Yes camp claim victory in Wales referendum

Yes campaigners claimed victory today in the referendum on increasing the powers of the Welsh Assembly.

With four constituencies still to declare, Say Yes For Wales campaign chairman Roger Lewis said he was delighted with the result.

He said: "It is clear, the people of Wales have spoken."

Vice chairman Lee Waters added that the group had won all of the constituencies bar one so far - Monmouthshire.

He said: "It is very clear that it is going to be a strong Yes vote for Wales.

"One area we may not win is Monmouthshire, but there has been a 17% swing to the Yes vote (compared with the 1997 devolution vote).

"The No campaign made a lot of noise, got a lot of airtime but they did not win any votes."

First Minister Carwyn Jones also joined the celebrations in The Senedd.

He said: "This has been a Yes vote across the whole of Wales."

Voters were asked whether they want the Assembly to have primary legislative powers in Wales.

Currently, the Welsh Assembly Government has to apply to Westminster for a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) in order for a law to come into effect.

The results from the 22 county areas were being declared at the Senedd in Cardiff.

Turnout was announced as being 35.2% - a reduction of more than 20 percentage points compared with the 1997 referendum.

Mr Waters said: "We are pleased with the turnout, which is better than people had predicted and more than the last mayoral elections in London.