Counting down
I've been outside the Cardiff Bay bubble. I said I might be some time and I was ... but I'm back blogging and am back, for now, in the Senedd bubble. In my absence two rounded studios have been erected on platforms outside - not, as my colleague Vaughan Roderick points out, in tribute to Jane Russell - but to house the temporary studios from where we'll be broadcasting on Friday.
So where are we?
The polls - the latest by YouGov for ITV's Y Byd ar Bedwar last night - give the Yes camp a twenty per cent lead over No. In other words, next to nothing has changed in terms of the polls since the campaign began. The Yes lead over No hasn't closed.
The bookies, Ladbrokes among them, appear to have had a fallow time. You'd think we were in tough economic times. One punter "has taken a patriotic plunge" and put a five figure sum on a Yes result. You'd frankly need to have five figures to spare to squeeze much money out of odds of 10/1. If you have that sort of money burning in your pocket, I'd better warn you the odds have since been cut to 1/16. It's 6/1 if you want to bet on a No victory, though even the bookies warn you "the odds are now starting to make a 'yes' result look like a formality."
They weren't accepting any of that on Blackwood high street this morning. Despite it becoming very obvious in the past week that True Wales are being outgunned by the better backed and better resourced Yes for Wales, despite there being little sign of True Wales campaigning outside their "heartland" of the South East, as the tireless Nigel Bull put it this morning, despite the odds and despite the polls, they remain convinced that there will be every sign of support for their cause on Thursday. Support? Yes. Victory? Few now believe that's likely.
Throughout the campaign there's been the promise of a "name" coming out in support of the No camp, a name that might sway some Labour voters who feel they ought to vote Yes out of party loyalty but who really want to vote No. I suspect we'll hear from one "name" at least before too long and I suspect few will be surprised by who it is. As a colleague put it, prepare for a split in the Papal Knight vote.
Another "name" has had an almost miraculous change of heart in the past few days.
On the first of our debate programmes Russell Goodway described himself as "unconvinced". Anyone who watched the programme from Aberystwyth would have been in no doubt that the former Labour leader of Cardiff Council was very, very, very unconvinced. But now he's not. Now he's going to vote Yes.
One AM rang him in fury after the programme. She'd fallen off her chair in shock when she'd heard him. He'd caused a "furore". I'm prepared to bet the conversion happened - not on the road to Damascus - but somewhere on the A470, while Mr Goodway was on his way home from Labour's conference in Llandudno last weekend. Some party members sensed what they described as "panic" at the seaside, a concern that if the vote is lost on Thursday, Labour will be blamed for not getting their vote out. For what it's worth the same voices question the need for panic and think the vote will be a Yes but that "it's tribal politics that will drive it through, not conviction".
Back to Blackwood high street.
The inflatable pig, which comes from China, deflated before my eyes this morning. It needed a quick roadside AI job with a pump before it could continue on its journey. why a pig, I asked? Because of the Animal Farm connotations, apparently. We're all equal, except some are more equal than others, perhaps. Politicians setting out to try and do the right thing but in the end, doing more harm than good. That was the idea. Power corrupting. True Wales believe Assembly Members have failed to deliver for the rest of us and so, they don't deserve a stronger grip on the levers of power.
And for the record, True Wales want you to vote. They want you to vote NO. They don't want you to stay at home so that a low turnout calls into question the legitimacy of the result. I say that because there was a suggestion this morning that one of their number had been calling on voters to abstain. They've roundly denied it, pointing out that they've always labelled Thursday "Vote No" day. Anyway, there's no point asking people to abstain, said a friend's Mum this morning. "People are too apathetic to abstain".
So what of Yes for Wales?
The party leaders are heading out now to hand leaflets to shoppers in Cardiff, near the Castle where their vote Yes message was projected last night. They're in trouble with the Assembly Commission for bathing the Senedd in the same image without prior permission ... now where have I heard that phrase before.
Labour leader Ed Miliband is making the most of St David's Day. Celebrate it by voting Yes on Thursday, "so that people in Wales can have more say over their economic development; more freedom over housing decisions; more control over their thriving culture, and more say over the historic buildings that bring people from around the world to visit Wales". Not exactly pithy enough to be on a Welsh lady tea towel but you get his drift.
