Yes Campaign Must Get Going Now Convention Terms Are Set

12.00.00am GMT Thu 13th Mar 2008

Yes campaign must get going, now convention terms are set

Commenting on the publication of the long awaited terms of reference for the All Wales Convention,

Mike German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "After months and months of waiting and speculation, I'm amazed at how little these terms of reference tell us. How convenient that it has been published today - at the start of the Easter recess - when Ministers cannot be questioned on it.

"A convention born of fudge by Labour, seems to also fudge the key issue. Is the convention the pre-cursor to a yes campaign. Or is it completely independent of a yes campaign?

"The timetable - with the convention set to report by Christmas 2009 - makes it clear to me that we must start a yes campaign as soon as possible. If we wait until the convention is over, we could have less than a year to put the case for greater powers. The lesson of previous referendums is that you have to get organised if you want to win.

"My party wants an early referendum. We want devolution to go further and faster - that means getting on with it. The present system is like riding a bike with the brakes on. Sure, if you push hard enough the wheels go round, but if we could just take the brakes off, we could get Wales really going places."

Mr German repeated his call for a cross-party yes campaign, but warned that if Labour were unable or unwilling to join, he was willing to press ahead without them.

"I am writing to the other leaders this afternoon to re-iterate my desire for an early meeting to discuss a cross-party yes campaign. I hope Rhodri and Ieuan won't continue stalling, as they did when I first wrote.

"If the Labour Party are not ready, then I will propose that we start a yes campaign without them, leaving the door open for them to join later. If we fail to prepare for a successful referendum, then we will be preparing to fail the people of Wales."

Mr German also questioned whether the Convention would add anything to what was already known about devolution in Wales.

He added: "I am reserving judgement on whether the Welsh Liberal Democrats will contribute to the convention. At present I need to be convinced that it will do something for Wales and advance the cause of devolution. Welsh Liberal Democrats are the champions of devolution, I have always stressed my desire for Home Rule. But I will need to be persuaded that the convention will add anything to the work already done by the Richard Commission."