‘Time for Wales to step forward’

Mar 11 2008 by David Williamson, Western Mail

PLAID Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones last night launched an attack on “an alliance of anti-devolution Labour and Tory MPs” he accused of seeking to undermine moves towards a fully lawmaking Welsh Parliament.

Launching his party’s local election campaign in Pontypridd, the Deputy First Minister insisted Wales was, “a confident, forward-looking nation, ready to take the next step forward in our development”.

Mr Jones called on those MPs who voted for the Act which made provision for a referendum on a full law-making parliament, to join in the campaign for a successful outcome. And he reiterated the commitment in the One Wales coalition deal between Labour and Plaid that both parties would campaign for a “yes” vote.

On the day the terms of reference for the All-Wales Convention that will examine the case for a referendum were agreed, Mr Jones told party members the campaign for a successful outcome was “a key pledge in the progressive agenda that the coalition government is delivering for the people of Wales”.

He added, “Compare this with the efforts to hold Wales back by the alliance of Conservatives and those Labour MPs who retain their anti-devolutionist credentials. What are they afraid of?

“Why not let the people of Wales decide who is more capable of making laws on their behalf? Is it the Plaid/ Labour coalition government in Wales or the likes of an English health minister who opposes our decision to scrap hospital parking charges and put people before profit?”

Welcoming the latest step in setting up the All-Wales Convention, Mr Jones said, “Of course we need to take the people of Wales with us – we need to have this debate. But let’s do exactly that.

“My message to the sceptics is: engage – don’t stand in the way.”

Mr Jones said Plaid was using its position in government to promote the Welsh language.

He acknowledged there was a “mountain to climb” to create a bilingual Wales but said, “I promise you that the new powers the One Wales Government has over Welsh, together with the new Welsh-medium education strategy, is proof that there is a commitment to tackle this.

“The presence of Plaid Cymru ministers at the Cabinet table in Wales means that Welsh-speakers will have linguistic rights for the first ever time.”