Bottom line: Yes campaigners are quietly confident that the vote will be won. Two to one with a low turnout is a figure I've heard more than once. It took 500,000 to win in 1997. A low turnout means the winner could take it all with as few as 300,000 votes this time. If Plaid, Labour and the Lib Dems can't deliver that, then prepare for a very long inquest. If they can, prepare for a very quick gear change to pre-election hostilities.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~12~RS~)
I'm Betsan Powys, BBC Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on 
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
No Betsan, the Yougov poll for Y Byd ar Bedwar showed a margin of 34% (67% to 33%) in favour of a Yes. That's a lot more than 20%, and shows that the arguments of the No campaign are crumbling.
MH @ Syniadau
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Its a bit rich for True Wales to be asking the Yes supporters to apologise to the Assembly Commission for the light show on the buidling. After all a majority of their supporters want to see the Assembly Commission staff on the dole and only last week they carried a pig around the same building to symbolise (in a vulgar way) all those who worked in the Senedd
I will vote yes because I want to see a more democratic (elected representatives from Wales voting on Welsh issues), less bureaucratic (no need for MPs and unelected peers from all over the UK from the houses of Parliament in Westminster to agree every time a request for law making powers is made) and cheaper (estimates that a Yes will save 2 million pounds a year) form of government – and mo more than what presently happens in the rest of the British Isles – Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey , Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Those in the no camp are made up of True Wales, UKIP and the BNP. And for their part they appear to only scaremonger and search for arguments that have nothing to do with the question being asked on Thursday.
What I have found most disturbing about the No campaign is the intemperate and extreme language used by them, for example:
• In December 2010 the lead No campaign group True Wales had to take racist statement s down from their website.
• in February 2011 True Wales had to take down homophobic remarks on their Twitter site that were condemned by Stonewall Cymru.
• in 2010 True Wales’ leader Rachel Banner attempted to ferment divisions between Welsh and English language speakers by saying that their (True Wales’) Welsh language speaking supporters could face a “backlash” (there has been no backlash and she has not had the common decency to apologise for this outrageous remark).
• Prominent No campaigner Len Gibbs contributes to the website of another No alliance groups - Christian Doctrine. FYI Christian Doctrine make the BNP look liberal. Prominent No campaigner Len Gibbs contributes to the website of another No alliance groups - Christian Doctrine. FYI Christian Doctrine make the BNP look liberal. Go onto their website to view their views on sexuality, Aids and global warming. Be warned I didn't know such viewpoints were still held outside extreme Christian right in the USA - they are truly appalling and shocking.
By the way the dirty secret that the BNP were in the No camp is something True Wales have been trying to hide. On 21/12/10 Len Gibbs (he who now writes for the extremist Christian Doctrine cabal) said on the "Wales Home" website “As to BNP… when we (True Wales) met with the Electoral Commission we included in our list BNP as favouring a ‘yes’ vote”. Maybe True Wales should go back to the Electoral Commission and update them on their new No campaign allies?
Vote against nationalism - don't let the UKIP and BNP win - vote Yes.
Complain about this comment
'The polls - the latest by YouGov for ITV's Y Byd ar Bedwar last night - give the Yes camp a twenty per cent lead over No.'
Erm.....
Yes 67%
No 33%
67%-33% = 34%
Back to school, I think!
Complain about this comment
Okay the odds are against the No vote winng, but if the Yes campaign wins then you can bet your bottom dollar that the AMs will put in for another pay rise for their new responsibilities as they did in 2006. Their payrise then was over 8% which was back dated to 1997.
At the same time the social services and the Welsh NHS were going down hill and they hit the buffers in 2011. And now the social services and the Welsh NHS which people depend on are way behind most other regions of Britain and floundering while people have to wait on the longest waiting lists in Brtain for treatment.
And the Welsh ambulance service, again a service which people depend on, is second rate compered to the other regions of Britain.
Give them more powers? Surely not. Only "Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" and Nationalists with a vested interest in voting yes will vote yes.
Complain about this comment
No 5 - If you say something enough it does not come true - This was reported on the BBC website last November
"Members of the Welsh assembly have agreed a pay freeze for four years after the assembly election next May.
It was already known AMs would face a two-year freeze in line with all public servants earning over £21,000 per year.
The assembly's remuneration board welcomed the decision, saying it would save the equivalent of £1m over the next four years allowing for inflation".
Complain about this comment
I don't know how you got away with #4, Bryn. I said the same thing in #1 and it was referred to the moderator.
Complain about this comment
Did I hear correctly - True Wales was saying in Blackwood that hundreds of people supported their view while they had only found a handful in favour of a yes vote?
