Comments on: Referendum centre stage http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/ Independent analysis from and about Wales Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Illtyd Luke http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-12064 Illtyd Luke Wed, 26 May 2010 09:49:06 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-12064 In case anyone missed it, the Yougov May opinion poll has YES- 50.1% NO- 32.1% Consistent with all similar polls, but with the data collected at a very Westminster-centric time. In case anyone missed it, the Yougov May opinion poll has
YES- 50.1%
NO- 32.1%

Consistent with all similar polls, but with the data collected at a very Westminster-centric time.

]]> By: Ben Llwyd http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-11910 Ben Llwyd Mon, 24 May 2010 09:52:18 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-11910 Financier wrote Any question put to the electorate must not be ambigious and if it is ambiguous could be subject to a legal challenge. But the proposed quesiton is certainly not ambiguous (ie open to more than one meaning) whatever other criticism you have made of it. Anyway, as Lyn Thomas points out the Electoral Commission will have to apporve the question, which will make a legal challenge irrelevant. Financier wrote

Any question put to the electorate must not be ambigious and if it is ambiguous could be subject to a legal challenge.

But the proposed quesiton is certainly not ambiguous (ie open to more than one meaning) whatever other criticism you have made of it. Anyway, as Lyn Thomas points out the Electoral Commission will have to apporve the question, which will make a legal challenge irrelevant.

]]> By: Lyn Thomas http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-11838 Lyn Thomas Sat, 22 May 2010 06:38:25 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-11838 This is of course why we have the electoral commission involved. I would love to see everyone get three booklets through their doors, one for the electoral commission stating what is on offer and what it does, one from the no campaign saying what the disadvantages are and why we should vote no and one from the yes campaign stating the advantages and why we should vote yes. This is of course why we have the electoral commission involved. I would love to see everyone get three booklets through their doors, one for the electoral commission stating what is on offer and what it does, one from the no campaign saying what the disadvantages are and why we should vote no and one from the yes campaign stating the advantages and why we should vote yes.

]]> By: Financier http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-11825 Financier Fri, 21 May 2010 20:33:47 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-11825 Any question put to the electorate must not be ambigious and if it is ambiguous could be subject to a legal challenge. Any question put to the electorate must not be ambigious and if it is ambiguous could be subject to a legal challenge.

]]> By: Cerith Rhys Jones http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-11814 Cerith Rhys Jones Fri, 21 May 2010 13:41:52 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-11814 Devolution as it is, is a complex subject and one which, let's face it, not many people really understand. I do think that the question that the First Minister has proposed to Mrs Gillan sets out what this referendum is about, in the most plain of words; as is necessary. It will not be good for the Yes camp if the question posed is difficult and quite frankly, over-political; people just 'turn off'. They need to know, plain and simple, what the situation is now, and what the referendum is about, and as such, I do think that the question proposed by the First Minister is appopriate. Devolution as it is, is a complex subject and one which, let’s face it, not many people really understand. I do think that the question that the First Minister has proposed to Mrs Gillan sets out what this referendum is about, in the most plain of words; as is necessary. It will not be good for the Yes camp if the question posed is difficult and quite frankly, over-political; people just ‘turn off’. They need to know, plain and simple, what the situation is now, and what the referendum is about, and as such, I do think that the question proposed by the First Minister is appopriate.

]]> By: Ben Llwyd http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-11805 Ben Llwyd Fri, 21 May 2010 12:47:06 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-11805 Financier the question as proposed by the FM is an attempt to make a very complex subject comprehensible to ordinary electors, it's not an academic treatise on Assembly powers & certainly not loose or sloppy thinking Financier

the question as proposed by the FM is an attempt to make a very complex subject comprehensible to ordinary electors, it’s not an academic treatise on Assembly powers & certainly not loose or sloppy thinking

]]> By: Mal http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-11803 Mal Fri, 21 May 2010 11:21:02 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-11803 To most people the referendum won't be about the nuance of the question, and future powers, but a straight out vote on whether they want an Assembly or not. The nuance and detail will be only of interest to wonks and bloggers. If it becomes public domain it will only serve to annoy and put people off voting at all. So the sooner and cleaner it's sorted the better. If there is any political will it can be done in October. This is a very high stakes game being played and if it doesn't come off we risk the end of One Wales and the door left open for Westminster style ConDem coalition a scary prospect in mine and many others minds. To most people the referendum won’t be about the nuance of the question, and future powers, but a straight out vote on whether they want an Assembly or not.
The nuance and detail will be only of interest to wonks and bloggers. If it becomes public domain it will only serve to annoy and put people off voting at all. So the sooner and cleaner it’s sorted the better.
If there is any political will it can be done in October. This is a very high stakes game being played and if it doesn’t come off we risk the end of One Wales and the door left open for Westminster style ConDem coalition a scary prospect in mine and many others minds.

]]> By: Financier http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-11790 Financier Fri, 21 May 2010 05:14:25 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-11790 The question as posed by the First Minister is faulty and assumes knowledge by the electorate. It only gives examples of the devolved subjects as it says, "The devolved subjects include health and social services, housing, education and local government." Yet the question posed, "Do you want the Assembly to have the power now to pass laws on all the subjects which are devolved to Wales?" includes the word "all" - a word which has not been defined in the preamble. It is very probable that most of the electorate would not be able to list all the subjects that are devolved. On such an important matter, this is loose and sloppy thinking by the First Minister and gives rise to doubts about his capability for the post to which he has been elected. The question as posed by the First Minister is faulty and assumes knowledge by the electorate.

It only gives examples of the devolved subjects as it says, “The devolved subjects include health and social services, housing, education and local government.”

Yet the question posed, “Do you want the Assembly to have the power now to pass laws on all the subjects which are devolved to Wales?” includes the word “all” – a word which has not been defined in the preamble.

It is very probable that most of the electorate would not be able to list all the subjects that are devolved.

On such an important matter, this is loose and sloppy thinking by the First Minister and gives rise to doubts about his capability for the post to which he has been elected.

]]> By: Daran Hill http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-11781 Daran Hill Thu, 20 May 2010 18:16:29 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-11781 Nick Bourne has indeed blogged interestingly and positively about last night's meeting and the need to take the agenda forward http://nickbourneam.blogspot.com/2010/05/referendum.html Nick Bourne has indeed blogged interestingly and positively about last night’s meeting and the need to take the agenda forward
http://nickbourneam.blogspot.com/2010/05/referendum.html

]]> By: Bethan Jenkins AM http://waleshome.org/2010/05/referendum-centre-stage/comment-page-1/#comment-11777 Bethan Jenkins AM Thu, 20 May 2010 16:15:46 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=10821#comment-11777 thanks for your contribution to the event, Daran. It was a successful evening. I intend to blog in full about it at a later date, but it was fascinating to hear about experiences elsewhere, and top tips on referendum campaigns more generally. I hope now the ball will start rolling, and that we will have a referendum in October. We need assurances soon so that a formal Yes Campaign can be set up, and start pounding the streets of Wales. thanks for your contribution to the event, Daran. It was a successful evening. I intend to blog in full about it at a later date, but it was fascinating to hear about experiences elsewhere, and top tips on referendum campaigns more generally. I hope now the ball will start rolling, and that we will have a referendum in October. We need assurances soon so that a formal Yes Campaign can be set up, and start pounding the streets of Wales.

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