Welsh Secretary comments on Electoral Commission decision
Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan has noted the decision of the Electoral Commission not to designate official Yes and No campaigns.
Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan has noted the decision of the Electoral Commission not to designate official Yes and No campaigns for the forthcoming referendum on whether law-making powers for the National Assembly for Wales should be increased.
Mrs Gillan said:
This is a matter for the Electoral Commission. 聽The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, as聽introduced by the previous Government,聽 provides聽 that either a registered聽participant 聽is designated聽as lead聽organisation聽for each outcome聽of the referendum or no participants are so designated.聽
As set out in the Act, the聽Electoral聽Commission will聽now聽run a public information campaign about the referendum to raise awareness and encourage voting,聽and ensure that people are provided with objective聽 and unbiased聽 information.聽 I understand that it is also seeking views from registered campaigners on what further action it might need to take in light of today鈥檚 decision.