:Welsh devolution

Wales was conquered by England during the 13th century and the last native prince of Wales, Llywelyn the Last, was killed in an ambush by an English soldier in 1282.{{Cite book |last=Gower |first=John |title=The Story of Wales |publisher=BBC Books |year=2013 |pages=119–120 |language=English}} The 1284 Statute of Rhuddlan caused Wales to lose its de facto independence and formed the constitutional basis for it as a principality in the Realm of England.{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Francis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7SWTAAAAIAAJ |title=The Princes and Principality of Wales |date=1969 |publisher=University of Wales P. |isbn=978-0-900768-20-0 |language=en}}

Owain Glyndŵr briefly restored Welsh independence in a national uprising that began in 1400. He convened Wales' first Senedd in Machynlleth in 1404, but the Welsh were defeated by the English by 1412.{{Cite book |last=Gower |first=John |title=The Story of Wales |publisher=BBC Books |year=2013 |pages=137–146}} The penal laws against the Welsh of 1401-02 passed by the English parliament made the Welsh second-class citizens. With hopes of independence ended, there were no further wars or rebellions against English rule and the laws remained on the statute books until 1624.{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Geraint |title=A Concise History of Wales |year=2007 |pages=107–119}}

The English Parliament's Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 applied English law to Wales and united the Principality and the Marches of Wales, effectively abolishing both regions and incorporating Wales into England.{{Cite web |title=BBC Wales - History - Themes - The 1536 Act of Union |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/periods/tudors_04.shtml |access-date=2022-02-09 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Laws in Wales Act 1535 (repealed 21.12.1993) |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Hen8/27/26/contents}} The Wales and Berwick Act 1746 defined "England" to include Wales.{{Cite web |date=2012-07-26 |title=The Welsh language Act of 1967 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/fe99df6b-bf61-3cb0-a695-fa76c013fc98 |access-date=2022-02-09 |website=BBC |language=en}}

{{main|Disestablishment of the Church in Wales}}

The Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881 was the first legislation to acknowledge that Wales had a separate politico-legal character from the rest of the English state. At the time, a majority of people in Wales belonged to noncomformists chapels despite members of the Church of England having legal and social privileges. The Sunday Closing Act was therefore celebrated in Wales as a significant step towards establishing equal status for the noncomformist chapels and disestablishing the Anglican church in Wales. Historian and former BBC Wales producer John Trefor suggests that the act "was a victory, not only for the chapels and the temperance leagues, but for Welsh identity. He goes on to say, "There was a sense that things could be done differently here. Wales-only Education and cemetery acts came soon after, and in many respects it established the principle on which devolution and the National Assembly are based."{{Cite news |date=2011-08-04 |title=130 years since Sunday drinking was banned in Wales |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-14136013 |access-date=2023-01-13}}

File:David Lloyd George NLW3362532.jpg|257x257px]]

David Lloyd George, MP for Caernarfon at the time, was devoted to Welsh devolution early in his career, starting with the Church in Wales. He said in 1890; "I am deeply impressed with the fact that Wales has wants and inspirations of her own which have too long been ignored, but which must no longer be neglected. First and foremost amongst these stands the cause of religious liberty and equality in Wales. If returned to Parliament by you, it shall be my earnest endeavour to labour for the triumph of this great cause. I believe in a liberal extension of the principle of decentralisation."{{Cite web |title=OLCreate: CYM-WH_E1 Sources for Unit 8: Source 8F |url=https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=55159§ion=1.6 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=www.open.edu}} In 1895, in a Church in Wales Bill which was ultimately unsuccessful, Lloyd George added an amendment in a discreet attempt at forming a sort of Welsh home rule, a national council for appointment of the Welsh Church commissioners.{{Cite web |title=OLCreate: CYM-WH_E1 Sources for Unit 8: Source 8Ji |url=https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=55159§ion=1.11 |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=www.open.edu}}{{Cite web |title=OLCreate: CYM-WH_E1 Sources for Unit 8: Source 8Jii |url=https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=55159§ion=1.12 |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=www.open.edu}}{{cite journal |last1=Doe |first1=Norman |title=The Welsh Church Act 1914: A Century of Constitutional Freedom for the Church in Wales? |journal=Ecclesiastical Law Journal |date=January 2020 |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=2–14 |doi=10.1017/S0956618X19001674 |s2cid=213980589 }} The Welsh Church Act 1914 was passed giving the Church in Wales the freedom to govern its own affairs. After being suspended for the duration of the First World War, the Act came into effect from 1920.{{Cite web |title=Volume I: Prefatory Note |url=https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/clergy-and-members/constitution/volume-i-prefatory-note/ |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Church in Wales |language=en}}

In response to the Irish demand for "home rule", Liberal prime minister of the UK, William Gladstone proposed two bills on home rule for Ireland in 1886 and 1893, which both failed.{{Cite web |title=Two home rule Bills |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/legislativescrutiny/parliamentandireland/overview/two-home-rule-bills/}} Although the idea of "home rule all round" had been around since the 1830s the idea became more popular in 1910 during the constitutional conference and on the brink of an Irish war during 1913–14.{{Cite journal |last=Kendle |first=J. E. |date=Jun 1968 |title=VI. The Round Table Movement and 'Home Rule All Round' |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0018246x00002041 |journal=The Historical Journal |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=332–353 |doi=10.1017/s0018246x00002041 |s2cid=159471230 |issn=0018-246X|url-access=subscription }}

File:Llewelyn Williams.jpg set up the first Cymru Fydd branch on Welsh soil in Barry in 1891.{{Cite web |title='A PROVED AND LOYAL FRIENDSHIP': THE DIARY OF W. LLEWELYN WILLIAMS MP, 1906-15 |url=https://www.library.wales/fileadmin/docs_gwefan/new_structure/catalogues/specialist_catalogues/nlw_journal/cgr_erth_XXXIVrh3_2008_3.pdf}}]]

