More powers? But not in a hurry

By David Cornock
Parliamentary correspondent, BBC Wales news

David Cameron working on his conference speech in Bournemouth

May 2009. David Cameron arrives in Downing Street to unveil his priorities for government.

The environment, general well-being, better schools, improved hospitals and other policies designed to bring sunshine into our lives.

Oh yes, and another referendum for Wales.

Would David Cameron, after 12 years in opposition, really make it a priority to give away more powers to what may still be a Labour-run assembly?

Some Welsh Conservatives think he might. What the Tories are trying to do is to show voters they have changed by dropping old battles.

So the proposed referendum option to scrap the assembly in Cardiff has been dropped.

Instead, voters would be given the same choice a pro-devolution Labour government has suggested it might offer - to give the assembly more law-making powers.

This referendum would take place, under either party, only after Parliament and two thirds of AMs have voted for it to be held.

The Welsh Conservatives say they would offer this referendum, at an unspecified date "in the future", without recommending to voters which way they should vote. Yes, we are told, a Tory government would remain neutral, while MPs and AMs campaigned on both sides of the argument.

It does seem strange that a party would hold a referendum on a subject on which it is neutral, but strange things happen in politics.

Nick Bourne, who led the "no" campaign in the 1997 referendum, would join the "yes" camp next time.

Impression

If Wales voted yes, then, according to Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan, a Tory government would then enhance the Assembly's powers.

So where does Mr Cameron stand? He told BBC Radio Wales: "In general I'm in favour of more devolution."

Cameron sees devolution as giving people more control

But the Tory leader's definition of devolution goes far beyond institutions in Cardiff and Edinburgh. "Let's not pretend that devolution is just about assemblies and parliaments. It's not. It's about giving people more control over their own lives."

UK party leaders sometimes find the media obsession with devolution in Wales and Scotland rather frustrating. "This is an important issue," said Mr Cameron, "but I think even more important than endlessly going over the particular nature of the devolution in Wales is the priorities of the Conservative party."

He emerged from his encounter with Good Morning Wales to reveal to an aide that he'd "skirted around" the issue.

But he, and Cheryl Gillan, certainly left the impression that the Tories have changed, without making any specific commitments to greater devolution.

Mr Cameron may be criticised for lacking policies, for being a triumph of style over substance.

A referendum may be one of the few policies the Conservatives currently have, but don't pencil one into your diary just yet.