10 ways the Welsh parliament and government could bolster support for devolution

I entirely agree with most of this but the notion that you connect north and south primarily through the road system is not only ludicrous but entirely at odds with any notion of sustainable transport. The idea of a decent rail system being just a "nice alternative" merely indicates how satisfied some people in Wales are with being second class citizens- this is at a time when we Welsh tax payers will be helping to fund HS2 which will come no nearer Wales than Crewe sometime in the future! We need a) a decent rail system to connect north and south down the west coast, which means rebuilding the Swansea to Caerfyrddin line and b) an integrated bus system to ensure that our rural communities can use it.

Some fair points but I fear it's too late. I would consider myself a Welsh nationalist but devolution hasn't worked at all and even has people like me thinking it's best to shut down the Senedd. But I'm willing to vote once more next year (not sure if I can, I live abroad). If it's Labour again, then I would prefer if it was closed down.

I agree with the areas covered by ifan but until this is spread to the wider population of Wales not just one's reading nation cymru then we will not progress any further in having more control over our own destiny..I voted for the Welsh assembly and all though I don't think it is as vocal as the Scottish government I still think it's better than being governed solely by the English government at Westminster.. I genuinely believe that until we have more am.s such as Adam price who I think are very passionate about Wales future and unlike other politicians who are there for the monthly pay cheque we will be again left behind while Scotland and Northern Ireland progress as the UK government wants to keep them part of the uk.. Until we start speaking out as a country as a whole we will be kept as a suppressed nation. It's all well and good supporting Wales in rugby this Saturday but on the bigger picture we should be supporting Wales as Wales

Diolch Ifan Morgan Jones! // Thank you Ifan Morgan Jones!

The fact we subsidise our young people to study outside of Wales and not do everything we can to encourage them to stay and study here is shocking. It is another example of Wales being treated as a region, not a nation in it’s own right, not only by Westminster but also by Wales’ own government! It is absolutely imperative that the wet blanket Mark Drakeford and his band of toothless, soulless and passionless hangers on are well and truly drop-kicked out of Cardiff Bay as far as possible if we are to reverse this depressing governance of self harm

There are some truly engaging and promising ideas here: + the introduction of STV which would at a stroke eradicate the notion of 'the wasted vote' and diminish the fatalistic and disempowering sense that an individual vote is rarely able to contribute to political change; + the idea of citizens' assemblies which would offer to ordinary electors a potential way of directly influencing national decision-making; + the resurrection of what once was termed 'civics' as part of the school curriculum, so that an understanding of how our political system works becomes part of an all-round education; + the devolution of broadcasting so that 'Welsh affairs' become more of a discrete topic than has been the case up to now - a process which would be further fostered by investment to encourage the parallel development of a distinctive Welsh print and - increasingly - on-line media presence; + the adoption of a Scottish-style policy inrespect of funding higher education, with the aim of 'ensuring that talent both stays within and is drawn into the country'; + the teaching of specifically Welsh history as a core element of the school curriculum. And each of these proposals has the potential, albeit in varying degrees, to nurture among the people who live in Wales a sense of a national Welsh identity which would sit alongside the sense of local Welsh identity which a great many already naturally feel. But I have to acknowledge some scepticisms here and there: + I don't at all doubt the desirability of further, local, devolution of powers to the Welsh regions, especially given the remoteness of Cardiff, tucked away in the far south-east, to much of the rest of Wales. But, having lived three decades of my middle age in the Greater Manchester county, I do really wonder if the geographically truly vast local authorities which the writer proposes would really bring government that closer to ordinary citizens. I never felt 'Greater Manchester' came even close to achieving that, even though it was a lot more compact than some of the entities that Mr Morgan Jones envisages; + While I agree, in theory, that indeed 'a train would be nice' in terms of connectivity between north and south, I'm pretty sceptical about its practicality. Talking about reopening lines closed in the 1960s may sound good in a romantic and sentimental sort of way, but it's worth remembering that most of these lines were predominantly single track with intermittent passing points and, due to geographical considerations, followed a circuitous route which necessitated 'slow and steady' rather than 'high-speed'. Even if the north-south rail link were reforged - say, by re-opening the Carmarthen - Aberystwyth and the Afon Wen - Caernarfon - Bangor lines - just how long would a Cardiff - Bangor train journey on that route take?! I suspect people would still opt to go via Hereford and Shrewsbury, just because of shorter journey times. All in all, and despite the fact that we certainly should think twice and twice again before building yet more roads, a good north - south road still sounds more realistic, and, although expensive, would surely be cheaper than focusing on rail. Perhaps we'd find an answer in respect of the cost in China, as they seem to be good at that sort of thing?! Chinese companies are certainly globally involved in such developments. And I suspect it'd be a lot less pricey than HS2! You can also bet that express 'Traws Cymru' buses would use such a road, and with a bit of planning you could have feeder bus/train connections across the different parts of Wales linking up with the Traws Cymru, either by the Traws Cymru express bus diving briefly off the north-south road into an adjacent town, or possibly by the establishment of rest stop/connection points such as in my young days were provided at Bishop's Meadow, outside Brecon. Anyone know if that's still there and operational? It's a very long time since I went that way ... !