Political movements supporting Welsh self-rule began in the late nineteenth century alongside a rise in Welsh nationalism.{{Cite book |last=Pilkington |first=Colin |url=http://archive.org/details/devolutioninbrit0000pilk |title=Devolution in Britain today |publisher=Manchester University Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-7190-6075-5 |pages=35–38}}{{Cite web |title=History of devolution |url=https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/history-of-devolution/ |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=senedd.wales |language=en-GB}} In the same year as the first bill for Ireland was proposed, the Cymru Fydd (Wales To Be/Wales Will Be) movement was founded to further the home rule cause for Wales.{{citation|title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales|year=2008|place=Cardiff|publisher=University of Wales Press}} Lloyd George was one of the main leaders of Cymru Fydd which was an organisation created with the aim of establishing a Welsh Government{{cite journal |id={{ProQuest|1310503225}} |last1=Jones |first1=J G.|title=Alfred Thomas's National Institution (Wales) Bills of 1891-92 |journal=Welsh History Review |volume=15 |issue=1 |date=1 January 1990 |pages=218–239 }} and a "stronger Welsh identity".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/politics_cymru_fydd.shtml|title = BBC Wales - History - Themes - Cymru Fydd - Young Wales}} As such Lloyd George was seen as a radical figure in British politics and was associated with the reawakening of Welsh nationalism and identity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=55160&printable=1|title = Unit 8 David Lloyd George and the destiny of Wales: View as single page}}{{Cite web |date=2022-02-28 |title=Yes or No? The Welsh Devolution Referendum |url=https://blog.library.wales/the-welsh-devolution-referendum/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=National Library of Wales Blog |language=en-US}} Historian Emyr Price has referred to him as "the first architect of Welsh devolution and its most famous advocate’" as well as "the pioneering advocate of a powerful parliament for the Welsh people".{{Cite book |title=David Lloyd George (Celtic Radicals) |publisher=University of Wales Press |year=2005 |pages=208}} The first Cymru Fydd societies were set up in Liverpool and London in 1887 and in the winter of 1886–7, the North and South Wales liberal federations were founded.{{Cite web |title=""Home Rule all round": Experiments in Regionalising Great Britain, 1886-1914." Political Reform in Britain, 1886 - 1996: Themes, Ideas, Policies. Eds. Jordan, Ulrike; Kaiser, Wolfram. Bochum: Universitätsverlag Dr. N. Brockmeyer. 169 - 192. Arbeitskreis Deutsche England-Forschung 37. |url=https://thestacks.libaac.de/bitstream/handle/11858/2064/Rembold%20-%201997%20-%20Home%20Rule%20all%20round.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y}} Lloyd George was also particularly active in attempting to set up a separate Welsh National Party which was based on Charles Stewart Parnell's Irish Parliamentary Party and also worked to unite the North and South Wales Liberal Federations with Cymru Fydd to form a Welsh National Liberal Federation.{{Cite web |title=BBC Wales - History - Themes - David Lloyd George |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/figures/lloyd_george.shtml |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}} The Cymru Fydd movement collapsed in 1896 amid personal rivalries and rifts between Liberal representatives such as David Alfred Thomas.{{cite web |title=Wales {{!}} Vol, V no. 8/9 {{!}} 1945 {{!}} Cylchgronau Cymru – Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru |url=https://cylchgronau.llyfrgell.cymru/view/1214989/1216131/107 |access-date=4 December 2020 |publisher=National Library of Wales |language=cy-GB}} In 1898 however, David Lloyd George managed to form the Welsh National Liberal Council, a loose umbrella organisation covering the two federations.{{cite web |last1=Alderton |first1=Nicholas |title=The formation of the Welsh Liberal Party, 1966-1967 |url=https://www.psa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/conference/papers/2015/The%20Formation%20of%20the%20Welsh%20Liberal%20Party%20(1).pdf |access-date=10 April 2019 |website=Political Studies Association}}

Support for home rule for Wales and Scotland amongst most political parties was strongest in 1918 following the independence of other European countries after the First World War, and the Easter Rising in Ireland, wrote Dr Davies.Davies (1994) pp. 523 Although Cymru Fydd had collapsed, home rule was still on the agenda, with liberal Joseph Chamberlain proposing "Home Rule All Round" for all nations of the United Kingdom, in part to meet Irish demands but maintain the superiority of the imperial parliament of Westminster. This idea which eventually fell out of favour after "southern Ireland" left the UK and became a dominion in 1921 and the Irish free state was established in 1922. Home rule all round became official labour party policy, by he 1920s, but the Liberals lost interest because if a Welsh Parliament was formed they would not control it.{{Cite web |title=BBC Wales - History - Themes - Chapter 22: A new nation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/guide/ch22_a_new_nation.shtml |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}

The late 19th century saw the formation of a number of national institutions; a national and annual cultural event, the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1861,{{Cite web|title=BBC Wales - Eisteddfod - Guide - A brief history of the Eisteddfod|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/eisteddfod2008/sites/guide/history/pages/history_eisteddfod.shtml|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} the Football Association of Wales in 1876,{{Cite web|title=FAW / Who are FAW?|url=http://www.faw.cymru/en/about-faw/who-are-faw/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.faw.cymru|language=en}} the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881{{Cite web|title=140 Years of the Welsh Rugby Union|url=https://www.wru.wales/article/140-years-of-the-welsh-rugby-union/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=Welsh Rugby Union {{!}} Wales & Regions|language=en-GB}} and the University of Wales in 1893.{{Cite web|title=History of the University of Wales - University of Wales|url=https://www.wales.ac.uk/en/AboutUs/Developments/History.aspx|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.wales.ac.uk}}

In 1896, Education in Wales began to become distinct with the formation of the Central Welsh Board which inspected grammar schools in Wales and The Welsh Intermediate Education Act 1889 was brought about to "make further provision for the intermediate and technical education of the inhabitants of Wales and the county of Monmouth.", making the board responsible for inspection of secondary schools.{{Cite web |date=2013-08-12 |title=The Welsh Intermediate Education Act, 1889 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/ee4a5728-7f96-3b9f-93ac-29300c2d6066 |access-date=2022-02-04 |website=BBC |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C815 |title=Records of the Welsh Department and successors |date=1880–1983 |others=Board of Education, Board of Education, Welsh Department, Department of Education and Science, Education Office for Wales, Department of Education and Science, Welsh Education Office, Education Department, Ministry of Education, Welsh Department |language=English}} In 1907, the Welsh department of the Board of Education was formed and in the same year, a Welsh Inspectorate was established for inspection of primary and secondary schools in Wales.

The early 20th century also saw the continued formation of a number of Welsh national institutions; the National Library of Wales in 1911,{{Cite web|title=History of the Building {{!}} The National Library of Wales|url=https://www.library.wales/librarybuilding/historyofthebuilding|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.library.wales}} the Welsh Guards in 1915{{Cite web|title=Welsh Guards|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/welsh-guards/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB}} and the Welsh Board of Health in 1919.{{Cite book|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C923|title=Records of the Welsh Board of Health|date=1919–1969|others=Welsh Board of Health|language=English}} The Church in Wales came into existence in 1920 following the disestablishment of the Church of England via the Welsh Church Act 1914.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/4-5/91|title=Welsh Church Act 1914}}

File:Parch Lewis Valentine yn ifanc.jpg, first president of Plaid Cymru.{{Cite web |title=Fire in Llŷn |url=https://www.peoplescollection.wales/story/378207 |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Peoples Collection Wales |language=en}}]]

There had been discussions about the need for a "Welsh party" since the 19th century.Davies (1994) pp. 415, 454 With the generation or so before 1922 there "had been a marked growth in the constitutional recognition of the Welsh nation", wrote historian Dr John Davies.Davies (1994) pp. 544 By 1924 there were people in Wales "eager to make their nationality the focus of Welsh politics".Davies (1994) pp. 547 In 1925 Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru ("the National Party of Wales") was founded; it was renamed Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales in 1945. The party's principles defined in 1970 were (1) self government for Wales, (2) to safeguard the culture, traditions, language and economic position of Wales and (3) to secure membership for a self-governing Welsh state in the United Nations.{{Cite journal |last=Lutz |first=James M. |date=1981 |title=The Spread of the Plaid Cymru: The Spatial Impress |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/447358 |journal=The Western Political Quarterly |volume=34 |issue=2 |pages=310–328 |doi=10.2307/447358 |issn=0043-4078 |jstor=447358|url-access=subscription }}

Early members of the Independent Labour Party attempted to establish a South Wales Federation towards the end of the 19th century but the South Wales Regional Council of Labour was not established until 1937.{{Cite web |title=Labour Party Wales Archives - National Library of Wales Archives and Manuscripts |url=https://archives.library.wales/index.php/labour-party-wales-archives |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=archives.library.wales}} The UK Labour government elected in 1945 was strongly centrist, but in the same year, there were 15 UK Government departments established in Wales.{{Cite book |last=Torrence |first=David |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8318/CBP-8318.pdf |title=Devolution in Wales: "A process, not an event" |publisher=House of Commons Library |year=2022 |pages=9}} By 1947, a unified Welsh Regional Council of Labour became responsible for all Wales. In 1959 the Labour council title was changed from "Welsh Regional council" to "Welsh council", and the Labour body was renamed Labour Party Wales in 1975.

{{Main|Council for Wales and Monmouthshire}}

Welsh Labour backbenchers such as D. R. Grenfell, W. H. Mainwaring and James Griffiths supported the establishment of a Secretary of State post whereas Aneurin Bevan thought devolution would distract from "British mainstream politics". The UK Government compromised and agreed to the establishment of a Council for Wales and Monmouthshire. However, it was given no more than a responsibility to advise the UK government on matters of Welsh interest.John Davies, A History of Wales, Penguin, 1993, {{ISBN|0-14-028475-3}}

The proposal to set up a Council for Wales and Monmouthshire was announced in the House of Commons on 24 November 1948. Its inaugural meeting was in May 1949, and its first business meeting the following month. Its terms of reference were:

• to meet from time to time and at least quarterly for the interchange of views and information on development and trends in the economic and cultural fields in Wales and Monmouthshire; and
• to ensure the government is adequately informed of the impact of government activities on the general life of the people of Wales and Monmouthshire.{{Cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/record?catid=506&catln=2|title=The Discovery Service|first=The National|last=Archives|website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}

The Council for Wales and Monmouthshire had 27 appointed members. Of these, 12 were nominated by Welsh local authorities; there were also nominees from the Joint Education Committee, the University of Wales, the National Eisteddfod Council, the Welsh Tourist and Holidays Board, and from both management and union sides of Welsh industry and agriculture.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1949/apr/26/council-for-wales-membership|date=26 April 1949|title=COUNCIL FOR WALES (MEMBERSHIP) (Hansard, 26 April 1949)|website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)}} The chairman was Huw T. Edwards, a trade union leader.{{Cite web|url=http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=1&coll_id=94&expand=|title=Archives Network Wales: Council for Wales and Monmouthshire records|access-date=2022-06-04|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181418/http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=1&coll_id=94&expand=|url-status=dead}} The Council met in private, a further source of controversy.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1949/jan/20/wales-council|date=20 January 1949|title=WALES (COUNCIL) (Hansard, 20 January 1949)|website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)}} It set up various panels and committees to investigate issues affecting Wales, including a Welsh Language Panel to study and report upon the present situation of the language; a Government Administration Panel; an Industrial Panel; a Rural Development Panel; a Transport Panel; and a Tourist Industry Panel.

File:A_Plaid_Cymru_rally_in_Machynlleth_in_1949_where_the_"Parliament_for_Wales_in_5_years"_campaign_was_started_(14050400654).jpg rally in Machynlleth in 1949 where the "Parliament for Wales in 5 years" campaign was started]]

File:Meganlloydgeorge (cropped).jpg, leader of the Parliament for Wales campaign 1950–1956.]]

{{main|Parliament for Wales Campaign}}

In the 1950s, the deterioration of the British Empire removed a sense of Britishness and there was a realisation that Wales was not as prosperous as south-east England and smaller European countries. Successive Conservative Party victories in Westminster led to suggestions that only through self-government could Wales achieve a government reflecting the votes of a Welsh electorate. The Tryweryn flooding was opposed by 125 local authorities and 27 of 36 Welsh MPs voted against the second reading of the bill with none voting for it. At the time, Wales had no Welsh office (introduced in 1964) or any devolution.{{Cite web |title=Public Policy and Normative Language: Utility, Community and Nation in the Debate over the Construction of Tryweryn Reservoir |url=https://academic.oup.com/pa/article-abstract/60/4/625/1581149?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=academic.oup.com}} John Davies adds that the representatives of Wales were powerless under the political structure of the time, a core message of Plaid Cymru.{{Cite book |last=John |first=Davies |url= |title=A History of Wales |publisher=Penguin |year=1994 |isbn= |pages=664 |language=English |oclc=}} The Epynt clearance in 1940 has also been described as a "significant - but often overlooked - chapter in the history of Wales".{{Cite web |title=Epynt: A lost community |url=https://www.nfu-cymru.org.uk/news-and-information/epynt-a-lost-community/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=www.nfu-cymru.org.uk |language=en-gb}}

Those in favour of a Welsh parliament paraded in Machynlleth (the place of Owain Glyndŵr's last Senedd) on 1 October 1949. Speakers and entertainment were also at the event.{{Cite web |title=Watch Rali Senedd i Gymru, Machynlleth 1949 |url=https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-rali-senedd-i-gymru-machynlleth-1949-1949-online |access-date=2022-02-01 |website=BFI Player |language=en}} From 1950 to 1956, Parliament for Wales campaign brought devolution back onto the political agenda. A cross-party campaign was led by Lady Megan Lloyd George, daughter of former prime minister and campaigner for Welsh devolution, David Lloyd George, who had died in 1945.{{cite journal |id={{ProQuest|1310498251}} |last1=Jones |first1=J Graham |title=THE PARLIAMENT FOR WALES CAMPAIGN, 1950-56 |journal=Welsh History Review |volume=16 |issue=2 |date=1 December 1992 |pages=207–236 }} The Campaign for a Welsh parliament (Ymgyrch Senedd i Gymru) was formally launched on 1 July 1950, at a rally in Llandrindod. This event lead to the creation of a petition of 240,652 names calling for the establishment of a Welsh parliament, which was presented to the House of Commons by Megan Lloyd George in 1956. This was rejected by the UK government. Petitions were also presented to the House of Commons for a Secretary of State for Wales which were also rejected.

{{Main|Welsh Office|Secretary of State for Wales}}

In the first half of the 20th century, a number of politicians had supported the creation of the post of Secretary of State for Wales as a step towards home rule for Wales. A post of Minister of Welsh Affairs was created in 1951 under the home secretary and was promoted to minister of state level in 1954. In 1964, the UK Labour government formed a new office of the Secretary of State for Wales and in 1965 the Welsh Office was created which was run by the Secretary of State for Wales and which was responsible for implementing UK government policies in Wales. In 1999 the Welsh Office made way for the National Assembly for Wales and staff from the Welsh office moved into the National Assembly.{{Cite web |date=2009-01-07 |title=Key Events in the Development of the National Assembly for Wales |url=http://www.rhodriglynthomas.org/downloads/Development-National-Assembly-Wales-e.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107071619/http://www.rhodriglynthomas.org/downloads/Development-National-Assembly-Wales-e.pdf |archive-date=2009-01-07 |access-date=2022-10-14}}

