of the Union. The Western Mail reported, "Mr Pedley ridiculed the idea Plaid Cymru could gain power through the Assembly and break up the UK." Pedley said that he understood the fear, "but is it a real threat? I cannot see any situation where nationalists are going to sweep to a majority. Plaid gets less votes than the Conservatives." He was backed on this point by Sir Wyn Roberts who agreed devolution would not break up the UK. Further support came from Alan Clark and Stephen Dorrell. At a press conference held at the Yes for Wales Campaign, Pedley again argued Conservatives to vote Yes and warned that the party would face oblivion in Wales if it did not take advantage of the opportunity and denounced talk of a Conservative boycott of the Assembly. "If we don't get it right, I think people like me will be stuffed and mounted in a museum in Cardiff as 'Welsh Conservative now extinct.'" Pedley welcomed Colwyn Philipps, 3rd Viscount St Davids as the patron of the Welsh Conservatives Say Yes campaign, stating, "The Viscount's family motto says it all... Ducit Amor Patriae – Patriotism is my motive. It is patriotism that motivates us: a belief that the union can be strengthened, not weakened by devolution." In the House of Commons, the Delyn MP, David Hanson, referring to Pedley's role in the Yes campaign and his belief an elected Assembly should replace the quango said, "One of my constituents, Mr. Philip Pedley of Cilcain, is an active Conservative who has fought three general elections for his party. He was appointed without one vote in Wales because he had contested English seats during three general elections. Mr. Pedley was appointed deputy chairman of Housing for Wales—Tai Cymru. He has benefited from the quango system. However, he voted for the assembly. Even as a Conservative, he went on a platform in my constituency and said that he recognised that the quango state was untenable and needed to be reformed for a democratic Wales and a democratic future." In 1998, Pedley backed the winning candidate Rod Richards in the postal ballot for the leadership for Welsh Conservatives. References Alumni of Lancaster University Conservative Party (UK) parliamentary candidates Living people Year of birth missing (living people)