I agree with Citizens Assemblies by random selection, but only then if participation is mandatory. Otherwisewise we'll find out they'll be stuffed with the right on and mouthy I think at the outset of the Assembly there was the opportunity to have separation of powers between the Govt and the parliament. So the FM could have chosen a cabinet not made up of AMs, or even career politicians. He could choose academics, business people, technocrats. Like happens in the US and France I think. That bus has prob driven off by now, but appeals to me

Another curate's egg of a post that fails to address the real problem. Abolishing the Assembly has gained support not because we lack a motorway between north and south, or because our kids aren't taught Welsh history, we've survived these shortcomings for centuries. The real reason is because devolution has failed to deliver outside of "booming Cardiff". In addition, Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru have set up and supported a third sector that does nothing more than capitalise on Wales' deprivation to provide thousands of unnecessary jobs for 'progressive' cronies. Then there is the perception that Cardiff Bay has become a world unto itself, divorced from the real Wales. A perception that the shameful involvement of lobbyists in the death of Carl Sargeant did nothing to dispel. AMs taking a jaunt up to Llandudno for a few days will not help repair this damage. It's just more gesture politics. Cut out the sentiment, the appeals to patriotism, and the red herrings, the fact is that devolution is unpopular because it has FAILED.

Some good points here.As you say act using existing devolved powers while room exists to do so.Defensiveness didn't do the Corbyn project much project much good against v.similar forces.

Citizens Assemblies: citizens assembling feels like a good thing. Or did you mean simply a Siop Siarad? But you have suggested making it a Second Chamber. So that involves changing our system of government. The way the Welsh should change their system of government is to take a step back. The standard issue Written Constitution for dozens of States and Countries round the world, outside the Commonwealth, is this - the legislature is Bi-cameral, 2 houses. - they are both elected - they are elected differently (different length of term or whatever) to get "check and balance" Which sounds very like what you have in mind. But how do we know a majority of the Welsh would give it the Welsh peoples' seal of approval? Using a London-down Assembly worried about losing power would not give you legitimacy. Call a Constitutional Convention of elected people. Someone present suggests your idea. Then the elected people vote. And they vote on lots of other things too. Elect the First Minister directly? Most democracies do actually do this. Etc. But here's the thing. You will not get a groundswell for this kind of root-and-branch change in Wales from cold. You need to call Citizen's Assemblies big and small all over Wales, and build up momentum for a proper legal Constitutional Convention. A lot of discussion. Takes time. That's what nearly all other countries did. There was no short cut.

Good article. The Finns vote this way; you go to the desk with your ID card, or driving licence, then you are checked and given a voting card like a birthday card, but with a circle inside. You go into the booth, where a list of candidates poster sized, shows say 1 to 100 with names against the numbers, like social democrats might be 1 to 10, then liberals 10 to 20 etc. You write the number of your preferred candidate in the circle, take it to the next desk where it is stamped on the outside, then pop it into the box. If your candidate doesn't make it, it still gets counted into his/her party. There is no percentile threshold so this allows even a tiny party represented in certain region/s a seat or two.

Mae hewlydd gorllewin Cymru yn chwalu o dan y drafnidiaeth drom, e.e.. yr heol o Aberteifi i Gaerfyrddin ac o Lambed i Aberystwyth. Mae angen rheilffyrdd i symud y lorïau trwm off yr heolydd, a gwella'r ffyrdd a thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i leihau’r angen am gymaint o geir.

And now, folks, for number 11. (0r, getting Indy 90% approval in a week!) A dutch scientist/engineer is proposing to; 1. dam John o Groats to below Stromsund 2. dam Lands End to Brittany. Where will the climate change water go?

I think that this is an excellent article and one that chimes completely with my thoughts on how to improve Wales and its citizens. The importance of media and the engagement of people in politics is essential for Wales in the future as the present day landscape is of no benefit at all. It is both a sad and frightening fact that most people in the South Wales Valleys read either the Daily Mail or the Sun and with the highest concentration of Sky subscribers are less likely to engage and understand events in their locality or elsewhere in Wales. There are some truly fantastic journalists in Wales yet one look at Wales Online would suggest otherwise. How many more articles involving the house of your dreams or '29 reasons you wouldn't want to live..' do we need? How about rebranding the website getting rid of junk and clickbait and focusing on stories that matter instead? The lack of engagement is important to overcome and whilst citizens assemblies and the STV are more than welcome, it would also help if the councils listened a lot more too. From SME business owners being shafted by local council leaders to concerns about inappropriate housing developments being ignored, the councils look after the better off only. This needs to change but given the links between Labour councils and Cardiff Bay I'm not holding my breath. The overall aim of the Welsh Government should be to represent the entire nation and not just the select few. This means that greater engagement with the North, the West and the Borders is essential. The comments coming from the leader of Conwy Council about people being ignored in North Wales with regards to the recent floods only underline the fact that the Welsh Government is being targeted by those who wish for it to be abolished. What better way to enforce divide and conquer and who better than those retirees who live in North Wales to make this a reality? In short, the WG needs to make its mark as soon as possible by engaging with communities outside of the South East as the opportunity for others to do so can and will lessen their hand. Whilst a lot can change in a year, do not be surprised to see Mark Reckless and Neil Hamilton form a party that not only aims to abolish the Welsh Government but in doing so undermines some of the fine work that it has achieved in the past. If it truly wants to make an impact then it would be wise to follow all of the points made in this article.

Nations are forged by a sense of shared endeavour. For the Senedd to survive it needs to be seen as the champion of national renewal. Never in human history have people been able to express their thoughts to so many, never have so many felt so ignored. The answer is not more talking shops, but many more citizens with their hands on the levers of power; worker and citizen stakeholder involvement in the public sector; direct elections replacing public appointments; scrutiny by boards elected or selected jury style with powers to subpoena. A revolution in civic society!

How about boosting the profile of the opposition leader in the Assembly? Does anyone in Wales outside of politics know who Paul Davies is? This is someone who could potentially be an alternative First Minister to Drakeford. Whenever the Welsh Labour Government comes under fire/criticism the media always report the criticisms from Conservative MPs in London and not criticisms from Conservative AMs.