{{main|Flag of Wales|Capital of Wales}}

The first official flag of Wales was created in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. This "augmented" flag including the Royal badge of Wales was criticised in 1958 by "Gorsedd y Beirdd", a national Welsh group comprising Welsh literary figures and Welsh people of note. In 1959, likely in response to criticism, the Welsh flag was changed to a red Welsh dragon on a green and white background that remains the current flag of Wales today.{{Cite news|date=2019-07-06|title=Wales history: Why is the red dragon on the Welsh flag?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47389680|access-date=2022-02-23}}

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On 21 December 1955, the Lord Mayor of Cardiff announced to a crowd that Cardiff was now the official capital of Wales following a vote the previous day by Welsh local authority members. Cardiff won the vote with 136 votes and Caernarfon came in second place with 11 votes. A campaign for Cardiff to become the capital city had been ongoing for 30 years prior to the vote. Historian James Cowan outlined some reasons why Cardiff was chosen which included; being the largest city in Wales with a population of 243,632, buildings in Cathays park such as City Hall and the National Museum of Wales among other reasons. Dr Martin Johnes, lecturer at Swansea University suggested that following the formation of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, Cardiff became "a capital in a meaningful way, as the home of the Welsh government, whereas before, its capital status was irrelevant, it was just symbolic".{{Cite news|date=2015-12-21|title=Cardiff then and now: 60 years as capital city of Wales|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-35126210|access-date=2022-02-10}}

File:Gwynfor Evans.jpg in 1951.]]

The leader of Plaid Cymru, Gwynfor Evans won the party's first-ever seat in Westminster in Carmarthen in 1966, which "helped change the course of a nation" according to Dr Martin Johnes of Swansea University. This, paired with the SNP's Winnie Ewing's winning a seat in Hamilton, Scotland in 1967 may have contributed to pressure on Labour prime minister Harold Wilson to form the Kilbrandon Commission.{{Cite web |title=Remembering Gwynfor Evans' by-election which changed Welsh history |url=https://www.thenational.wales/news/19426429.remembering-gwynfor-evans-by-election-changed-welsh-history/ |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=The National Wales |language=en |archive-date=2021-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923062559/https://www.thenational.wales/news/19426429.remembering-gwynfor-evans-by-election-changed-welsh-history/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |date=2016-07-14 |title=Plaid Cymru's first MP 'helped change course of a nation' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-36772269 |access-date=2022-03-10}} This event may have also contributed to the passing of the Welsh Language Act 1967. This act repealed a provision in the Wales and Berwick Act 1746 that the term "England" should include Wales, thus defining Wales to be a separate entity from England within the UK.{{cite web|date=July 2011|title=The Constitution Series: 1 – Wales in the United Kingdom|url=http://www.assembly.wales/Research%20Documents/The%20Constitution%20Wales%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom%20-%20Quick%20guide-22072011-217207/qg07-0001-English.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420062743/http://www.assembly.wales/Research%20Documents/The%20Constitution%20Wales%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom%20-%20Quick%20guide-22072011-217207/qg07-0001-English.pdf|archive-date=20 April 2016|access-date=6 April 2016|publisher=National Assembly for Wales}}{{Cite web|date=2012-07-26|title=The Welsh language Act of 1967|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/fe99df6b-bf61-3cb0-a695-fa76c013fc98|access-date=2022-01-31|website=BBC|language=en}} The legislation permitted the use of Welsh including in courts of law. The act was in part based upon the Hughes Parry Report from 1965. While the Welsh Courts Act in 1942 had previously allowed limited use of Welsh if defendants or plaintiffs had limited knowledge of English, the 1967 act was far more robust. While the act itself was quite limited, it had large symbolic importance. In 1966, Emlyn Hooson convinced a majority of delegates to merge both the Welsh liberal federations into a single entity, forming the Welsh Liberal Party. The new party had far more authority, and gradually centralised the finances and policy of the party in Wales.

{{See also|Yes for Wales}}

The UK Labour government introduced separate devolution bills for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1977 following the support for a Scottish parliament by the Kilbrandon Commission.{{Cite web |title=Welsh Referendum |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/wales/briefing/79referendums.shtml |access-date=2022-02-10 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}} On St David's Day (March 1), 1979 Welsh devolution referendum was held on a National Assembly for Wales but came at the end of the Winter of Discontent in addition to "tribalism" divisions within Wales. According to John Morris, people in southern Wales were persuaded that the Assembly would be dominated by "bigoted Welsh-speakers from the north and the west" whilst in the northern Wales, people were persuaded that the Assembly would be dominated by Glamorgan County Council “Taffia”.{{Cite web |last=WalesOnline |date=2011-10-02 |title=Lord Morris of Aberavon lifts the lid on the disastrous 1979 devolution referendum |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/lord-morris-aberavon-lifts-lid-1803341 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}} Richard Wyn Jones also suggests that suspicions of a secret elite of a "Taffia" or "crachach" may have affected the referendum results,“There was a perception amongst anti-devolutionists that devolution was some sort of plot by the establishment, by the crachach. Their [the anti-devolutionists’] idea that they were standing up for ‘the people’ was reinforced by 1979.” {{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=David |date=2009-03-05 |title=Spectre of the Taffia could still threaten hopes of a law-making Assembly |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/spectre-taffia-could-still-threaten-2116134 |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}} Welsh voters voted against forming an Assembly, with 79.7% voting against and 20.3% who voting Yes. Meanwhile, Scotland had narrowly voted in favour of a Scottish parliament with 51.6% in favour.

The Welsh Language Act 1993 provided a new law for public organisations in Wales to have bilingual schemes, which would be supervised by the Welsh Language Board. Some private sector companies including British Telecoms (BT) and British Gas had already included Welsh language schemes in company policies before this Act.{{Cite news|date=2010-12-07|title=Q&A: New Welsh language legislation|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-11932770|access-date=2022-02-03}}

In the 1980s, economic restructuring and market reforms by Margaret Thatcher are described as having brought social dislocation to parts of Wales, which was formerly described as having "the largest public sector west of the Iron Curtain".{{cite book |last=Balsom |first=Denis |title=The Road to the National Assembly for Wales |publisher=University of Wales Press |year=2000 |editor1-last=Balsom |location=Cardiff |chapter=Political Developments in Wales 1979–1997 |editor2-last=Jones |editor2-first=Barry}} A succession of non-Welsh Conservative Secretaries of State after 1987 was portrayed by opponents as 'colonial' and indicative of a 'democratic deficit'.

In the early 1990s, Labour became committed to devolution to both Scotland and Wales, and in 1997 it was elected with a mandate to hold referendums on a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly. The political climate was very different from that of 1979 Welsh devolution referendum which resulted in a no vote, with a new generation of Welsh MPs in Westminster and a broad consensus on the previously divisive issue of the Welsh language. In the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum, a majority of the Welsh electorate vote in favour of establishing a National Assembly for Wales by 50.3 per cent, on a 50.2 per cent turnout.{{cite news |last=Powys |first=Betsan |date=12 January 2010 |title=The long Welsh walk to devolution |work=BBC News website |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/7813837.stm |access-date=26 September 2010}}

{{main|Senedd|Welsh Government|Devolved, reserved and excepted matters}}

File:Senedd.JPG, Cardiff Bay (formerly National Assembly for Wales).]]

