12th March 2008
Colofn Golwg
Duw a ŵyr pam, ond ‘roedd gwefan y BBC yn datgan wythnos diwethaf fod yna fwyafrif solet yn erbyn dwyshau datganoli er bod y ffigurau yn dangos mwyafrif fechan o blaid. Pwy all ddyfalu pa resymeg sydd yna dros y ffaith bod y Gorfforaeth wedi dewis y cwmni Llundeinig ICM i gynnal eu harolwg er bod digon o gwmnïau yng Nghymru erbyn hyn yn darparu’r un gwasanaeth? Plaid Simroo a gynigwyd i bobl fel opsiwn i’w ddewis fel y blaid sydd yn llywodraethu. Tybed a gynigwyd gofyn y cwestiwn cyfan yn Gymraeg? Neu a oedd y BBC wedi penderfynu na fyddai siaradwyr Cymraeg yn manteisio ar y cyfle i leisio eu barn ar ôl eu harolwg amheus diwethaf?
Ond hyd yn oed gyda’r fath ffigurau rydym, yn araf deg, yn symud i’r cyfeiriad iawn. Serch hynny, dydi 8% ymhell o fod yn ddigon o fwlch i ni deimlo yn gyfforddus. Ac eto mae’r ffaith bod 54% yn mynd i bleidleisio ‘Ie’ heb bod yr un taflen wedi ei hargraffu eto yn galonogol. Mae hyd yn oed yn fwy o sioc bod 13% yn cefnogi annibyniaeth gan bod y Blaid heb efengylu yn helaeth ar y pwnc ers tro byd – mi fydd hynny yn newid yn eithaf trawiadol dybiwn i ar ôl ennill refferendwm, gyda chenhedlaeth newydd o arweinwyr ifainc yn y Blaid a’i llygaid ar y gamp lawn. Nid fi fy hunan dwi’n golygu fan hyn (dwi’n 40 eleni, ysywaeth) ond yn hytrach y criw hynod dalentog a di-amynedd o ddarpar-wleidyddion sydd wedi tyfu drwy rhengoedd y Blaid yn ystod y pum i ddeg mlynedd diwethaf. Mae’r ddegawd nesaf yn mynd i fod yn un cythreulig o gyffrous i Gymru a’r Blaid.
Yn y cyfamser, fodd bynnag, mae gennym refferendwm i’w hennill. Busnes heb-ei-orffen o’r ganrif ddiwethaf yw hyn. Brwydr enillwyd mewn egwyddor y bore hwnnw o Hydref a daniodd ddychymyg cenedl, ond sydd nawr angen cael ei adleisio. Rhaid rhoi unwaith eto o’r neilltu ymraniadau pleidiol a theimladau personol a chyd-blethu’n ‘un’ yn achos Cymru. Bydd angen holl ddoniau y genedl fach hon unwaith yn rhagor ar faes y gad: gweddïau’r eglwysi, placardiau’r undebau, englynion a chaneuon wrth y mil os ydym am ennill hon. Bydd angen Confensiwn anghonfensiynol os ydym am ymestyn allan o’n cymdeithasau bach clyd. Yn wir, mae taer angen i’r Ymgyrch ‘Ie’ ei hunan gael ei sefydlu cyn diwedd yr Haf. Bydd angen un peth arall hefyd: arweinydd profiadol sydd a chalon datganolwr ond clust y sgeptigiaid. Peter Hain, beth amdani?
God knows why, but last week the BBCs website was declaring that there was a solid majority against extending devolution although in fact the figures showed a small percentage in favour. Who can guess what logic the Corporation used in selecting a London based company, ICM, to conduct their survey even though there are plenty of companies in Wales who are more than capable of offering the same service? Plaid Simroo was the option offered to people as a party of government. I wonder if it occurred to them to ask the whole question in Welsh? Or had the BBC already decided that Welsh speakers wouldn’t take advantage of the opportunity to voice their opinions following the last dubious survey?But despite such figures we are slowly moving in the right direction. Obviously, an 8% lead is not big enough to make us feel comfortable. Yet again, the fact that 54% would cast a ‘Yes’ vote before even one leaflet has been printed is encouraging. Indeed, its even more surprising that 13% are in favour of independence given that Plaid haven’t been vocal on the subject for quite a while – I suspect that will change quite dramatically after winning a referendum, with a new generation of young leaders within Plaid with their eye firmly on the Grand Slam. I’m not including myself in that category (alas, I turn 40 this year) but rather the extremely talented and determined up-and-coming politicians who have risen through the ranks of Plaid over the past five to ten years. The next decade is going to be an extremely exciting one for Wales and for Plaid.
In the meantime, however, we have a referendum to win. This is unfinished business from the last century. It is a battle that was won in principle on that Autumn morning which awakened the imagination of the nation, and which now needs to be revived. Yet again, the time has come to put aside party political differences and personal viewpoints, and stand together as ‘one’ for the sake of Wales. We will need all the talents available within this small nation on the battle field: prayers from the churches, union placards, poems and songs by the thousands if we are to win. We’ll need an unconventional Convention if we are to reach beyond our cosy communities. Indeed, the campaign for a Yes vote must be established before the end of the Summer. We are also in need of one other thing: an experienced leader with the heart of a devolutionist but the ear for the sceptics. How about it, Peter Hain?
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ian says:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:28 am
There is nothing at all wrong with being 40. In fact, I have been told that being 41 is even better than 40!