Complain about this comment
BNP, UKIP, True Wales ...what more is there to say?
(Strangely enough I don't think I've seen that line-up mentioned by the BBC)
Complain about this comment
To be fair to True Wales - they can't help who else supports them, though you can say that Len's linking to that Christian Fundamentalist group was more than casual. I don't think the bulk of True Wales' membership would have any truck with fascists. Though they have not fought a fair or clean fight. Of course they would say with the odds stacked against them they had to use the tools at their disposal.
Complain about this comment
#10
I simply listed the organisations campaigning for a No vote. To me it speaks volumes. Others can draw their own conclusions.
Moreover, I haven't heard of a True Wales spokesperson distancing the group from any neo-fascist support or involvement. I don't know to what extent, if any, there has been collaboration between them.
'.. with the odds stacked against them they had to use the tools at their disposal'
If that includes making a mockery of the democratic process, then what price winning an election, let alone a referendum?
Complain about this comment
I agree with you Bryn_Teilo, their tactics smacked of desperation. Their campaign was not to campaign on the issues, just attacking the executive and essentially lying about any point. Most of True Wales want the Assembly abolished.
Complain about this comment
"Okay the odds are against the No vote winng, but if the Yes campaign wins then you can bet your bottom dollar that the AMs will put in for another pay rise for their new responsibilities as they did in 2006. Their payrise then was over 8% which was back dated to 1997."
That's a neat trick, considering none of them were elected until 1999. Of course, you might just be making the whole thing up...............
Complain about this comment
Since the BNP is,(in spite of it's previous position of supporting a federal Britain, with a law making welsh parliament) supporting a NO vote; if, on Friday, the BNP returns to it's former position and suports full federalism, will they then will the BNP be lined up with the pliad cymru, welsh labour, welsh liberals etc. ?
Complain about this comment
What tosh, it's blatantly obvious that TW doesn't have the resources to mount an effective physical campaign against the "Yes" group of organisations, it just doesn't have the money, but what it does have is an agenda and lots of support that will hold it in good stead for the future, a new political force for the future maybe.
The BNP and UKIP, when speaking of strange bedfellows, there is nothing stranger that a conservative sharing a political duvet with Plaid Cymru, an alliance that will in the future return to bite many politicians on the derrière.
... whether the No or Yes vote is successful there is a battle royal ahead because the public have discovered the failings of the Welsh Assembly and associated executive, they have also discovered how to mount a campaign, how to join forces.
... for myself, the future will be to hold the politicians to account, not a difficult job considering the recent deceitful outpourings, do you need examples ....
Complain about this comment
7. At 9:07pm on 01 Mar 2011, MH at Syniadau wrote:
I don't know how you got away with #4, Bryn. I said the same thing in #1 and it was referred to the moderator.
Awww, poor you!!!
Complain about this comment
TW No campaign is like the yes campaign a mixture of all sorts across the political spectrum.
It was said by Betsan after Friday the 4 parties will be at each other in election mode.
Well there were 17% in that poll who favour abolition, I accept the vast majority most probably support one of the main 4 parties, however if a TW style group cannot hold the assembly to account, I suspect UKIP will be very interested in that 17%, and it is time there was an AM who is not part of the bay establushment [sic] to hold them to account.
They were not far off a regional seat before, if a good number of that 17% support them in the regional vote, who knows they might make it this time
Complain about this comment
No 10 - I agree that "True Wales - they can't help who else supports them".
Howwever, remember this:
1. It is True Wales who have constantly pointed to the Yes campaign and said that it is a road to Independence because of those around the campaign who support Independence. So it is fair enough for those in the Yes campaign to point the No campaign and wonder what their true beliefs are when they have the BNP and UKIP on their side.
2. It is a fact that Len Gibbs is helping out with the Christian Doctrine website.
3. It is a fact that the far-right, anti-EU UKIP have played a prominent part in the No campaign.
4. Bringing to people's attention the TRUTH that the BNP are backing a No vote is only debunking the line put out by True Wale themselves (to slur the Yes campaign) that the BNP were backing a Ye vote. On 21/12/10 Len Gibbs said on the "Wales Home" website “As to BNP… when we (True Wales) met with the Electoral Commission we included in our list BNP as favouring a ‘yes’ vote”.
Complain about this comment
#17 wrote:
'...No campaign is... ....a mixture of all sorts across the political spectrum.'
Oh yes, right the way across from neo-fascists to 'little Englanders'!