The Government of Wales Act 1998 granted the formation of the National Assembly and granted it a significant number of new powers which included most of the powers previously held by the Secretary of State for Wales and at least 20 national institutions including the Education and Learning Wales, Environment Agency Wales and the Welsh Language Board.{{Cite web|title=Government of Wales Act|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/38/pdfs/ukpga_19980038_en.pdf}}{{Cite journal |last=Reynolds |first=David |date=2008 |title=New Labour, Education and Wales: The Devolution Decade |journal=Oxford Review of Education |volume=34 |issue=6 |pages=753–765 |doi=10.1080/03054980802519019 |jstor=20462432 |s2cid=144624435 }} The National Assembly for Wales was formed in 1999 and the UK Parliament reserved the right to set limits on its powers.

The Commission on the Powers and Electoral Arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales (the Richard Commission) was formed in 2002. This commission made a series of recommendations in 2004. These included an increased number of members, legally separating executive and legislative acts and the devolution of primary law-making powers. A large majority of these findings were used by the UK government to introduce the Government of Wales Act 2006, describing the powers and responsibilities of the devolved authorities for legislating, decision-making and policy-making.{{Cite web|title=History of devolution|url=https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/history-of-devolution/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=senedd.wales|language=en-GB}} In March 2011, a referendum was held on whether full primary law-making powers should be given to the National Assembly in the twenty subject areas where it held jurisdiction. The referendum concluded with 63.5% of voters supporting the transfer of full primary law-making powers to the Assembly.{{Cite web |title=Historic "Yes" vote gives Wales greater law-making powers {{!}} Welsh Government |url=https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-8EQDQE |access-date=2022-02-01 |website=www.wired-gov.net |language=en}}

In 2011, the International Standards Organisation officially changed the status of Wales to country after the term "principality" was used in error. This came about following lobbying from Plaid Cymru AM (Assembly Member) Leanne Wood. Legally Wales had ceased to be a principality since the period that the Statue of Rhuddlan was implemented from 1284 to 1542.{{Cite web|last=WalesOnline|date=2011-07-31|title=International body grants Wales country status after principality error|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/international-body-grants-wales-country-1813629|access-date=2022-02-10|website=WalesOnline|language=en}} The governments of the United Kingdom and of Wales almost invariably define Wales as a country.{{cite web|date=10 January 2003|title=Countries within a country|url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page823|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080909013512/http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page823|archive-date=9 September 2008|access-date=5 November 2010|website=10 Downing Street website|publisher=10 Downing Street|quote=The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.}}{{cite web|date=3 July 2010|title=UN report causes stir with Wales dubbed 'Principality'|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2010/07/03/un-report-causes-stir-with-wales-dubbed-principality-91466-26777027/|access-date=25 July 2010|website=WalesOnline website|publisher=Media Wales Ltd|quote=... the Assembly's Counsel General, John Griffiths, [said]: "I agree that, in relation to Wales, Principality is a misnomer and that Wales should properly be referred to as a country.}} VisitWales.com states that "Wales is not a Principality. Although we are joined with England by land, and we are part of Great Britain, Wales is a country in its own right."{{cite web|year=2008|title=Wales.com FAQs|url=http://www.wales.com/about-wales/frequently-asked-questions#Question_11|access-date=24 August 2015|website=Wales.com website|publisher=Welsh Government}}{{Cite book|last=Bogdanor|first=Vernon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lTnHwWWKAR8C&pg=PA52%20%7CACCESS-DATE|title=The Monarchy and the Constitution|date=1995-11-09|publisher=Clarendon Press|isbn=978-0-19-827769-9|language=en}}

The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 modernised the 1993 Welsh Language Act and gave Welsh an official status in Wales for the first time, a major landmark for the language. Welsh is the only official de jure language of any country in the UK. The Measure was also responsible for creating the post of Welsh Language Commissioner, replacing the Welsh Language Board.{{Cite web|title=Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 {{!}} Law Wales|url=https://law.gov.wales/culture/welsh-language/welsh-language-wales-measure-2011|access-date=2022-02-03|website=law.gov.wales}} Following the referendum in 2011, the Official Languages Act became the first Welsh law to be created in 600 years, according to the First Minister at the time, Carwyn Jones. This law was passed by Welsh AMs (assembly members) only and made Welsh an official language of the National Assembly.{{Cite web|date=2012-11-12|title=First Welsh law 'for 600 years'|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2012-11-12/first-welsh-law-for-600-years|access-date=2022-02-03|website=ITV News|language=en}}

The UK Government also formed the Commission on Devolution in Wales (the Silk Commission). The commission published part 1 of its report in 2012, recommending new financial powers for Wales including borrowing and taxation, which came into force in the Wales Act 2014. The Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Act 2016 was passed by the National Assembly to facilitate the financial powers of the Wales Act 2014. The Land Transaction Tax (replacing Stamp Duty) and the Landfill Disposal Tax were the very first two devolved taxes. In 2019, over £2 billion of income tax was devolved to the Senedd.File:Neuadd & Oriel, Senedd, Cardiff Bay.jpg

The Wales Act 2017 defined the National Assembly and devolved institutions to be a permanent component of the UK constitution, and any abolition of such institutions would require a referendum. The act also changed the model of operation of the devolved institutions from a "conferred powers model" to a "reserved powers model". This allowed the Assembly to legislate on any matter that is not expressly reserved from its competence.{{Cite web |title=Reserved vs. Conferred powers |url=https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/reserved-vs-conferred-powers/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=research.senedd.wales |language=en-GB}} The Assembly was also given the power to decide its own name and voting system of members. In May 2020, the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020, the National Assembly for Wales was renamed "Senedd Cymru" or "the Welsh Parliament", commonly known as the "Senedd" in both English and Welsh, to reflect increased legislative powers.{{Cite news|date=2020-05-06|title=Welsh assembly renamed Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-52544137|access-date=2022-01-31}} The Act for the first time in Wales allowed 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote, beginning with the 2021 Senedd election.{{Cite web|title=16 and 17 year olds have secured the right to vote in Wales|url=https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/16-and-17-year-olds-secure-the-right-to-vote-in-wales-today/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=www.electoral-reform.org.uk|language=en-US}}

Plaid Cymru proposed two bills to the UK parliament in the 2021-22 parliamentary session which ultimately did not gain royal assent. A Crown Estate (Devolution to Wales) Bill - A bill to devolve the Crown Estate's management and assets in Wales to the Welsh Government was sponsored by Liz Saville Roberts.{{Cite web |title=Crown Estate (Devolution to Wales) Bill |url=https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2949/publications}} Shared Prosperity Fund (Wales) Bill - A bill which would require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of devolving management and administration of the money allocated to Wales via the Shared Prosperity Fund to the Welsh Government, was sponsored by Ben Lake.{{Cite web |title=Shared Prosperity Fund (Wales) Bill |url=https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3141}}

{{main|Devolved, reserved and excepted matters}}

The powers currently employed by the Senedd are, in summary:

• Agriculture, forestry and fishing
• Education
• Environment
• Health and social care
• Housing
• Local government
• Highways and transport
• Some control over income tax, stamp duty and landfill tax
• Welsh language{{Cite news |date=2021-03-24 |title=Devolution: What is it and how does it work across the UK? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54974078 |access-date=2022-03-10}}

