is fair to assume that the 37% of the population who are declaring now that they will vote have looked at the arguments and considered them. 77% of these have concluded that a “Yes” vote is the right choice, and this extraordinarily high figure is testament to the fact that gaining further powers for Wales and allowing Wales to make its own decisions in the areas that only apply to it, is a common sense approach.

The National Assembly has armed Wales with some of the tools to take responsibility for its own affairs. It should now be allowed to gain more of these tools to use them to their full potential and give the people of Wales the truly capable, accountable government that it deserves.

Some words of wisdom in the Western Mail (Nov 30, p16) from Roger Lewis, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union. He wasn’t writing about devolution, or the forthcoming referendum on law-making powers, but his message is as good a reason as any for voting Yes on March 3

“The voice of Wales must be heard…in Wales and in the corridors of the decision makers and opinion formers in London as well as in Cardiff.

If we want Wales to win, not just in rugby but beyond the field, we all have to take responsibility. We have to take responsibility for ourselves.

And that means convincing the powers that be, wherever they are, to have confidence in us and our abilities to make the right decisions.

To do that we must have confidence in ourselves.

All of us in Wales, in whatever walk of life, must be prepared to take control of our own destiny.

In the tough times ahead we must be loud as well as proud, and we must be prepared to stand up together for what we believe to be right and fair.

Wales may not have a haka, but we have a passion and a pride and an ability to shape our future around our own unique national identity.”

To read the article in full click here: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/11/30/why-we-must-challenge-london-s-view-of-wales-91466-27738673/

We at Tomorrow’s Wales were very sorry to learn today of the death of Richard, Lord Livsey. Richard was a valued and long-standing member of the executive committee of Tomorrow’s Wales/Cymru Yfory, and had played a valuable role in campaigns for devolution for Wales, particularly the 1979 referendum. The Archbishop of Wales and chairman of Tomorrow’s Wales, the Most Rev. Dr Barry Morgan, said:

“Lord Livsey was ahead of his time in terms of seeing the need for a devolved government for Wales. He was an active member of the executive of Tomorrow’s Wales / Cymru Yfory who contributed a great deal through his political wisdom and experience, including his ability and readiness to talk to members of all parties in the House of Lords. He brought his liberal instincts to all he said and he did so with genuine humility and gentleness. He will be greatly missed nationally and by Cymru Yfory.”

Our condolences go to his widow, Rene, and children.

Tomorrow’s Wales will have a stand at the National Eisteddfod in Blaenau Gwent and we are looking for volunteers to help. If you can spare a morning or afternoon we can offer you a free entrance ticket to the maes. We are looking especially for helpers on the first Saturday and Sunday.

Please contact cymruyfory@stratamatrix.co.uk if you are available.

Thank you!

Ahead of the end of the Electoral Commission’s consultation on the referendum question, the proposals of the Secretary of State for Wales have been criticised by a number of commentators in the press and on the internet.

In the Western Mail yesterday, the Chair of the All-Wales Convention Sir Emyr Jones-Parry said the question was ‘misleading’, as it does not adequately reflect the choice on offer.

On its blog today, the Institute of Welsh Affairs says that the question in its current form is ‘tendentious’, and ’suggests that the status quo that would be delivered by a No vote would be “a moderate, middle ground and common sense way to proceed’.

Meanwhile, on his Devolution Matters blog Alan Trench suggests that the question is ambiguous and imprecise.

What do you think of the referendum question? Have your say by adding a comment below.

In a Tomorrow’s Wales event at the Royal Welsh Show this week Elin Jones AM highlighted the need for further legislative powers to be devolved to the National Assembly for Wales, which can only be achieved through a successful referendum.  The Minister drew attention to the Red Meat LCO and Measure that took three years to pass through two governments and two Committees in both Cardiff and London.    

Elin Jones, the Minister for Rural Affairs said:  

“There is no doubt that rural and agricultural interests have been served well by devolution and government in Wales.  However, a more streamlined and responsive democratic process would see the Senedd better serve the interests of rural Wales.   

“Agricultural and rural legislation is better developed and scrutinised in Wales, because it can be more appropriately tailored to the needs of Wales.  The current legislative process is wasteful of resources and democratic scrutiny.   

