Welsh vote 2-1 to allow Assembly more powers - but turnout low

WELSH voters have overwhelming backed new powers for their Assembly by almost two to one in a referendum.

Labour's First Minister in Wales, Carwyn Jones, yesterday described the result as "a historic day" as 517,132 people voted in favour compared to 297,380 against.

The result gives Wales powers to pass its own laws in its 20 devolved areas of policy - like Scotland and Northern Ireland - without Westminster approval.

Mr Jones said: "It is a clear and concise Yes vote across whole of Wales from the coast to the border."

However, the turnout for the referendum was just 35 per cent, leading to critics questioning the Welsh Assembly's mandate to have new powers.

The low interest among the public has echoes of the referendum to create a Welsh Assembly in 1997 where a narrow victory for devolution was won on a turnout of just 55.6 per cent.

And yesterday as triumphant backers of the Yes campaign celebrated the landmark result, the United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip) hit out at the result.

It claimed there was much stronger support across Wales for a referendum to eradicate the Welsh Assembly itself.

All major political parties in Wales celebrated the fact that "Wales has said Yes".

But David Bevan, of Ukip, claimed the "extremely low turnout" gave no mandate for historic changes to take place in the principality.

As Ukip's lead candidate for South West Wales at this May's Welsh Assembly elections, he claims he is fighting to keep the UK intact.

"This was a pathetic turnout," he added.

"We pushed to have the referendum held on the same day as the Assembly elections, which would have ensured a higher turnout and cost 5 million less.

"This was a referendum where two-thirds of the voters in Wales stayed at home. They did not vote. They did not think that it was important enough."