Assembly, unairaid of criticisthe right-wing Doncies the current Labour government. The demand that women crucia in this respect.
Support for an Assembly is now almost universal on the left in Wales. A conference was held in Cardiff on July 19, entitled "Socialists and a Welsh Assembly".
The purpose of this event was to begin to develop a socialist agenda for a Welsh Assembly and to debate whetner cocialists Should c tor a YES vote in September. The conference was attended by activists from the Labour Party, Plaid Cymru, the Communist Party, unde unions. pensioners ano un employed workers' organisations and the far-left.
It was found that broad agreement existed on our approach to the Assembly and a statement, dubbed the "Cardiff Declaration", was The conference organisa0omco. ing committee is continuing to meena orcero bouce commonsing material under the slogan: "Socialists say YES!"
The NO campaign, after several shambolic false starts, has now found a sponsor in the form of Sir Julian Hodge, a multi-millionaire living in tax-exile in Jersey. He is joined by a few members of Rhondda Labour Party and by Lord Tonypandy - who supported the Referendum Party in the last election - and an assortment of other reactionaries.
These peonle share a common hatred for any expression of Welshness wnich goes beyona the stereotypical male voice choirs, leeks and rugby!
Their campaign consists of little more than scare-mongering - about The 1979 proposals were those of a deeply unpopular Labour administration, while the current proposals come on the back of a landslide Labour victorv. This is acknowedged in the present Labour emphasis on a Yes vote being a loyalty vote.
The creation of the quango state, and the economic and political marginalisation of Wales under the Tories, have fuelled support for a Welsh political institution, both to address the problems of the people of Wales and to promote Welsh interests in Ine tu. Ana crucially:
On the contrary the Labour leadership, the wales Labour farty and the Wales TUC are all calling for a Yes vote, while support in the labour movement for the NO campaign is weak and fragmented.
It is vital that socialists. in particular the Labour left, support the call for YES votes in Wales and Socialists in England must raise the issues within the English Labour and Trade Union movement. A victory in September will be a gain for the working class throughout the British state.