Yes campaign fear losing referendum next month

Cardiff politicians from the Yes for Wales campaign claimed there was a real risk of losing the March referendum last night.

Speaking at a public meeting at Chapter Arts centre, Cardiff, Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood said she feared the campaign's official designation could affect the poll turnout.

The decision of No campaigners True Wales not to seek lead campaign status has meant, under the rules of the Electoral Commission, neither group can be awarded offical status.

This means neither campaign is entitled to free media coverage and taxpayer funding, something its campaigners say is threatening to jeopardise their efforts.

Miss Wood said: “Turnout is going to be a big problem. A No vote will result in a reduction of status for Wales and could be seen as a vote of no confidence in Wales as a nation. It could be seen as the way Wales does politics. We may lose credit with countries outside the UK and may not be taken seriously in the future."

Mark Drakeford also voiced concerns over visibility issues. After and hour and a half campaigning in West Cardiff, he said: “It was a pretty sobering hour and a half, trying to find people who knew about the referendum.”

Losing official campaign status from the Electoral Commission has meant each campaign has lost out on £70,000 taxpayer funding and free media coverage.

Throughout the meeting donations were being collected in a hat and campaigners were asking for volunteers to help distribute leaflets.

Miss Wood admitted she was struggling to get excited about the campaign, but said complacency was the campaign's biggest fear.

She said: “The No campaign has been tapping into public fears, such as wasting public money and this is misinforming and negative."

Councillor Nigel Dix, a spokesman for the No campaign, refuted Miss Wood's comments and said: "We are providing an informative campaign without wasting tax-payers money, highlighting the private agenda of the Yes campaigners.


"I am confident the public will make the right decision on March 3."

The meeting was chaired by former First Minister Rhodri Morgan who voiced a different concern during the meeting.

He said: “Those who dislike any decision of the Welsh Assembly will be utilising the referendum to vote against them. This is much more dangerous than the No campaign.”

But Miss Wood said a Yes vote would speed up law making and reduce costs. She also criticised fears, made by No campaigners, which say Westminster powers to scrutinise Welsh legislation would be lost and told audience members Welsh MP’s within the Assembly would still have power to scrutinise laws.

Campaign Director Daran Hill was more optimistic and said the campaign was generally more supported compared to the 1997 referendum.

“The real grass roots, not the astro-turf, are voting Yes for Wales. When you talk to people on the street they can be easily won around.”

While Canton’s Labour Coun Ramesh Patel provoked a few laughs around the room. He said: “The message out there is simple. We know what law making powers we have got, we just have to remind people.

I was knocking on door and I said free prescriptions and they said: 'you're right, I’ll vote Yes.'”