AMs to vote on referendum over law-making powers

AMs will today vote on whether there should be a referendum to give them more law-making powers.

The offer of a referendum on Scottish-style primary powers for the Assembly is a key part of the One Wales coalition deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

Triggering the process requires the support of 40 of the Assembly's 60 members - more than the combined votes of Labour and Plaid.

Ministers were last week seeking cross-party support for the move during talks with opposition leaders about possible timetables.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats threatened to withhold their support, leaving ministers short of the two-thirds threshold needed by statute, if the referendum clashed with next May's Assembly election.

Both opposition parties came on board on Friday night after a week of negotiating.

First Minister Carwyn Jones is expected to use today's Senedd debate to acknowledge the practical difficulties of holding a referendum in spring 2011.

The date of a vote and the question put to voters is a matter for the UK Government, in consultation with the Electoral Commission.

Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan, chairman of the pro-devolution pressure group Tomorrow's Wales, welcomed the cross-party support behind the motion.

He said: "This means that AMs have put the needs of the people before party politics.

"It sets the scene for the consensus-building approach that can deliver a resounding Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum."