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Criccieth Festival, Llanystumdwy
DAFYDD Wigley says he is following in some heavy footprints when he delivers the David Lloyd George memorial lecture in Llanystumdwy.
The address on Wednesday - part of Criccieth Festival on June 16-21 - has attracted political figures including Roy Jenkins and David Trimble. Now the honorary president of Plaid Cymru, Mr Wigley has chosen a familiar theme of the Welsh Wizard, who was a staunch advocate of Home Rule.
"I will link that and Lloyd George's support for devolution to the campaigns for a referendum in 1979, then 1997 and analysing how the mood changed between the two," he said.
The former Plaid leader will also assess the first 10 years of the National Assembly and the question of a further referendum to deliver fill law-making powers to Wales.
"The legislative settlement at the moment is a total mess," he said.
The system of seeking legislative competence orders from Westminster to transfer powers piece by piece was not working, he said.
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, author of the present Government of Wales Act, "surely never meant it to be working so badly", Mr Wigley suggests.
"If he (Hain) can't deliver he should give a positive lead in getting a Yes vote when the referendum comes and turn the Assembly into the Home Rule style parliament which Lloyd George advocated.
"It's a chance for him to turn Lloyd George's aspirations for Wales into reality through the measure he himself brought forward."
Mr Wigley believes October 2010 could be chance for a referendum on the transfer of primary law-making powers to Wales. This would be after a general election at Westminster and leave enough time ahead of the 2011 Assembly elections. which would then elect members to a law-making parliament.
Mr Wigley also suggested: "There is a strong argument that if Rhodri Morgan stands down it would be better to do so immediately so a new leader could be in place in the autumn. There may be an argument he should continue until autumn 2010 to see the successful referendum as his crowning achievement."