“There is no better example of this than the recent Red Meat LCO and Measure.  This has been a wholly uncontroversial piece of legislative transfer.  However, it has still taken three years to achieve legislation - and in the meantime, the legislation was developed by two Governments - in Cardiff and London - and then scrutinised by two sets of Committees and Legislatures, in Cardiff and London.   

“It is now time to give the National Assembly its own legislative powers so that rural Wales can achieve its aspirations within Welsh democratic scrutiny.” 

Moving to part four of the Government of Wales Act 2006 will give the National Assembly law-making powers that will enable elected members in Wales to create laws according to the needs and interests of Wales.   

Gareth Vaughan, the Farmers’ Union Wales president said:  

“Farming is an integral part of the landscape and culture of Wales, and decisions that might suit other parts of the UK have the potential to damage not only Welsh agriculture but also our landscapes, communities and culture. Devolution, which was fully supported by the FUW, has given powers to Welsh policy makers to focus on Welsh issues; it means we can lobby people who are elected in Wales for decisions to be made that suit Wales, and that the majority of important decisions affecting our industry are not taken by people in London who know nothing about our industry and may never have even been to Wales. 

“We may not always agree with the decisions made by Welsh policy makers, but I have no doubt that without devolution our grievances would be far more numerous and acute.”  

In their evidence to the All-Wales Convention, National Farmers’ Union Cymru said:  

“In NFU Cymru’s experience devolution has brought politicians and government much closer to the people of Wales, giving us much easier access to both than had been possible previously. 

“Securing a historic approach to the single farm payment is a positive outcome to devolution which would not have been possible had it not been devolved to Wales. Wales’s simpler system allowed for swifter payments to farmers.  

“It is our view that the advent to devolution has done much to lift the self esteem and national mood of Wales as a nation, and there appears to be a growing awareness from outside Wales that there is scope to do things differently in Wales.”

The meeting will be on Tuesday July 20th at 3pm in the S4C Pavilion. The speakers will be Elin Jones AM and Aled Rees, winner of the S4C competition Fferm Ffactor. Light refreshments provided.

Following Cheryl Gillan’s announcement yesterday that the referendum on the Assembly’s powers would take place in the first quarter of next year, Cymru Yfory’s David Llywelyn Davies and True Wales’ Rachel Banner appeared on Good Morning Wales today (about 2h 34m in) to discuss issues surrounding the date and more.

The arguments Rachel Banner put forward in favour of a No vote were depressingly familiar, and far-removed from what is actually on the table in the referendum. We heard how the ‘political elites in Cardiff Bay’ are merely grabbing more power for themselves, that this referendum is part of the process of Wales separating from the UK, that a Yes vote would cost more and that the Assembly should instead concentrate on ‘Health, Education and the Economy’. Let’s take these points in turn:

The political elites

If it is the political elites that reside in Cardiff Bay, why is it that according to recent polling carried out by YouGov and the Insitute of Welsh Politics almost two to one of respondents believe that the Assembly should have more influence over governing Wales than Westminster, let alone the fact that the current UK Cabinet does not have a single Member representing a Welsh constituency?

‘The slippery slope to separation’

This referendum is not about independence. A Yes vote would not mean Wales ‘cutting itself off from the rest of the UK’, it would give us simpler, more effective government within a UK framework, and allow us to act swiftly for the benefit of our people and our communities.

Increased costs

As we have pointed out before, evidence published by the All Wales Convention shows that resources that are currently tied up in the inefficient and wasteful LCO process would be better spent on making laws more quickly and more clearly, and in a more joined-up way.

Health, Education and the Economy

Health and Education are fields already devolved to Wales. And yet, under the current flawed system, we have been unable to legislate fully on issues like improving the rights of mental health patients in Wales and providing safer school transport without wasting years in having to ask permission from Whitehall first. As David said this morning, why on earth wouldn’t we want these powers in Wales, especially given that the responsibility is already with the Assembly? In fact, the Assembly can only begin to properly concentrate on doing all it can to improve Health and Education once this mess is sorted out.

Finally, it was clear once again that True Wales has no answer when challenged on what positive benefits would be retained in the event of a No vote. The example of the smoking ban was proof enough of this – for the families of hundreds of people who lost their lives in the two years it took the Assembly to get powers on banning smoking this referendum is not about banal constitutional debate, or mythical political elites.