The Referenda

So... we have a date for the AV referendum.

Nick Clegg seemed to struggle a bit with explaining why it was worth having the referendum now when there are massive cuts being made. The answer, of course, is that it'll probably take us the length of this parliament to get out of the economic mess we're in and the Lib Dems are almost certainly going to go into opposition again after the next election if it's held by first past the post. From their point of view, it's now or never.

The SNP seem to be against holding it on the 5th, and seem to think that devolving more power to Scotland should be a bigger priority. Not surprising. It was suprising, though, to hear that the spokesperson had the cheek to complain that Wales will be having a referendum for greater devolved powers and Scotland won't be. Perhaps it had escaped her notice that Scotland already has greater devolved powers than Wales.

Incidentally, by my count we'll be voting on four different ballots on May 5, 2011: Constituency AM, Additional AM and two Referenda.