The rumour mill is now solidly predicting a "go for it" style message from the All Wales Convention when it gives its report on November 18th. The flaws of the Convention have been well documented, but it does seem that the Parry-Jones report will provide an accurate and comprehensive picture of how things stand. There has also been genuine public inolvement, though limited.
As John Dixon and others have noted, it won't really matter what noises the Labour leadership candidates make about the report, as all three of them are signed up to fulfil the One Wales pact and will not want to destabilise the Welsh Government. Even Huw Lewis might have a chance to bust the anti-devolutionist "myths" that he has acknowledged affecting his candidacy by championing a "Yes" campaign. Becoming the leader of Wales and leading the nation to direct law-making powers is a prospect that could see the currently unknown Merthyr backbencher become a statesman of considerable stature.
Ramblings takes issue with Gareth Hughes' charge that Carwyn Jones is lukewarm on a referendum- in Jones' latest article in the Agenda journal he clearly spells out the need not only for law-making powers but for an independent Welsh legal system. His credibility, and Plaid's support if he was First Minister, would disappear if he did a u-turn against the democratic will of the people of Wales.
Of course, the opinion of Labour's MPs in Wales is even more important. They will be looking to preserve their own careers and generous lifestyles by blocking Wales from making progress.
At the same time, the divisions within the Labour Party in Wales are very apparent. Leading "True Wales" figure Cllr David Rees, who probably doesn't even believe there should be an Assembly at all, is rumoured to have been selected as Labour candidate for the Labour-held seat Aberavon at the 2011 Assembly Election.
Update- the rumours have been confounded. It is in fact an Aberavon-based Dave Rees who has been selected, rather than the Risca-based "True Wales" nut.
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wrong David Rees - not the True Wales one
Not quite. Dave Rees, Caerffili Councillor, lives in Crosskeys and is one of the leading figures in True Wales (and "nomorepowers" on Betsan's blog, by the way).
David Rees has been chosen as next Assembly Labour candidate for Aberafan. He lives in Cwmafan, is Assistant Dean of Faculty at Swansea Metropolitan University, and secretary of the Aberafan CLP.
This is the same Dave Rees who recently placed a petition on the Downing Street website saying that any supporters of Welsh Independence should be jailed for treason!!!!!!!
Wrong David Rees
Wales is getting very confused - you're getting your David Rees-es confused. And I am getting very confused - I was listening to the newspaper review on Post Cyntaf this morning and I'm sure they were reviewing yesterday's papers...Cymru heddiw ddoe...
My apologies to the Cwmafan David Rees. I was initially surprised that Labour could have picked the Cross Keys David Rees for anything....
"Dave Rees, Caerffili Councillor, lives in Crosskeys and is one of the leading figures in True Wales (and "nomorepowers" on Betsan's blog, by the way)."
Do you mean to say that one of the sane and rational commentators on Betsan's blog are poltico's with an axe to grind?
And I thought they were all just ordinary members of the public who have simply had enough of being oppressed by our Welsh speaking NATIONALIST overlords ;-)
For the record ........
Cllr Dave Rees campaigned tirelessly for a devolution yes vote in Wales and believes that the Assembly needs to grow into a far more mature decision making institution before it is rewarded with further law making powers.
To further disappoint many of your extreme, will say anything contributors on here ... I absolutely believe in freedom of speech and would never solicit such views as deplorably promoted by Penddu on here. Many of you will know that Martin Shipton reported the petition as an hoax and the Labour Party are currently pursuing the spineless person who posted the petition.
Finally, I would ask Penddu to personally contact me at my council email repeating his false accusations and we can all find out the TRUTH via the courts. Somehow I don't think he will.
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