I think genuine progress has been made in that time, but the Assembly still suffers from a lack of clout and a lack of attention. I’m interested in politics and try and keep up to date with the news, but generally don’t hear much about what the Welsh Assembly Government is up to unless I go looking to find out. Your average “man on the street” probably hears even less. There’s a communication gap that needs to be bridged to engage people in what’s going on.
The Assembly’s powers are still very limited. I’m very glad of the progress so far, but for devolution to be really worthwhile, we need to go much further. Polls have suggested that around half of people in Wales support giving the Assembly law-making powers, which would need another referendum – a good basis for a “Yes” campaign.
These are both exciting and challenging times for the Welsh Assembly. There’s a good chance that we will have a new referendum after the next general election, which could lead to more independence for Wales. But there’s also the challenge of the current recession, and the financial pressure that brings. I’m cautiously optimistic about the future for the Assembly, and hope the next ten years will see it become increasingly effective in shaping the life of Wales for the better.
