Did the Conservative Secretary of State mention the Welsh elections when her government colleagues were planning a referendum on May 5th? If not, why not?

Those are two key questions being asked by Plaid Cymru in response to suggestions that the ConDem Coalition intend to hold a referendum on changing the voting system for Westminster elections on the same day as next years elections for Wales’ National Assembly.

Plaid’s Nerys Evans AM called the situation farcical, adding that the plan proved that the ConDem coalition would even put a referendum on AV over Wales’ Assembly elections – despite the fact that neither the Conservatives nor Lib Dems support adopting the AV voting system.

Plaid Cymru AM for Mid and West Wales, Nerys Evans said:

“After stating only a matter of weeks ago that a referendum should not be held on the same day as an election, the Conservatives and Lib Dems are now proposing to hold a referendum on the same day as an election. And this referendum is over adopting a voting system that neither party supports. This is a farcical situation to say the least.

“Behind the farce there are some serious questions about whether or not the Secretary of State for Wales has any influence around the UK cabinet table. Did she even raise the fact that there will be a Welsh election on that day? If not, why not? And what happened to the Conservatives’ previous opposition to holding a referendum on the same day as an election?