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Government of Wales Bill

My Lords, I never cease to marvel at the ability of the Liberal Democrats to contradict its own arguments. Even with that thought in mind, I was absolutely flabbergasted when I saw this amendment. I understand, and shall comment later on, the extraordinary complexity of the inter-relationship of Clauses 103 and 104, but I understand that the amendment would require the Secretary of State to trigger a referendum in four years’ time, whether or not the Welsh Assembly had requested or wanted it, whether or not any consultation by the Secretary of State had indicated that no one wanted it and whether or not there was likely to be a crushing defeat for further devolution if a referendum were held. When I tried to lower the hurdles for a referendum at previous stages of the Bill, the Liberal Democrats rejected my proposal on the grounds that, if a referendum were held too early and in the wrong circumstances, it would be a catastrophic setback for the move to further devolution and it should be utterly resisted. Now, here they are, moving an amendment to force a referendum in four years’ time, whatever the results, even if the Welsh Assembly—which, reasonably, they say represents the views of the Welsh people—has not voted for it and does not want it. It is an astonishing amendment, even by the standards of the Liberal Democrats.