 Bill Wiggin's party plans to cut the number of Welsh constituencies |
Conservative Bill Wiggin says his party's plans for another referendum on devolution show the Tories trust the judgement of the people of Wales. He cited NHS waiting lists as evidence the Welsh assembly was not working and said the Conservatives were "committed to giving people a choice".
The shadow Welsh secretary said the absence of any Tory MPs in Wales since 1997 had "not done Wales any good".
"I think it's something the electorate will put right on 5 May," he added.
The Conservatives have promised to offer three options on the future of the assembly: the status quo, greater powers, or abolition.
They would also cut the number of constituencies in Wales if they gain power.
Mr Wiggin, speaking on BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme, said the number of Welsh seats would drop from 40 to 26 if Wales voted to keep its assembly.
But seats would only be cut to 33 if the assembly was abolished.
"The first role of devolution is that it should have a benefit for the people of Wales," said Mr Wiggin.
"If (they) don't feel that benefit is theirs, then they must have the option to abolish the assembly.
"If they are delighted with it, then they have the option of further powers. If they like it they way it is, they have the option of leaving it alone.
"I believe that local decision-making in the way that the assembly was supposed to deliver benefits to the people of Wales, certainly when it comes to health, that's not happening," he added.
 Conservative leader Michael Howard is from Llanelli |
"I don't know why people have a problem with trusting the judgement of the people of Wales.
"What's so worrying about letting them have more choice?"
Mr Wiggin rebutted claims that the Conservatives had become an "irrelevance" in Wales after not having a Welsh MP for eight years.
"I think that actually not having any MPs in Wales hasn't done Wales any good. I think it's a great shame," he said.
When questions were raised about half the Tory candidates in Wales being from outside the country, Mr Wiggin responded: "If you look at the candidates that we have put on you will see David Davies, Alun Cairns and Jonathan Morgan.
"They are all assembly members standing. What could be more Welsh than that?
"We have got to be a little bit more upbeat and look forward, rather than dwell on the past," he said.
"You don't start any election with votes in the bank.
"Everybody has to vote to get any sort of electoral result, so this election will be a fresh start for Wales and an opportunity to correct historical imbalances."
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We have got to be a little bit more upbeat and look forward
