BBC Poll sees call for more Welsh powers.

The latest BBC poll  seems broadly in line with an earlier one conducted by ITV/Yougov

When asked . Which one of these statements comes closest to your view? The result from he 1000 respondents was......

• Wales should become Independent, separate from the UK 7%
• The Welsh assembly should have more powers than it currently has 36%
• The powers it currently has are sufficient and it should remain as it is now 29%
• The Welsh Assembly should have fewer powers than it currently has 2%
• Wales should remain part of the UK and the Assembly should be abolished 22%
• None these?Don't Know 4%

When asked 


You may have seen or heard that within the next two or three years there is likely to be a referendum on independence for Scotland. If Scotland does become an independent country that is separate to the UK, which one of the following statements would come closest to your view about Wales?

• Wales should become Independent, separate from the UK 12%
• The Welsh assembly should have more powers than it currently has 30%
• The powers it currently has are sufficient and it should remain as it is now 20%
• The Welsh Assembly should have fewer powers than it currently has 2%
• Wales should remain part of the UK and the Assembly should be abolished 23%
• None these?Don't Know 4%

So there does not seem much appertite for Independence  but less be honest since the formation of the Assembly in 1999. There has been very little emphasis on the call for Independence especially from Plaid . Who have spent the last 13 years in a comfort Zone and have done their best to remain in a comfort Zone and on very occasions before last years referendum on extended powers and even then played down the argument that was not enough.

All this may change if either Elin Jones or Leanne Wood win the Parties leadership election and there should be an unmitigated campaign towards Independence and any support for further powers  especially if Scotland says NO and Cameron carries out his promise of devolving more powers. Plaid should argue that of will support any increase in powers for the Welsh Assembly or the creation of a Welsh Parliament equal to that of Scotland but that should be only a step to the inevitable despite the polls. Plaid should concentrate on moving  the 30-36 who seek more powers their way and pussyfooting as they have for the last 13 years will not do so,

To return to the polls . There appears to be at least one anomaly in the response from the 80 people who took part in Rhondda Cynon Taf where the highest number for

•  Wales should remain part of the UK and the Assembly should be abolished 35%.

This from a area which has been highly supportive in the  past

Of course 80 respondents is statically low and my skepticism on this part of the poll is reinforced . When of the respondents  in R.C.T  to

Do you speak Welsh?

• 3% claimed fluency
• 43 No more than a few words
• 51 Not at all

Which for an area with a large number of Bilingual Schools seems very odd.

P.S the BBC link to the poll (Inn Adobe reader) no longer seems to be there . If you want to email me glynbeddau@gmail.com. I shall try and sen you a copy