Devolution in
Wales came about after the
referendum in
September 1997 returned a positive result. Unlike the
Scottish referendum, the
Welsh referendum was not as significantly in favour for
devolution as the
Scottish referendum. It is thought that the lack of desire for
devolution was brought about both by the weakness of the national party (
Plaid Cymru) and the north-south split.
Plaid Cymru's main nationalistic persuasion centered around the Welsh language and culture (considering only 500,000 approx. speak Welsh in Wales out of 2.7 million it is quite difficult to gain support from this). Unlike Scotland, it had been a very long time since Wales had been independent of England and it also did not have the same autonomy that Scotland had before the referendum. It was governed purely from England though in 1964 a Welsh Office was introduced (which was in charge of spending money for Wales and QUANGOs). This meant that the people did not care so much for independence and often felt that they were just fine with the English Parliament.
The north-south divide also may have contributed. In the north of Wales there are many nationalistic Welsh but they are far out numbered by the south which has great numbers of English people. This means that there is significant numbers of each to mean that you cannot just listen to those in the majority (something that happens with the English Parliament and its electoral system, FPTP). The English don't really care for devolution since they have strong ties with the rest of England so Westminster is fine for them. However, the wishes of the nationalists cannot just be ignored. Also the northern Welsh are weary of an assembly in Cardiff which may end up being run by the English-speaking political élite.
The Referendum
The referendum asked just one question:
Yr wyf yn cytuno y dylid cael Cynulliad Cymreig
I agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly
neu / or
Nid wyf yn cytuno y dylid cael Cynulliad Cymreig
I do not agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly
The results:
Local Authority Electorate Turnout Agree % Do not agree %
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blaenau Gwent 55,089 49.3% 15,237 56.4% 11,928 43.6%
Bridgend 100,400 50.6% 27,632 54.4% 23,172 45.6%
Caerphilly 129,060 49.3% 34,830 54.7% 28,841 45.3%
Cardiff 228,571 46.9% 47,527 44.4% 59,589 55.6%
Carmarthenshire 49,115 56.4% 49,115 65.3% 26,911 34.7%
Ceredigion 54,440 56.8% 18,304 59.2% 12,614 40.8%
Conwy 87,231 51.5% 18,369 40.9% 26,521 59.1%
Denbighshire 70,410 49.8% 14,271 40.8% 20,732 59.2%
Flintshire 113,181 41.0% 17,746 38.2% 28,710 61.8%
Gwynedd 92,520 59.8% 35,425 64.1% 19,859 35.9%
Merthyr Tydfil 44,107 49.5% 12,707 58.2% 9,121 41.8%
Monmouthshire 65,309 50.5% 10,592 32.1% 22,403 67.9%
Neath and Port Talbot 106,333 51.9% 36,730 66.5% 18,463 33.5%
Newport 94,094 46.1% 16,172 37.4% 27,017 62.6%
Pembrokeshire 88,720 52.6% 19,979 42.8% 26,712 57.2%
Powys 96,107 56.2% 23,038 42.7% 30,966 57.3%
Rhondda Cynon Taff 175,639 49.9% 51,201 58.5% 36,362 41.5%
City of Swansea 174,725 47.1% 42,789 52.0% 39,561 48.0%
Torfaen 69,505 45.5% 15,756 49.8% 15,854 50.2%
Vale of Glamorgan 89,111 54.3% 17,776 36.7% 30,613 63.3%
Wrexham 96,787 42.4% 18,574 45.3% 22,449 54.7%
Ynys Môn 54,044 56.9% 15,649 50.9% 15,095 49.1%
The result was a yes but it was close. There was only a 50.1% turnout and only 50.3% of them voted in favour of devolution. That leaves 49.7% who did not want devolution.
Yet New Labour still introduced devolution with such a small mandate from the people. This is because firstly, there was still a positive outcome in the referendum and secondly, there was a devolved assembly in Scotland so while they were at it they devolved Wales as well. This also had the added effect of appeasing Plaid Cymru.
The Assembly
The Assembly is more or less the same as Scotland. One difference is that the Assembly only has secondary legislative powers (which means that it can only discuss ways to implement legislation promulgated from Westminster). So there are no Welsh laws and the government cannot raise taxes for itself (except for council tax). It relies on money from England. It took over the role of QUANGOs in Wales as well as deciding how all money should be spent. It has members voted in via AMS like Scotland with 40 members voted in with FPTP and 20 with List. Like in Scotland, the first elections were in 1999 and the Assembly started its first term in 2000.
The Assembly itself is not called a Parliament its just 'The Welsh Assembly'. I don't know why.....
Executive
The executive is similar to Scotland as well. The First Minister is appointed by the Monarch on advice from the Assembly and is accountable to the Assembly. The executive does not control local government either.
There is still a Secretary of State for Wales in the English Parliament and Welsh MPs as well so the West Lothian question is of importance in relation to Wales as well.