The group campaigning for a Yes vote in next year’s referendum on strengthening the Assembly’s powers has unveiled the Welsh Rugby Union’s Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, as its chair.
Mr Lewis has obvious appeal for the Yes campaigners – he’s an experienced media operator and, as the boss of Welsh rugby, linked with something that they hope will engender patriotic feelings without being tainted by politics.
Interviewing Roger Lewis. Photo by Natasha Hirst
On the other hand, as part of the establishment, he can be – in fact is already being – depicted as one of the great and good, the crachach who the no campaigners say are pushing for a Yes vote out of self-interest.
I’ll update when I’ve got the fuller views of the no campaign and when I’ve spoken to Roger Lewis.
Although not strictly a celebrity endorsement, his appointment has got us thinking about celebs who got involved in the last referendum campaign.
On the Yes side: Sian Lloyd, Stuart Cable, Ryan Giggs.
On the No side: Viscount Tonypandy and one Gary Speed.
UPDATE 1405 Th e Yes for Wales website wasn’t live when I wrote this earlier. It is now.
UPDATE 1555 Paul Matthews from True Wales – which hopes to form the No campaign – says that “Roger Lewis will be a formidable opponent. He has many contacts in the hierarchy and elite of Wales. When you look at the onfield performance of the Welsh rugby team it very much mirrors the performance of the Welsh Assembly in economic matters and education, which has been appalling.”
ITVAdrian 
I didn’t know Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnor, has become WRU Chief Executive! True Wales with their finger on the pulse of the nation
Can’t blame True Wales for that one: entirely my transcribing mistake! I’ll correct it immediately.
Not sure how the linkage with Welsh rugby will play out, as it’s hardly a successful brand. Comparing the Assembly to the Welsh team seems a bit harsh, even for a political debate.