The Labour candidates on the All Wales Convention Report

The Chair of the Convention, which reported today

It was an interesting event, made lively but impenetrable by some of the questions posed by True Wales members. Despite considering myself a bit of an anorak on Welsh consitutional matters, their obtuse analysis and obfuscation which they insisted on wrapping around untruths made it very difficult to work out what their questions to the Convention actually were. Sir Emyr went even higher in my estimation not just for the fair and diplomatic way he dealt with the event but in the way he managed to work out what their questions were. Goodness knows what the people of Wales would make of any referendum question True Wales was allowed to set… For more of a flavour of the event, the Cymru Yfory blog post is worth reading.

But enough of my opinions, what did the three Labour candidates make of the Convention report’s content?

Edwina Hart was unsurprisingly effusive in this morning’s Western Mail: “I’ve always made it clear that I favoured further devolution and I would urge my party and then the country to vote for increased powers. I would want to discuss this with my coalition partners and also with the party.”

Speaking in the same article, Huw Lewis reiterated his view that to rush into a referendum would be a mistake. He said: “Given the level of briefing, leaking and speculation that has taken place in the run-up to publication, I look forward to actually getting to grips with the report itself and making a considered judgement based on the evidence presented. I’ve been unequivocal on two key issues should I become the next First Minister – I intend to honour the One Wales pledge regarding a referendum by 2011. Equally, I would consider it both dangerous and wrong to start any campaign for a Yes vote before the General Election next year. One poll at a time. Beat the Tories first, then consider the referendum.”

Carwyn Jones responded once the report had been formally released by indicating that: “Wales is not Scotland-lite, some kind of diluted diet version of an authentically-devolved nation. The Welsh relationship to the British state is far more complex than that. Welshness and Britishness are closely interwoven. British Labour movement heroes like Aneurin Bevan took the co-operative traditions of Welsh community socialism and used their models to build the British National Health Service.”

Carwyn also pointed out that he is the product of a modern Wales, and a modern Britain, someone comfortable with the different identities of being Welsh, British and European, saying: “My experience is the experience of a modern diverse Britain. Born in South Wales, the first language I learned was Welsh. I am married to a Catholic from Belfast. Before I left infant school the UK had joined the European Union as we now call it. I am happy to embrace the multiple identities of being Welsh, British, and European.”

He made these comments in an article for Comment is Free on the Guardian website. In the article he also reaffirmed his commitment to campaigning for a yes vote on law-making powers for Wales, in the referendum promised in the One Wales coalition agreement with Plaid Cymru. He also says that victory in that referendum is more likely to be secured after the General Election if Welsh Labour has fully considered and digested the report collectively.