WalesHome.org

Let's listen to Sir Emyr and to Cheryl too

We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
If it’s worth having it’s worth fighting for.”

So sings pop princess Cheryl Cole in a song that inspires me every morning. Today she is my backing track as I work my way through the report of the All Wales Convention. And I’m heeding her words.

The Convention has now reported and provides a solid evidence base on which a Yes campaign can be built. The timing of that campaign may be a matter of debate, but from today onwards every one who believes that there should be constitutional progress in Wales needs to stop nit picking over the way the Convention was established or which remit it was given. Or scoring “I told you so” points based on a view a Yes campaign should have been established ages ago. It wasn’t, let’s get over it.

The Western Mail editorial today is unequivocal that the referendum should not take place until after a UK General Election. That is the only sensible position to take. My money is on next Autumn for a referendum date, as it has been for some time. The Convention provides the road map to reach that point.

The Archbishop of Wales today makes the case for change on WalesHome.org. He will not be the only one. All four parties in the Assembly will overwhelmingly support the Convention’s recommendations too.

A Yes campaign does need to be established soon, but in such a way that those who wish to campaign for positive change can also put their energies into a General Election campaign first. We did the same back in 1997, knowing full well that the real commitment to campaign would not come until after the other political question had been settled. Let’s start working together but let’s not be so stupid as to rush things. Consensus for change has to be built both within and without political parties. And not every party can and will move at the same speed or with the same urgency on this issue. As Cheryl sings:

“I know where I want this to go
Driving fast but let’s go slow
What I don’t wanna do is crash, no.”

But let none of us think any of this will be easy. Just remember what Cheryl said: this thing is worth having and it’s worth fighting for.

You’ll be hearing more for me on this topic as the day progresses. Already been on Post Cynta on Radio Cymru and later I’m doing Good Evening Wales. This afternoon I’ll be attending the official launch of the Convention report, and that will be blogged later on the Hearth and maybe even live tweeted.

In the meantime, read the report and listen to Cheryl.

Oh, and finally, the picture at the top of this post has been deliberately chosen to brighten my day even further and stimulate another random charge of sexism.