Devolution – Wales

Devolution of Powers to the Welsh Assembly

Background – Motivation/The need for reform?

• There have long been movements dedicated to the introduction of greater self government for Britain’s national regions
• The Welsh Nationalist party Plaid Cymru dates back to 1925
• Prosperity in 1980s headed off nationalist demands for power – but these re-emerged after the 1987 General Election
• Under Margaret Thatcher – although Conservatives = dominant in England – their mandate (authority given by electorate) was weak in Scotland and Wales [Labour and other parties held an overwhelming majority of the seats]
• The Labour party in Scotland and Wales felt threatened by the new growth in nationalist voting – feared they too would suffer the same fate as the Conservatives
• In 1993 the Welsh language gained official recognition – signs and documents = both languages and Welsh had to be offered in all schools/people could opt to speak Welsh in courts = fresh impetus for Welsh nationalism
• End of Cold War in late 80s = upsurge of nationalist feeling across the world
• John Smith who took Labour leadership in 1992 was a committed devolutionist
• At that time Labour party believed it would need the support of the Liberal Democrats in order to gain power and devolution was one of their key policies
• Devolution was a clear part of the Labour manifesto for the 1997 general election and their decisive victory gave them a clear mandate

Reforms

• Referendums took place in 1997 –  in Wales the turnout was only just over 50% and of those who turned out to vote – only 50.3% of them voted yes
• Welsh National Assembly established 1999  – under powers of the Government of Wales Act 1998

What were the effects of the Reform?

• By 1999 the Welsh Assembly (WA) had come into existence
• Labour – in control (in minority govt) at first under First Minister Alun Michael
• He was replaced in 2001 by Rhodri Morgan and Labour formed a coalitionwith the Liberal Democrats
• By 2007 elections this coalitionhad collapsed and Labour (who dropped from 29 to 26 seats) formed a coalition with Plaid Cymru who came second in the elections(Welsh Nationalists)
• The Welsh Assembly has considerably fewer powers than the Scottish Parliament
• It has NO power to make PRIMARY legislation – this means that the British  Parliament and Govt. still rule Wales
• There are 60 seats in the Welsh Assembly
• They do have devolved powers in certain areas of policy – It does have power to make secondary legislation (minor laws and regulations) [eg: abolition of school league tables in Wales) but it has to rely on Westminster to make  primary legislation
• It can’t raise any special taxes in Wales (as the Scottish Parliament can)
• The Welsh executive shares power with the Welsh Office in London
• In 2004 The Richard Commissionreported after 2 years of deliberation – suggested – Assembly should be increased in size to 80 by 2011; it should have the right to make many of the types of laws allowed to the Scottish Parliament; Members should be elected by the Single Transferable Vote system; it should be allowed tax varying powers; Committees should be strengthened to enable better scrutiny of the executive
• The Government in Westminster passed the GOVERNMENT OF WALES ACT 2006– enabled parts of the WA to be reformed to more resemble a Parliament = modest increase in powers
• The Assembly would then be allowed to pass Primary legislation in certain areas [depending on the outcome of a referendum] (UK Parliament would have the right to veto them)
• Overall the Act was seen as a disappointment and further evidence that the Westminster Parliament intends to maintain its sovereignty and control over Wales
• In February 2010  the WA voted in favour of holding a referendum on the issue of enabling the Assembly to pass primary legislation
• If this referendum produces a ‘Yes’ vote – it will give the WA similar powers to the Scottish Parliament
• Even if the referendum produces a ‘Yes’ however, it remains to be seen whether the coalitionwill allow it

How successful has it been? – Praise/criticisms

• Turn out for initial referendum = low and only achieved a majority yes vote by 0.3% = was that enough??
• Turnout at first election = only 46%
• The Assembly gained support by abolishing prescription charges and reducing tuition fees payable by Welsh students in higher education
• Overall the Government of Wales Act 2006  was seen as a disappointment and further evidence that the Westminster Parliament intends to maintain its sovereignty and control over Wales
• Although there are plans for a referendum on the extension of the powers of the WA

Future

• Rhodri Morgan has complained that Welsh Nationalism is not taken seriously
• The Government of Wales Act 2006 provides that a referendum on the legislative powers of the Welsh Assembly be held before any changes are made
• Cheryl Gillan – Secretary of State for Wales announced that she is working on this matter and aims for holding another referendum