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July 5th 2010

Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's statement, on the decision to hold the AV referendum on the same day as the Assembly elections:

"That is why the Prime Minister and I have decided that the referendum will be held on 5 May 2011, the same day as the elections to the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and local elections in England. That will save an estimated £17m. I know that some Honourable Members have concerns over that date, but I believe that people will be able to distinguish between the different issues on which they will be asked to vote on on the same day."

You'll remember, a few months ago, that it was Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams who railed against the possibility of holding a referendum on further powers on the same day as the Assembly elections. She was prepared to vote against the referendum because of "concerns about what a dual vote on that day will mean in relation to being able to express clearly the reasons why people should vote 'yes'.

So what about this dual mandate?

"Referenda and elections cost a lot of money to run and we simply cannot justify to the people of Wales spending money when we don't need to. The Assembly elections should take place as planned and it will be the duty of political parties to inform the voters about the choices they face."

If you were wondering about the wriggle room - it's laid out here:

"I have previously said that we wouldn't support holding the Assembly referendum on the same day as the Assembly elections itself and that remains the case. We cannot have prospective Assembly candidates knocking lumps out of each other on one platform and standing together on another on both Welsh-wide issues.

"The AV referendum is a UK-wide poll and holding it on the same day as the Assembly election will save money and it will increase voter turn out, something that should be welcomed by all political parties. I see no reason why campaigning for the Assembly elections will conflict with campaigning on the referendum for a change in the electoral system".

A correction to the press release arrives. "My apologies. Additional Voting should read Alternative Voting". Shouldn't that be an apology for holding blatantly contradictory positions, says a cynical voice in Cardiff Bay.

So both polls will be held on the same day. Or will they?

A Wales Office spokesman has just told my colleagues in Westminster that "in the spirit of the respect agenda between the UK Government and the devolved bodies, all options are still being considered." The date of the Assembly election, he said, will not necessarily be on the 5th of May 2011.

Someone had better talk to Mr Clegg before his Welsh leader has to wriggle some more.

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