A referendum on direct law-making powers for the Welsh Assembly has resoundingly backed change. The final result saw 517,132 vote "yes" in favour of enhanced law-making powers, whilst 297,380 said "No".
The vote will give the Assembly direct law-making power in 20 devolved areas, such as health, education, transport and the environment. First Minister Carwyn Jones told celebrating supporters in the Senedd, "Today an old nation came of age."
Deputy First Minister and Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said it marked, "The beginning of a new era of Welsh devolution, the decade to deliver for Wales. To demand respect, you must first display self respect. Today we have done just that, and the rest of the world can now sit up and take notice of the fact that our small nation, here on the western edge of the continent of Europe, has demonstrated pride in who we are, and what we all stand for."
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said the "yes" vote was a turning point, since, "For the first time ever, laws that affect only Wales will be made only in Wales. It will do away with the current restrictive and unwieldy arrangements and it will allow the Welsh Assembly the freedom to get on with the job of delivering for Wales."
A "no" vote would have kept the current system where the Assembly asked Parliament for powers to be transferred to Cardiff on a case-by-case basis.
Rachel Banner of True Wales, which wanted a "no" vote, said the low turnout (35.4%) posed a question over the legitimacy of the result. She asked, "Has it got the full-hearted consent of the Welsh people?" She also queried whether the Assembly could provide enough "high-quality scrutiny" to make good laws.