The Government of Wales Act 1998 allowed the creation of the National Assembly for Wales (now Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament) and also describes devolved powers given to the Senedd. These powers include most of the powers previously held by the Secretary of State for Wales and powers over multiple national institutions such as:

• Arts Council of Wales
• Education and Learning Wales
• Historic Buildings Council for Wales
• Library Advisory Council for Wales
• Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales
• Wales Tourist Board
• Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board
• Welsh Development Agency
• Welsh Language Board
• Environment Agency Wales
• Countryside Council for Wales
• Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
• Ancient Monuments Board for Wales
• Welsh National Board for Nursing
• Midwifery and Health Visiting
• National Library of Wales
• National Museum of Wales
• Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
• Sports Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales
• Auditor General for Wales{{Cite web |title=Government of Wales Act |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/38/pdfs/ukpga_19980038_en.pdf}}

The Government of Wales Act 2006 separated the Welsh Assembly Government and the National Assembly for Wales and gives the assembly the power to create legislation on devolved matters in the following "fields":

1. Agriculture, fisheries, forestry & rural development
2. Ancient monuments & historic buildings
3. Culture
4. Economic development
5. Education & training
6. Environment
7. Fire and rescue services & promotion of fire safety
8. Food
9. Health & health services
10. Highways and transport
11. Housing
12. Local government
13. National Assembly for Wales
14. Public administration
15. Social welfare
16. Sport and recreation
17. Tourism
18. Town and country planning
19. Water and flood defence
20. Welsh language{{Cite web |title=The Government of Wales Act 2006: the challenges for legal education (Learning in Law Annual Conference 2008) at UKCLE |url=https://ials.sas.ac.uk/ukcle/78.158.56.101/archive/law/resources/nations/wales/wales/index.html |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=ials.sas.ac.uk}}

The Wales Act 2014 allows the Senedd the following:

1. Legislate devolved taxes. These revisions to devolution are added to Part 4A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
2. This Act also allows the Senedd to set income tax rates for Wales.
3. Welsh Ministers’ borrowing powers. This includes powers to borrow funds and meet current expenditure (Welsh income tax vs forecast receipts).
4. The power for borrowing in order to fund capital spending (with the consent of UK Treasury). This sum was increased from £500 million to £1 billion.

Other provisions include:

• Increasing the Senedd term from 4 to 5 years
• no restriction on standing as a Senedd constituency member and Senedd regional member
• Prevents someone from being both an MP and MS
• Welsh Assembly Government renamed Welsh Government
• Local Government and Housing Act 1989: limits on housing debts incurred by local housing authorities in Wales with a Housing Revenue Account
• Law Commission to provide advice and assistance to Welsh Ministers & Welsh ministers to report how Law Commission recommendations are implemented in Wales{{Cite web |title=Wales Act 2014 {{!}} Law Wales |url=https://law.gov.wales/constitution-and-government/constitution-and-devolution/wales-act-2014 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=law.gov.wales}}

The reserved powers model sets out the UK reserved powers that the Senedd are not permitted to apply an Act of Senedd to change. These are set out in the Wales Act 2017.

{{left|

{{Quote box

| quote = Powers not devolved

The following subject headings are listed in the new Schedule 7A which contains all of the matters that are reserved to the UK Parliament.

{{hidden begin}}

• The Constitution
• Public service
• Political parties
• Single legal jurisdiction of England and Wales
• Tribunals
• Foreign affairs etc.
• Defence

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head A – Financial and Economic Matters}}

Section A1 – Fiscal, economic and monetary policy

Section A2 – The currency

Section A3 – Financial services

Section A4 – Financial markets

Section A5 – Dormant accounts

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head B – Home Affairs}}

Section B1 – Elections

Section B2 – Nationality and immigration

Section B3 – National security and official secrets

Section B4 – Interception of communications, communications data and surveillance

Section B5 – Crime, public order and policing

Section B6 – Anti-social behaviour

Section B7 – Modern slavery

Section B8 – Prostitution

Section B9 – Emergency powers

Section B10 – Extradition

Section B11 – Rehabilitation of offenders

Section B12 – Criminal records

Section B13 – Dangerous items

Section B14 – Misuse of and dealing in drugs or psychoactive substances

Section B15 – Private security

Section B16 – Entertainment and late night refreshment

Section B17 – Alcohol

Section B18 – Betting, gaming and lotteries

Section B19 – Hunting

Section B20 – Scientific and educational procedures on live animals

Section B21 – Lieutenancies

Section B22 – Charities and fund-raising

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head C – Trade and Industry}}

Section C1 – Business associations and business names

Section C2 – Insolvency and winding up

Section C3 – Competition

Section C4 – Intellectual property

Section C5 – Import and export control

Section C6 – Consumer protection

Section C7 – Product standards, safety and liability

Section C8 – Weights and measures

Section C9 – Telecommunications and wireless telegraphy

Section C10 – Post

Section C11 – Research Councils

Section C12 – Industrial development

Section C13 – Protection of trading and economic interests

Section C14 – Assistance in connection with exports of goods and services

Section C15 – Water and sewerage

Section C16 – Pubs Code Adjudicator and the Pubs Code

Section C17 – Sunday trading

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head D – Energy}}

Section D1 – Electricity

Section D2 – Oil and gas

Section D3 – Coal

Section D4 – Nuclear energy

Section D5 – Heat and cooling

Section D6 – Energy conservation

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head E – Transport}}

Section E1 – Road transport

Section E2 – Rail transport

Section E3 – Marine and waterway transport etc.

Section E4 – Air transport

Section E5 – Transport security

Section E6 – Other matters

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head F – Social Security, Child Support, pensions and Compensation}}

Section F1 – Social security schemes

Section F2 – Child Support

Section F3 – Occupational and Personal Pensions

Section F4 – Public sector compensation

Section F5 – Armed forces compensation etc.

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head G – Professions}}

Section G1 – Architects, auditors, health professionals and veterinary surgeons

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head H – Employment}}

Section H1 – Employment and industrial relations

Section H2 – Industrial training boards

Section H3 – Job search and support

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head J – Health, Safety and Medicines}}

Section J1 – Abortion

Section J2 – Xenotransplantation

Section J3 – Embryology, surrogacy and genetics

Section J4 – Medicines, medical supplies, biological substances etc.

