I haven't mentioned that this week I took part in a Monmouth Young Rotary Interviewee competition which was held at Newport Civic Centre on Monday evening. I had to give a short speech on Independence for Wales, and was subsequently grilled by 6 young people about Independence. There was a mixed reaction to my stance, but some of the people who attended did tell me that they managed to learn more about Nationalism in one session than they had in 20 years!
I really enjoyed the night, but found it quite odd that before the young people interviewed me they almost all laid their stall against Independence, so I was ready for a negative questioning session. Nick Partridge from ITV Wales, one of the judges also noted this, and advised that Journalists ( at least publicly anyway!) should remain neutral on their own personal political opinion. I hope that other AMs will take part in such opportunities in the future, as it inevitably gives young people experience in their chosen future profession.
On the same night I was harangued on Independence, Ieuan Wyn Jones launched the local Government election campaign in Pontypridd. The main focus of the evening was Ieuan's reference in his speech on a Referendum, and his challenge to the cynics in Labour and the Tories who are trying their very best to undermine the viability of the referendum, and the Convention. I have read Glyn Davies's blog on this issue, and I would like to say that while he is entitled to question whether or not a referendum will happen before or at 2011, I believe that this is a commitment within One Wales that must be to be kept to.
As far as I know, the establishing committee for the Convention has run smoothly, and does not reflect the negative remarks made by Paul Murphy, Don Touhig and others. We take these discussions seriously as a Party, naturally, and I believe that Sir Emyr will not want to waste time in his involvement in the Convention if there is an assumption against success in this area.
6 comments:
"I have read Glyn Davies's blog on this issue, and I would like to say that while he is entitled to question whether or not a referendum will happen before or at 2011, I believe that this is a commitment within One Wales that must be to be kept to."
As opposed to the comittments within One Wales that can be ignored? Is this a tacit admission that only certain sections of One Wales will be honoured?
"...I believe that this is a commitment within One Wales that must be to be [sic] kept to."
unlike other commitments, to a Welsh-language newspaper for example, which are thoroughly expendable, you mean?
I thought people would comment as such, but it misses the point. I am merely clarifying the point which people want to undermine, that we will not have a referendum before 2011. All of the matters in ONe wales are important otherwise they wouldn't be there.
OK Bethan, what are you going to do if they renege - which its obvious they will. What are you going to tell your members - those people you told that this was the key reason you decided to form a coalition with Rhodri Morgan's party.
As far as we are concerned that's the deal in One Wales. We are not considering that it is not going to happen. If the labour party want to undermine it then that is a matter for them, but if they don't honour the agreement, that is the end of the red-green coalition in my humble opinion.
Bethan paid a becso, this is just the tories trying to drive a wedge in to the relationship anyway that they can. After meeting with some "WELSH" labour ministers a few weeks ago they were all steam ahead for full legislative powers by 2011. The issue is that the Labout party is a large tent filled with individuals of different political bent when it comes to constitutional issues of the 'Union'.
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