Complain about this comment
I've deliberately watched proceedings with great interest and great frustration from the sidelines. My gravest concern is that in the past month two people who know that I have political leanings have mentioned the Referendum to me. A newsagent who is undecided and a colleague who wanted to know how she should vote (!). I have received no literature through my door at all in relation to the Referendum - from anyone. I haven't seen a single banner or window poster along the entire length of the Swansea Valley where I live but shock and horror yesterday a Yes poster appeared on the main road outside my office. However if you take the results of tweets and facebook comments as a measure then every day countless people, often elected members, have had a "really good day campaigning in (town name)..".
I also think a good measure of public interest is what are people discussing on public transport, cafes and pubs. I regularly use all three and am yet to hear a single mention of the event.
Despite tomorrow's result I think there needs to be deep analysis by all parties of how messages are conveyd and the public are engaged in decision making at all levels. The Yes group are bound to be triumphant in gaining the result they want but in my mind this campaign has been a complete flop. There are reasons such as the lack of official status etc but in reality, on this final day, I don't think most people are aware of the referendum, and if they are then apathetic to or uncertain of its importance. And I will be voting Yes of course.
Complain about this comment
5. At 8:22pm on 01 Mar 2011, Fitzmark2 wrote:
“...... if the Yes campaign wins then you can bet your bottom dollar that the AMs will put in for another pay rise for their new responsibilities.... “
Can we put this to bed? The AMs do not decide on their own pay rates, they are set by an independent body over which the AMs have no control. Didn’t you hear Carwyn on Betsan’s programme Monday?
Complain about this comment
#20
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
It’s a serious issue. In my opinion a review of the relevant legislation is required. It needs to be amended to ensure that this state of affairs doesn’t happen again.
I know that Yes for Wales (I’m not a member of it) has distributed a vast number of leaflets through voluntary effort across the length and breadth of Wales – I’ve received one – but in the timescale involved I would imagine it to be a near impossible task to cover all the households in the country.
I’ve not had any communication from the No side. I did see a red 'March 3 No' sticker on the back of a speed camera near my home yesterday. Someone will have to be paid out of public funds to remove it.
It should not be possible for electoral legislation to be abused or misused to the advantage or disadvantage of one side or the other. I can’t imagine that Parliament envisaged a referendum without two lead campaigns – but to not make allowance for such a situation was poor legislative drafting.
The Electoral Commission has distributed information about the referendum and the question on the voting ballot paper, but that is of no help to the undecided on how to vote on what is really a technical issue – not whether legislative powers should be devolved, but how they will be devolved or continue to be devolved.
The electorate has had to be largely reliant on the media, particularly the BBC which has held three debates broadcast at 10.25 pm - far to late for most people. It has attempted to hold the ring on the issues in a manner which I feel has been less than satisfactory. However, that’s the situation we’re in.
I’m glad you’re voting Yes, because the alternative of abstaining or voting No will not help improve the status and governance of Wales one jot. The vast majority of our elected representatives are sending us the message that it’s time to move on from the current frustrating legislation by instalment process, and I agree.
Complain about this comment
I have not had anything from the Electoral Commission, I imagine the mailing has missed a few other people as well. True Wales may not have been able to print the leaflets for the free mail shot if they had gone for official status, and if that is so then the rules need to be amended to permit the electoral commission to fund both a yes and no leaflet as well as a neutral one from themselves. True Wales deliberately made the campaign a non event. Their motives may have been mixed, but the effect is clear for all to see.
Complain about this comment
You might believe the Yes campaigns spin but I don't. Human nature being what it is I still stand by my assertion that following a Yes win the Ams will put in for an increase in pay for their new responsibilities in the next two or three years.
And I would gambol that the pay increase will be back dated to when their new responsibilities began.
In 1997 the Secretary of State for Wales, Ron Davies, assured the House of Commons that there would be no need for a new Assembly building, no increase in bureaucracy, and no more civil servants. But what did they do when they "won" the referendum? They went on a spending spree to promote their pet projects at the expense of the NHS and the social services. And that is a damnable fact. It is not something I am making up.
Now the Yes campaign is saying (I've heard them) that all they need is more power and more money and they'll put right what they put wrong. You just couldn't make them up. What is needed in Wales is a satirist of the stature a Tom Lehrer to show them in their true colours.
All together now, remeber 1997: sharpen your pencils lets be jolly, brother here we go again.
Complain about this comment
20/22/23
Isn't the reason why we haven't had any literature because the NO campaign refused to campaign officialy.
