Yes For Wales - 2011 Campaign

2011 Campaign

The 2011 group was launched on 4 January 2011 and co-ordinated the successful campaign for a 'Yes' vote in the Welsh devolution referendum, 2011 to extend the law-making powers of the National Assembly for Wales.

The group was chaired by Roger Lewis, the group chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union., on the recommendation of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister for Wales - Carwyn Jones and Ieuan Wyn Jones. Lewis was not a member of any political party but having returned to Wales from a series of senior jobs in the music industry brought private sector credibility as well as a reputation for being passionate about Wales.

The campaign was supported by both parties of the One Wales coalition government in the Assembly: Wales Labour Party and Plaid Cymru, as well as the Liberal Democrats. Although the Welsh Conservative Party were officially neutral all the Conservative AMs in the Assembly supported a Yes vote and the party group was represented on the Yes for Wales Steering Committee. The campaign also had the support of the other Permitted Participants recognised by the Electoral Commission: Cymru Yfory, Wales TUC and Unison.

The Yes campaign was overseen by a Steering Committee chaired by Leighton Andrews, the Labour AM for the Rhondda and Welsh Education Minister. On a day to day basis it was organised by a small team of volunteers led by Campaign Director Daran Hill, former Labour Special Adviser Cathy Owens, and ex-ITV Wales Political Editor Lee Waters.

The campaign set-up more than 30 local groups across Wales and within a two-month period from January - March 2011 succeeded in printing and distribution 1.5 million leaflets.