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The Welsh Devolution Debate
10 September 1997
Wales In Europe
Debate today turned to the position of Wales in Europe. An Assembly would not have direct access to the Council of Ministers, where regional grants are allocated and farmers fear that Welsh agriculture could suffer as a result. Labour MP for Llanelli, Denzil Davies joined the discussion, saying that the White Paper was "crushingly silent" on who will represent Wales. Yes campaigners argue that an Assembly would give Welsh farmers a stronger voice in Brussels. Ieaun Wyn Jones, Plaid Cymru MP for Ynys Mon said that Wales would be better able to lobby in Europe with its own devolved Assembly.
Poll Says Result Too Close To Call
A poll by ICM published in the Guardian newspaper found that 37% of voters would vote "Yes" on September 18, while 36% would vote "No". 27% said that they had not yet decided how they would vote. According to this poll those who oppose plans for a Welsh Assembly are more likely to vote than those who are in favour and a low turnout would lead to a "No" vote. Welsh Secretary Ron Davies expressed scepticism about the poll, which questioned 502 people, saying it "runs counter to all the experience we are having here in Wales"
Ted Rowlands Says Not All Opponents Are Tories
Ted Rowlands condemned the tendency of the "Yes" campaign to paint all opponents of the government plans as allies of the Tories. The Labour MP for Merthyr and Rhymney himself intends to vote yes, but described the portrayal of opponents as friends of Thatcher as a disgraceful slur on committed members of the party.
A New Kind of Politics
Yes campaigners in Swansea today said an Assembly would bring a new kind of politics, giving women and ethnic minorities a bigger role in the political process.
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