Section J5 – Welfare foods

Section J6 – Health and safety

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head K – Media, Culture and Sport}}

Section K1 – Media

Section K2 – Public lending right

Section K3 – Government Indemnity Scheme

Section K4 – Property accepted in satisfaction of tax

Section K5 – Sports grounds

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head L – Justice}}

Section L1 – The legal profession, legal services and claims management services

Section L2 – Legal aid

Section L3 – Coroners

Section L4 – Arbitration

Section L5 – Mental capacity

Section L6 – Personal data

Section L7 – Information rights

Section L8 – Public sector information

Section L9 – Public records

Section L10 – Compensation for persons affected by crime and miscarriages of justice

Section L11 – Prisons and offender management

Section L12 – Family relationships and children

Section L13 – Gender recognition

Section L14 – Registration of births, deaths and places of worship

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head M – Land and Agricultural Assets}}

Section M1 – Registration of land

Section M2 – Registration of agricultural charges and debentures

Section M3 – Development and buildings

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|border=1px solid black|title=Head N – Miscellaneous}}

Section N1 – Equal opportunities

Section N2 – Control of weapons

Section N3 – Ordnance Survey

Section N4 – Time

Section N5 – Outer space

Section N6 – Antarctica

Section N7 – Deep sea bed mining

{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin}}

Schedule 7B sets out certain restrictions on the Senedd's powers. For example, Acts of the Senedd:

• must not generally modify the law on reserved matters;
• must not modify private law (such as contract, tort, property) unless it is for a devolved purpose,
• must not modify certain criminal offences (such as serious offences against the person and any sexual offences) and must not modify certain rules around criminal law (such as the age a person can commit a criminal offence and the meaning of dishonesty);
• must not modify certain enactments such as the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Civil Contingencies Act 2004;
• must not modify any of the 2006 Act unless an exception applies;
• must not confer or impose functions on reserved authorities (such as Ministers of the Crown, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Health & Safety Executive) without the consent of the UK Government.

{{hidden end}}

| source = Senedd, "Powers"

{{OGL-attribution|version=2.0|{{Cite web|title=Powers|url=https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/our-role/powers/|date=2020-09-01|publisher=Welsh Government}}}}

| align = right

}}

}}

{{clear}}

{{Main|Proposed further Welsh devolution|Proposed Welsh justice system}}

The following options have been proposed as a systematic and constitutional change to autonomy in Wales by The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales.

1. Entrenched devolution
2. Federal structures
3. Independence{{Cite web |title=Interim report by The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales |url=https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2022-12/independent-commission-the-constitutional-future-of-wales-interim-report-december-2022.pdf}}

Among calls for specific matters to be devolved to Wales are powers over; Broadcasting,{{Citation |last=Deacon |first=Russell |title=1 The Evolution of Welsh Devolution |date=2018-01-23 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9780748699742-004 |work=The Government and Politics of Wales |pages=1–21 |access-date=2022-11-29 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |doi=10.1515/9780748699742-004 |isbn=9780748699742|url-access=subscription }} the Crown Estate in Wales{{Cite web |title=Plenary 24/01/2023 |url=https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/13189 |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Welsh Parliament |language=en}} and natural resources,{{Cite web |date=2022-08-25 |title=Petition calling for the Senedd to have control over Wales' water signed by over 2,500 in just a few hours |url=https://nation.cymru/news/petition-senedd-wales-water-control/ |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}} Shared Prosperity Fund,{{Cite web |date=2022-03-22 |title=Plaid Cymru MP introduces Bill calling for the devolution of post-EU funds to Wales |url=https://nation.cymru/news/plaid-cymru-mp-introduces-bill-calling-for-the-devolution-of-post-eu-funds-to-wales/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}} bank holidays,{{Cite web |last=Mosalski |first=Ruth |date=2022-02-15 |title=10,000 want St David's Day to be a bank holiday but UK gov says no |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/st-davids-day-bank-holiday-23099964 |access-date=2022-02-22 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}} energy firm taxation & regulation,{{Cite web |date=2022-02-16 |title=Mark Drakeford dismisses call for power to tax energy firms to be held in Wales |url=https://nation.cymru/news/mark-drakeford-dismisses-call-for-power-to-tax-energy-firms-to-be-held-in-wales/ |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}} gender self-identification,{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Nick |date=2023-02-07 |title=Welsh Government to seek devolution of gender recognition laws amid Scotland battle |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/wales-welsh-government-devolution-gender-recognition-laws-scotland-battle-2131989 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}} the justice system,{{Cite web |date=2022-11-29 |title=Plaid Cymru call for devolution of justice to Wales - 'we can't be treated as an appendage to England' |url=https://nation.cymru/news/plaid-cymru-devolution-justice/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}} rail infrastructure,{{Cite web |last=Hayward |first=Will |date=2023-03-17 |title=Wales misses out on £1bn from a second major English rail project |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/wales-misses-out-1bn-uk-26499793 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}} setting rates and bands of all income tax,{{Cite web |date=2023-02-08 |title=Power to set tax rates could help Wales tackle cost of living crisis says Plaid |url=https://nation.cymru/news/power-to-set-tax-rates-could-help-wales-tackle-cost-of-living-crisis-says-plaid/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}} welfare system and full taxation powers.{{Cite web |title='Wales needs full control over welfare and taxation' |url=https://www.thenational.wales/news/19838305.sioned-williams-welfare-taxation-devolved-wales/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205005743/https://www.thenational.wales/news/19838305.sioned-williams-welfare-taxation-devolved-wales/ |archive-date=2022-02-05 |access-date=2022-02-05 |website=The National Wales |language=en}}

The UK Parliament passed the UK Internal Market Act in 2020 which "directly constrains devolution" according to the Scottish Government. The actions of the Act are described in a report by Scottish MSP, Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs; The act allows goods sold in one part of the UK to be automatically accepted in the rest of the UK, despite differing devolved rules. The act can also cause the regulation of service in one part of the UK to be recognised across the whole UK. The act allows UK ministers to spend on devolved policies without the approval of the devolved parliament.{{Cite web |title=After Brexit: The UK Internal Market Act and devolution |url=http://www.gov.scot/publications/brexit-uk-internal-market-act-devolution/pages/1/ |access-date=2022-02-06 |website=www.gov.scot |language=en}}

The Welsh Government has voiced concerns over the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, passed by the UK Parliament, describing its passing as an "attack on its competence". It launched a request for judicial review of the act, which was rejected on the ground of being premature by the divisional court. As of February 2022, the Welsh government awaited an appeal of the divisional court's decision.{{Cite web |title=Written Statement: Legal challenge to the UK Internal Market Act 2020 – Update (29 June 2021) |url=https://gov.wales/written-statement-legal-challenge-uk-internal-market-act-2020-update |access-date=2022-02-06 |website=GOV.WALES |date=29 June 2021 |language=en}}

Ron Davies, former secretary of state for Wales and described as the architect of devolution said in 2022, "One thing which I know is lacking is an overarching sense of wanting to create a better way, of wanting to shape our own destiny. I don't see that." His deputy, Peter Hain said "We need to do what we all say we want to do, which is create a more vibrant, competitive, successful Wales economically. But it does mean some pretty tough decisions." Former leader of Plaid Cymru, Dafydd Wigley stated "We have yet to see the election in Wales, changing the colour of a government. And democracy in Wales will not have been properly tested until that happens." Originally the leader of the No campaign in the 90s, Conservative Nick Bourne now supports more members for the Senedd "We need more members. It's got expanded powers, it's the settled will of the people that we have a Welsh parliament, and that's got to be effective, so by all means, be concerned about value for money, we should be, as any political party should be, but in terms of is it a good idea then the personal view is we need more members."{{Cite web |title=25 years of devolution in Wales: Has enough changed since the 1997 referendum? |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-09-27/welsh-devolutions-architect-25-years-on-theres-not-a-strong-enough-vision}}