Therefore preventing and depriving both sides obtaining finance for the campaign from the Electoral Commision.
A very devious and undemocratic stunt by the NO campaigners which might very well backfire on them.
Complain about this comment
23. At 10:35am on 02 Mar 2011, Lyn David Thomas wrote:
“True Wales deliberately made the campaign a non event.“
I think they played the hand they had. They couldn’t afford a Wales wide leaflet, even given the free delivery. They didn’t have the bodies to compete in canvassing, because they are a very small pressure group. They knew that the BBC had to treat both arguments equally in coverage and that the press, though not bound to, would also give them coverage.
For a small group, almost exclusively from the South East, they did what they could with what they had. Their arguments were almost exclusively based on FUD (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) a well known tactic in spin doctoring.
Ultimately they have no logical arguments, because what they really want, is to do away with the Assembly and that isn’t an option on the ballot paper, and it wouldn’t win even if was there.
Complain about this comment
#24
Your assertion is incorrect.
Assembly Members are already scrutinising primary legislation and have been for three to four years. In addition they’re dealing with the frustrating LCO procedures which shuttle back and forth between Cardiff and Westminster.
Their pay and allowances are handled by an independent body and moreover AMs have agreed a pay freeze for four years from next May, saving £1 million.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11746026
Wales’ MPs are to be reduced by twenty-five percent from forty to thirty. Their workload will be reduced by a Yes vote, allowing them to more effectively concentrate on representing us at Westminster.
Whichever way the vote goes tomorrow Parliament will retain a great deal of power over what happens in Wales, much more so than in Scotland. Rail electrification is an example, as is what happened at the Passport Office at Newport and the so-called Defence Academy at St. Athan.
Wales needs a strong voice at Westminster and a strong Assembly to ensure the best deal for Wales and its people.
Complain about this comment
#1,2 + 4
I'd never make many claims for my maths as you know but ... on this occasion I was following advice and being consistent. Rather than reporting the figures based only on those who said they were certain to vote (high at 56% in this instance and spelled out by Bryn_Teilo at #4) we stuck with reporting the figures based on everyone who responded, which is around the 20% lead mark and consistent with virtually all polls over the past year or more.
Complain about this comment
Just one day to go.
Having read some of the comments of the true wales supporters, the choice tommorrow is simple.
Vote Yes for Wales,
or
Vote no for a greater England.
I will vote yes for Wales
Complain about this comment
#28
To be fair, you could have made that clear in your lead comment, and quoted the figures you were using - otherwise it risked giving a false impression.
Complain about this comment
Fitzmark2 its not spin, the spin originates with the No campaign. The fact is that AMs have frozen their pay for the next 4 years and that pay is decided by an independent commission. To insist on it being otherwise is dishonest.
Yes Ron Davies said there would be no new building, that was an assumption based on Russel Goodway being reasonable and releasing Cardiff City Hall at the valuation given by the valuers. Given that he was holding the then Secretary of State over a barrel what else was to be done?
For all their faults the Welsh Assembly Government (note not the National Assembly) have improved the Health Service, if you don't believe it have a look at how things were before, far worse than they are now.
Complain about this comment
#24
I think a 'gambol' says it all.
Yes for a big turnout and yes for a big Yes.
Odd how all the No brigade used to be so confident of victory, but that line has gone a bit quiet.
What matters is not what some Peers of the Realm want (last time it was Viscounts Against Wales, this time some obscure MP who got his long service seat) or my favourite, Sir Eric Howells (he reminds me of Monty Python - 'We are the Knights that say no!') but the people.
Complain about this comment
Glyndo,
I submitted and foi to ask if this "freezing" was just in the bank or on actual pay rates on the pay roll, ie when the freeze period is over will their pay automatically jump by fours years frozen pay, not subject to foi was the basic reply.
Now regardless to your comment to Fitz, I guarantee you when this "freeze" is over, the next pay rise will have a huge element of additional pay for the addtitional responsibilities, and yes i did see carwyn.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
33. At 12:54pm on 02 Mar 2011, Nospin wrote:
“I guarantee you when this "freeze" is over, the next pay rise will have a huge element of additional pay for the addtitional responsibilities”
I refer you to FUD. (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) this is a classic case. Who knows what the situation will be in four years time?
AMs are considerably cheaper, as a commodity, than MPs. Their salaries make up a miniscule portion of the Assembly budget. Why are you making such a fuss?
