Low turnout in Welsh referendum - unsurprising?

[funtimewincies]

I'm not surprised. Here in Wrexham I can only get the Granada news, weather, etc. and we didn't get the leaflet which was supposed to outline the issues. I'm re-learning Welsh and asked the rest of my class (who do get the Welsh news) and they didn't know either.

I did my best to get to the bottom of the issues using the internet but eventually decided that I simply didn't have the information to make an informed decision.

So, for the first time in my adult life, I didn't vote .

Anyone else in this position?

Not unsuprising. The UK is going through a great upheaval at the moment coping with the effects of the banking crisis and the forthcoming likely oil crisis. I think people have more immediate concerns than the niceties of how local government is organised. Titanic deck-chair rearrangement vs 'real life', if you will...

35 per cent is a friggin lot more than any opinion research ever consults.

so, while you have a voluntary system of voting...its a case of take the turnout you get.

Why would Wales , which is very low on Tory backers, want to be governed by a crass Tory Government in London? Cheers "Gabby"

PS And the Tories will thank me for not mentioning the Lib Dems after Barnsley

I reckon that the Lib Dems were told not to make any effort in Barnsley to give the Tory candidate a better chance. Spinless Clegg (for whom I voted, to my shame) probably rolled over to have his tummy tickled.

Much as I dislike the coalition, we want to have some indication that a more independent Welsh Assembly will not make a complete arse of it either !

Of course we dont, but there is no reason for non-Tory wales to be governed by London Tories, Funtime.

If the liberal activists think Clegg volunteered for 6th place in a by-election; then they need a new leader, surely.

I believe they have a sort of conference this weekend. (Clegg wont let them wear black ties.)

cheers "Gabby"

I'm not saying that we should be, my problem was not finding enough information on what voting 'yes' would mean in order to make an informed choice.

Maybe we're not quite Welsh enough here on the border to be included in the leafleting .

funtimewincies I also live in Wrexham and for the first time in my adult life I didn't vote either.
Chiefly because I did not really know enough about the issues but if I had voted it would have been a "No" vote I think so it would not have really made much difference.
However,the turnout was very low so it looks as if lots of others feel the same way.
We get Granada and Northwest by the way and it's all doom and gloom with Gordon Burns on about the crime in Manchester. Can't get Welsh news unless we have another TV aerial.

We play Granada bingo in our house. The first one to spot a full house of a stabbing, a shooting, an elderly person mugged, council cuts and anything grim in Burnley gets to shout 'ASBO' .

Love the weather woman though (Eno?). Does she EVER go home ?

What do yo make of the city status bid crossword?

funtimewincies Great to hear from you. Well, as to the city bid, if you look at the weather map on tv weather Wrexham is the only placename between Cardiff and Liverpool if you follow me. So yes, I do think Wrexham should be recognised as a city but it would need more help with jobs and infrastructure IMO. I think it needs more shops, better facilities and a Park and Ride service. The Eagles Meadow parking is too dear and we liked the old cinema much better because we could park free at Plas Coch. Wrexham has great potential and the people are very friendly but the place just needs a bit of a push I feel. Sorry in advance if this is not the answer you wanted

I'm on the fence so far, although I'd probably prefer the council to spend the money trying to get the bid on improving services. I too preferred the old cinema and find the decline of the top end of town so depressing.

rebuild the dyke ASAP

I think the Welsh referendum was a load of old cobblers, personally. From what I can see it wasn't about more power for the Assembly at all, it was just a vote to remove one stage from an extremely dull administrative process. No wonder the turnout was so low.

It's like being asked to vote on whether you should to fill out your tax return in black ink only or whether blue ink should also be allowed.

Utter rubbish- and for many Assembly members to try and make it out to be an important principle of independent government was disingenuous.