{{See also|Economy of Wales}}

In a report for the Institute of Welsh Affairs in 2003, Phil Cooke of Cardiff University argued that the Welsh Government had responded to the loss of productivity in manufacturing by substituting new jobs in the public sector, making Wales increasingly dependent on fiscal transfers from Whitehall. Cooke suggested that a relatively weak devolution settlement had prevented the Welsh Government from developing innovative economic policies, especially when compared to Scotland.{{Cite web |title=Weak Devolution Settlement Hinders Economic Development |url=http://www.iwa.org.uk/news/press_releases/pr_secterm_chall.htm}} However, critics including former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies and John Lovering, another Cardiff academic, claimed that Cooke's argument that a more powerful Assembly was a necessary precondition to more effective economic policies was a non-sequitur.{{Cite news |date=24 November 2003 |title='Weak' assembly harming Wales |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3232340.stm |via=news.bbc.co.uk}}

In 2005, Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones suggested that the lack of tax varying powers in Wales was a major reason why Wales did not have its own Celtic Tiger and that growth strategy should not be focused only on cities.{{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=David |date=2005-11-16 |title=Why Celtic tiger failed |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/business/business-news/why-celtic-tiger-failed-2368046 |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}} Plaid Cymru have also argued that economic dividend can only be achieved with Welsh independence.{{Cite journal |last1=Bradbury |first1=Jonathan |last2=Davies |first2=Andrew |date=2022 |title=Regional Economic Development and the Case of Wales: Theory and Practice and Problems of Strategy and Policy |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/national-institute-economic-review/article/regional-economic-development-and-the-case-of-wales-theory-and-practice-and-problems-of-strategy-and-policy/268E13E609428B91C17AF9578A9EEA9C# |journal=National Institute Economic Review |language=en |volume=261 |pages=1–15 |doi=10.1017/nie.2022.26 |issn=0027-9501 |s2cid=255571295}}

Jonathan Bradbury and Andrew Davies published an article in the National Institute Economic Review in January 2023 criticising both the Welsh government and UK government economic policies for Wales. They note that Wales had one of the weakest economies of the UK prior to devolution. They also noted views that the UK government remained in control of macro-economic powers; lacked regional economic policy; and a lack of devolution to the Welsh government to make a real difference. They also note the view of some that the historic exploitation of Wales and its treatment as an economic periphery plays have implications today. They added that Wales' economic performance has not progressed under devolution with weakness in Welsh government strategy and policy and that the dissolution of the Wales Development Agency remains a topic of debate.

Welsh Labour and the Welsh Liberal Democrats support further devolution for Wales, as well as reform/federalism of the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |title=Our Nation |url=https://movingforward.wales/our-nation.html |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=movingforward.wales}}{{Cite book |url=https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ldwales/pages/4049/attachments/original/1618503084/Welsh_Liberal_Democrat_2021_Manifesto.pdf?1618503084 |title=2021 manifesto Put Recovery First}} Plaid Cymru supports further devolution for Wales as well as independence.{{Cite web |title=Plaid Cymru campaign for devolution of broadcasting "step closer" following establishment of new expert panel |url=https://www.partyof.wales/devo_broadcasting1 |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=The Party of Wales |date=20 June 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2022-03-27 |title=Welsh independence to take longer than hoped, admits Adam Price |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-60893892 |access-date=2022-08-09}} Wales Green Party and Gwlad also both support Welsh independence whilst Propel supports national sovereignty for Wales.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-27 |title=EXCLUSIVE: "Wales can stand alone" says Green leader as Welsh party backs independence |url=https://leftfootforward.org/2020/10/exclusive-wales-can-stand-alone-says-green-leader-as-welsh-party-backs-independence/ |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Gwlad - llais newydd dros annibyniaeth i Gymru |url=https://gwlad.org/ |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=Gwlad |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |url=https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/propel/pages/120/attachments/original/1615217332/Constitution.pdf?1615217332 |title=Propel Constitution |year=2019}} The Welsh Conservatives support the devolution system as it currently stands.{{Cite news |date=2021-04-22 |title=Welsh election 2021: Who should I vote for? Compare party policies |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-56499726 |access-date=2022-08-09}} The UK Independence Party and Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party both support reduced or the abolishment of devolution.

Note: On 4 March 2011, 63.5% voted to devolve primary lawmaking powers for the areas already devolved to the Senedd.{{Cite web |title=History of devolution |url=https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/history-of-devolution/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=senedd.wales |language=en-GB}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Davies |first=John |title=A History of Wales |publisher=Penguin |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-14-014581-6 |location=London |author-link=John Davies (historian)}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Bradbury |first1=Jonathan |title=Welsh Devolution and the Union: Reform Debates after Brexit |journal=The Political Quarterly |date=2021 |volume=92 |issue=1 |pages=125–131 |doi=10.1111/1467-923X.12944|s2cid=234250190 }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Evans |first1=Adam |title=Birth pangs or a honeymoon from hell? The long annus horribilis for Welsh devolution, 1998–2000 |journal=Contemporary British History |date=2023 |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=192–215 |doi=10.1080/13619462.2023.2167077|s2cid=255771047 |url=https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/155644/3/Birth%20pangs%20or%20a%20honeymoon%20from%20hell%20%28manuscript%20as%20accepted%20for%20publication%29.pdf }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Robert |last2=Harrison |first2=Michael |last3=Jones |first3=Trevor |title=Policing and devolution in the UK: The 'special' case of Wales |journal=Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice |date=2022 |volume=17 |doi=10.1093/police/paac063|doi-access=free }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Lesch |first1=Matthew |last2=McCambridge |first2=Jim |title=Policy communities, devolution and policy transfer: The case of alcohol pricing in Wales |journal=Regional & Federal Studies |date=2023 |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=163–185 |doi=10.1080/13597566.2021.1934454|pmid=37082296 |pmc=10108489 }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Rawlings |first1=Richard |title=Wales and the United Kingdom: a territorial constitutional policy drive |journal=Territory, Politics, Governance |date=2022 |volume=10 |issue=5 |pages=714–732 |doi=10.1080/21622671.2022.2036630|s2cid=247240900 |doi-access=free }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Shattock |first1=Michael |last2=Horvath |first2=Aniko |title=The decentralisation of the governance of UK higher education: the effects of devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and on England |journal=Policy Reviews in Higher Education |date=2020 |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=164–178 |doi=10.1080/23322969.2020.1751688|s2cid=218925727 }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Tarrant |first1=Alison |title=Devolution and the difficulty of divergence: The development of adult social care policy in Wales |journal=Critical Social Policy |date=2022 |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=676–696 |doi=10.1177/02610183221145404|s2cid=255293430 |doi-access=free }}
• {{cite book |last1=Wallace |first1=Jennifer |title=Wellbeing and Devolution: Reframing the Role of Government in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland |date=2019 |publisher=Springer Nature |hdl=20.500.12657/23024 |isbn=978-3-030-02230-3 |url=https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/23024 |language=English}}
• {{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Jane |last2=Eirug |first2=Aled |title=The Impact of Devolution in Wales: Social Democracy with a Welsh Stripe? |date=2022 |publisher=University of Wales Press |isbn=978-1-78683-888-9 |language=en}}

{{Welsh devolution}}

{{Welsh nationalism}}

{{Wales topics}}

Category:Welsh devolution

Category:Political history of Wales

Category:Campaigns and movements in Wales

Category:Devolution in the United Kingdom