Fasting for devolution

IssueApril - May 2018
News by Colin Nosworthy

Young farmer and Aberystwyth student Elfed Wyn Jones ended his seven-day hunger strike for the devolution of broadcasting powers to Wales outside the Senedd in Cardiff on 27 February.

He presented a letter to the Welsh government ahead of a debate on the matter.

Elfed commented: ‘I genuinely think that this is a crucial question. If people don’t get the right facts about who is making decisions in their name, if they don’t understand how they’re governed, our young Welsh democracy is in serious danger. At the moment, fewer than half the population realises that the Senedd in Cardiff runs health, despite 20 years of devolution. Decisions about broadcasting in Wales have to be made in Wales if our politicians are to be held properly accountable for their actions.’

A 2017 YouGov survey reported 65 percent of people in Wales support giving broadcasting powers to the Welsh assembly.

Heledd Gwyndaf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith (the Welsh Language Society) commented: ‘Elfed’s action has inspired a lot of people, and has kickstarted a wider national debate. Over 50 people are already refusing to pay their TV licences as part of this campaign.’

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