Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales Deputy President and European Group Leader Jill Evans MEP has welcomed indications that the Government intend to U-Turn and give the people a voice through a referendum on the EU Constitution.

Jill Evans, the Party's Deputy President said :

"Plaid Cymru has previously argued in favour of a referendum. The Constitution clearly has significant implications for the future of the European Union. We believe that sovereignty lies with the people of Wales, and therefore the new European constitution should be put to the vote of the people.

While we welcome the Government's U-Turn, the question has to be asked what has changed from four months ago? Then, Peter Hain who headed the UK negotiating team claimed that the Constitution was only a 'tyding up exercise' and contained 'no major sovereignty issues'. Why therefore the change of heart? Yet again we are witnessing New Labour's programme being dictated by blatant politicking. Rupert Murdoch's threat to remove the support of the Sun, has far more to do with this U-Turn than any sudden decision by New Labour, for once, to listen to the people.

It is essential that any referendum on the Constitution is held on a Wales basis. Wales' voice wasn't heard at the negotiating table, but the people's voice must be heard. It is for the people of Wales to decide whether we support the new European constitution or not, and not Tony Blair and his cronies in the South East of England."

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