'True Wales' against more powers

David Rees is a Labour member of Caerphilly County Borough Council

The All Wales Convention has begun a series of public events to consider arguments for and against further powers for the Welsh assembly.

We asked two figures on either side of the devolution fence key questions to highlight the major issues as they see them.

First, David Rees from True Wales, which is campaigning against further Welsh devolution, explains why he believes people are listening to his message and calls for the poll to be held now to settle matters. Later, we will publish the views of Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins.

Why is your campaign so important to you?

Assembly Members from across the political spectrum, the Welsh media and the church hierarchy are all advocating devolution of full law-making powers. Furthermore, the All Wales Convention has been given �2.5m of taxpayers' money to persuade the Welsh people to vote for it. True Wales is determined to ensure that the debate is transparent and balanced.

What makes you believe many people will take notice of your efforts?

The spiralling costs of the assembly, in part caused by the inflation-busting 8.3% backdated pay rise, added to the expenses claimed by members, have made it easy for us to campaign on the doorstep and gain support from the Welsh public. The people are listening to us because, as a grassroots campaign, we are the only group arguing against this catastrophic slide towards independence.

If a referendum was carried out now what do you think the result would be and why?

True Wales believes there is no appetite for further devolution. In 1997, the projected cost of running the national assembly was estimated at �15m to �20m a year. In fact, administration costs alone, for the year 2006-07, totalled �364,937,000. The people of Wales don't want even more of their hard-earned taxes to go into the pockets of the ruling elite.

How democratic is it to hold a referendum only at a time when one side believes it can win?

True Wales believes devolution is already wasting millions of pounds

We would argue that this is entirely undemocratic. Predictably, the political elite, fearful that it has little chance of winning the vote, seems to be backtracking on the referendum promised in the One Wales Agreement. We are calling for a referendum now so that we can finally settle this debate and focus on health, education and the economy - issues that really matter to the people of Wales.

Would you be willing to support a referendum even if the evidence indicates you are likely to lose, in order to allow people's voices to be heard?

True Wales is committed to lobbying both the Welsh assembly and United Kingdom governments to honour the commitment to a referendum - which must be supervised by the Electoral Commission - regardless of the findings of the All Wales Convention or the self-interested concerns of the political elite.

If your arguments were to win a referendum would this settle the matter for a generation or more, or would you want further significant changes sooner?

True Wales believes that this would send a clear message to politicians that they must concentrate on using wisely the powers that they already have. Any further changes would be a matter for the people of Wales to decide.

What is the best example of success or failure under the current system to back your argument?

We didn't expect, at the inception of the assembly, that the Welsh Assembly Government, without consulting the people of Wales, would pursue LCOs (Legislative Competence Orders) that are damaging to the economy and our democracy. We would also argue that the scale of the rise in costs must be considered a failure.

What future do you foresee for the 40 Welsh MPs?

True Wales believes there should be no reduction in the current number of MPs. As a pro-active partner in the United Kingdom, Wales should not renounce its participation in British, European and world affairs through its elected Welsh MPs.

True Wales argues AMs should use their existing powers more effectively

What question do you think people should be asked in the vote?

"Do you believe that full law-making powers should be devolved to the National Assembly for Wales?"

True Wales also believes that, in order to achieve a democratic and decisive result, there should be a requirement that at least 40% of all voters give their consent to the devolution of further powers.

Should people have a chance to vote to abolish the assembly, in order to reflect views fully, and why?

The decision taken at the referendum will affect the lives of Welsh people for years to come. It is therefore imperative that their views, not the views of the self-interested political establishment and those under their patronage, are fully reflected in the questions asked on the ballot paper.

Should people also be able to vote for independence and why?

True Wales believes that the Welsh people do not wish to be taken further down the road to independence. They know that if the nationalists get their way, we would lose the �9.1bn that we receive as a result of being part of the United Kingdom. Therefore, it is imperative that the views of the Welsh people are allowed to be fully articulated via the ballot paper.

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