One of the NO vote arguments is/was that AMs were of poor quality and another is/was that we shouldn’t pay them any more money. Peanuts and monkeys spring to mind.
The NO arguments are riddled with logical inconsistencies. The greatest of which was “The Assembly’s not working very well so we shouldn’t change it.” I noticed Rachel Banner desperately rowing backwards from that one on Betsan’s programme on Monday night.
Complain about this comment
Re 31
Oh yes Lyn. Before the inception of the Assembly in 1997 the whole world was sad and weary, nothing worked. But then the Nationalist/Yes Campaign shouted "Let there be light". Miraculously it came to pass that the policies of the Assembly over the following years produced the most amazing transformation of every facet of Welsh life. Pull the other one…
The Nationalist/Yes Fantasy is contradicted by every social policy research organisation in the land that you would care to name. They have shown that the Welsh economy is now, post devolution, the least healthy and the least competitive of all the regions of Britain. And the most damning of all are the stats relating to child poverty, to homelessness, and health matters in Wales.
Asking for more powers at a time like this is some sort of perverse joke.
Complain about this comment
This from the Guardian today. How very true.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/28/anti-state-right-welsh-idiots
Complain about this comment
Where are the delightful Kinnocks, it is unusual for them to be so quiet.
Complain about this comment
38
Or more to the point the Three Ks; Lord K, Lady K and Kim
Complain about this comment
36
Alas this arguement suffers from one wee but fatal contradiction.
F2 maintains that Scotland and Northern Ireland are doing better than Wales.
Agreed - they have law making bodies and Wales does not.
It can be pretty robustly argued that England has its own Parliament, a splendid place called Westminster Palace.
So, the only part of the UK without law making powers is doing worst of all.
This is the final and conclusive reason to vote Yes.
Complain about this comment
Paul Matthews apparently posted this on Facebook a few days ago:
"ABSTAIN ON THURSDAY! Let's deprive this "referendum" of any legitimacy - by securing an abysmal turnout - then start the campaign to ABOLISH THE ASSEMBLY on Friday!"
Only Rachel Banner is bothering to keep up the pretense of wanting a "better" devolution.
So much for the integrity and honesty of True Wales.
Complain about this comment
No one will deny that things are not perfect, however we have made progress since devolution in absolute terms. Now if the no side are so complacent in their belief in myths let them say otherwise. Waiting lists are still high, but are far lower than pre devolution.
Complain about this comment
Here are the latest results from the YouGov tracking poll: If there were to be a referendum tomorrow on giving the National Assembly for Wales increased law-making powers, how would you vote?
2 March 23 February 26 January
Yes 61 58 49
No 28 29 26
Don’t know/wouldn’t vote 12 13 26
32 years and two days after the debacle of '79, things are set fair for Wales's belated coming of age.
I don't think we will see much of a campaign to abolish the Assembly on Friday...
Complain about this comment
#41
Paul Matthews of True Wales has told us that the Facebook account where voters were urged to abstain may be in his name but isn't his. He's urged everyone to vote tomorrow and to vote no.
Complain about this comment
44 - Thanks for that Betsan. It's good to know that - the more votes the merrier, all round!
Complain about this comment
#44
May I, with respect, ask why you feel obliged to relay this particular message from an individual who is at liberty to speak for himself here?
Your relaying of the second part of his message to you seems a breach of the BBC's impartiality. He is at liberty to put that case himself.
Complain about this comment
I would make a few observations about the referendum tomorrow, so far, in work, the pub, the shops etc. I have not heard anyone discussing or mentioning the referendum. I wait to be proved wrong when the turnout for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney (or is it the Merthyr County Borough, even I don't know what the electoral division will be) is greater than 30% !
Are the No campaign going around Wales and Monmouthshire whipping up apathy ?
Also, just think, folk who will vote will vote Yes, those who can be bothered will certainly win it for Yes....
Complain about this comment
47 - And so it begins - After being humiliated on Friday, Untrue Wales will say that only Yes supporters actually voted and the apathetic masses all wanted to vote No...
This was their whole strategy all along in avoiding responsibility for No campaign. They knew they had lost before they started so instead have tried to discredit the result.
Well the people of Wales are not stupid. They know what is good for them - and will be voting YES tomorrow
Complain about this comment
Re 18.
3. It is a fact that the far-right, anti-EU UKIP have played a prominent part in the No campaign.
Yes they have harri, and don't forget that UKIP came second to the Conservatives in several seats on the eastern border in the European elections.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS