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| Assembly 'argy bhaji' on the menu | Assembly 'argy bhaji' on the menu |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A group considering the future of Welsh devolution is inviting people out for a curry as they launch a major examination of public opinion. | A group considering the future of Welsh devolution is inviting people out for a curry as they launch a major examination of public opinion. |
| Wednesday night's All Wales Convention open meeting in Port Talbot is the first of 22 events across the nation. | Wednesday night's All Wales Convention open meeting in Port Talbot is the first of 22 events across the nation. |
| Its members are considering arguments for and against further assembly powers ahead of a possible referendum. | Its members are considering arguments for and against further assembly powers ahead of a possible referendum. |
| The panel, chaired by Sir Emyr Jones Parry, is due to report to the Welsh Assembly Government by the end of 2009. | The panel, chaired by Sir Emyr Jones Parry, is due to report to the Welsh Assembly Government by the end of 2009. |
| The group is using the lure of one of Britain's favourite meals, famous for its bhajis, poppadoms and spicy flavours, to inject a little heat into the debate on the future governance of Wales. | The group is using the lure of one of Britain's favourite meals, famous for its bhajis, poppadoms and spicy flavours, to inject a little heat into the debate on the future governance of Wales. |
| "Join us for a curry and tell us how you think Wales should work in the future," is the invitation on the convention's website. I don't think they should be holding any of these meetings in political venues at all... it may deter some people from attending Nick Bourne, Welsh Conservative leader, on the meeting in a Labour club | "Join us for a curry and tell us how you think Wales should work in the future," is the invitation on the convention's website. I don't think they should be holding any of these meetings in political venues at all... it may deter some people from attending Nick Bourne, Welsh Conservative leader, on the meeting in a Labour club |
| Sir Emyr called the meetings and other evidence gathering sessions "a unique opportunity between now and August for the people of Wales to ask if the current powers... are enough or whether it is the right time for Wales to take the next step towards full law-making powers". | Sir Emyr called the meetings and other evidence gathering sessions "a unique opportunity between now and August for the people of Wales to ask if the current powers... are enough or whether it is the right time for Wales to take the next step towards full law-making powers". |
| He stressed that the convention's "mission" was to "meet, talk and reach out to every corner of Wales and inform people in a clear fashion of their chance to join in the debate, and to explain the options to them in a way which resonates with everyday life". | He stressed that the convention's "mission" was to "meet, talk and reach out to every corner of Wales and inform people in a clear fashion of their chance to join in the debate, and to explain the options to them in a way which resonates with everyday life". |
| But the fact the meeting, starting at 1830 GMT, is being held at Port Talbot's Seaside Social and Labour Club prompted Conservative concerns of political bias. | But the fact the meeting, starting at 1830 GMT, is being held at Port Talbot's Seaside Social and Labour Club prompted Conservative concerns of political bias. |
| Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne leader said the choice of venue "sends out the wrong message about what is supposed to be a convention that is above party politics". CURRY - THE KEY QUESTIONS Why curry? "We wanted to offer something that would appeal to the majority, spice up the event and warm people up on a cold January evening."So who's making it? Jags Catering in SwanseaWhat type and how spicy? Jags' own recipe - and medium hotWhat will it cost? It will be free for those who stay for the meeting, and is costing the convention £6 per head (including rice and poppadoms) Source: All Wales Convention | Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne leader said the choice of venue "sends out the wrong message about what is supposed to be a convention that is above party politics". CURRY - THE KEY QUESTIONS Why curry? "We wanted to offer something that would appeal to the majority, spice up the event and warm people up on a cold January evening."So who's making it? Jags Catering in SwanseaWhat type and how spicy? Jags' own recipe - and medium hotWhat will it cost? It will be free for those who stay for the meeting, and is costing the convention £6 per head (including rice and poppadoms) Source: All Wales Convention |
| "I don't think they should be holding any of these meetings in political venues at all," he said. | "I don't think they should be holding any of these meetings in political venues at all," he said. |
| "It may deter some people from attending," Mr Bourne added. | "It may deter some people from attending," Mr Bourne added. |
| Monmouth Tory MP David Davies, a supporter of True Wales, the group campaigning against more assembly law-making powers, said the location "goes to show how unlikely it is that there is any real desire to take all opinions". | Monmouth Tory MP David Davies, a supporter of True Wales, the group campaigning against more assembly law-making powers, said the location "goes to show how unlikely it is that there is any real desire to take all opinions". |
| "Nobody who supports other parties is going to be that comfortable going into a Labour club." | "Nobody who supports other parties is going to be that comfortable going into a Labour club." |
| But a convention spokesperson said it was arranging "a wide range of different types of public engagement events at a diverse range of venues". | But a convention spokesperson said it was arranging "a wide range of different types of public engagement events at a diverse range of venues". |
| "Whether it is a social and Labour club, out-of-town shopping centre, rugby clubhouse or a meeting of a local mother and toddler group, our aim is to simply go where the people of Wales go," the spokesperson added. | "Whether it is a social and Labour club, out-of-town shopping centre, rugby clubhouse or a meeting of a local mother and toddler group, our aim is to simply go where the people of Wales go," the spokesperson added. |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams is understood to be more "relaxed" about the location, provided the convention achieves its aim of garnering the views of as many people as possible. | Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams is understood to be more "relaxed" about the location, provided the convention achieves its aim of garnering the views of as many people as possible. |
| However, Mr Davies said his "honest view" was that the convention was a "taxpayer funded 'Yes' campaign which is trying to sell to an unwilling public further powers for the Welsh assembly". | However, Mr Davies said his "honest view" was that the convention was a "taxpayer funded 'Yes' campaign which is trying to sell to an unwilling public further powers for the Welsh assembly". |
| The Welsh assembly's law-making powers increased two years ago under the 2006 Government of Wales Act. | The Welsh assembly's law-making powers increased two years ago under the 2006 Government of Wales Act. |
| The act allows for primary powers after a referendum. | The act allows for primary powers after a referendum. |
| The man who took the legislation through the House of Commons, former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, expressed support for the commission's work but warned that the role of political parties was crucial to the success or failure of a referendum campaign. | The man who took the legislation through the House of Commons, former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, expressed support for the commission's work but warned that the role of political parties was crucial to the success or failure of a referendum campaign. |
| "It will be won or lost on whether there is a political agreement between the pro-devolution parties... to actually believe that they can win a referendum, " he said. | "It will be won or lost on whether there is a political agreement between the pro-devolution parties... to actually believe that they can win a referendum, " he said. |
| Mr Hain said there was "not enough support to win a referendum now, or for the next few years, in my view." | Mr Hain said there was "not enough support to win a referendum now, or for the next few years, in my view." |
| "I want to see a referendum win, there is no point in calling one to lose it. | "I want to see a referendum win, there is no point in calling one to lose it. |
| "And I will not support a referendum unless I'm clear we can win it, which we can't do for the next few years". | "And I will not support a referendum unless I'm clear we can win it, which we can't do for the next few years". |
| The meeting is at the Seaside Social and Labour Club in Port Talbot on Wednesday, 14 January, (1830 - 2030 GMT). There will be similar events in all Welsh counties, ending in Cardiff in June. | The meeting is at the Seaside Social and Labour Club in Port Talbot on Wednesday, 14 January, (1830 - 2030 GMT). There will be similar events in all Welsh counties, ending in Cardiff in June. |