Wales lacks innovation and creativity, says "no" campaigner
People in Wales don’t have the abilities needed for full law-making powers, a business spokesman for the “no” campaign in the forthcoming referendum has said.
Paul Matthews, who speaks for the True Wales group campaigning against full law-making powers, told Insider: “I am a Welsh person. We’re not the most innovative or creative, and very often those that are, move out of Wales.”
But Roger Lewis, chairman of the campaign for a yes vote on 3 March, said giving the Assembly full law making powers would make it more business-like and responsive.
Matthews, who runs 2nd Son, a property maintenance company in Newbridge, Gwent, said the current system, where Assembly laws go to Westminster for approval, was better. He said: “Westminster provides a level of scrutiny for laws from the Assembly, in the same way that Westminster laws are scrutinised by the House of Lords.”
He added that assembly members were not competent enough to take more powers and had made poor decisions since the National Assembly was set up.
But Yes for Wales chairman Roger Lewis, who is also chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, told Insider a “yes” vote would make the law-making process work more efficiently and effectively, and in a more timely manner.
He said full law-making powers would mean: “a more responsive, dynamic Assembly which will work with business to come up with Welsh solutions to Welsh problems.”
He added: “We want to be more fleet of foot, stronger and more entrepreneurial. If your agenda is about making things better in Wales for Wales, you will support a yes vote.”
So far, two business groups – the South Wales Chamber of Commerce and the West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce – have come out in favour of a yes vote. No business group has recommended voting against, although some individual businessmen and women in Wales are opposed to full law making powers.
