LONDON - The former Welsh secretary and Tory leadership contender, Mr William Hague, raised the political temperature over the British government's devolution plans for Scotland and Wales yesterday - when he indicated that a majority vote in favour would not be enough to guarantee constitutional reform, writes Rachel Donnelly.
Mr Hague argued that a low turn-out in referendums on Scotland and Wales would be a "highly unsatisfactory method of changing the British constitution". He said the Tories intended to raise a number of amendments to the Referendums Bill.
The Scottish Secretary, Mr Donald Dewar, said Mr Hague's comments were "depressing news". The Welsh Secretary, Mr Ron Davies, rebuked Mr Hague. He said that while the government's proposals had "caught the public mood", Mr Hague's House of Commons speech had not impressed the electorate and it had not impressed the new government.