Revealed: 2004 UK Cabinet Discussion on Welsh Devolution and Ongoing Tensions
Newly released National Archives papers shed light on a 22 July 2004 UK cabinet discussion regarding Wales devolution, led by Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain. The discussion focused on the Richard Commission's proposals for expanding Welsh powers.
Tony Blair reportedly expressed that voters in Wales and Scotland showed no appetite for more devolution. He stated that the existing devolution settlement had "lanced the boil of separatism," effectively closing the door on major further devolution at that time. Cabinet minutes record Blair's summary that the government rejected the commission's more far-reaching proposals for primary legislation for Wales.
Peter Hain argued there was no Welsh consensus for radical change and that the priority was better administration. He described the commission's proposals as a minimalist, least-worst option intended to prevent division among Welsh and Scottish devolution supporters.
Earlier, Blair had committed Labour to establishing a 60-member Welsh Assembly in 1997 with a £7 billion budget. The National Assembly for Wales opened in 1999. Following the Government of Wales Act 2006, the Assembly gained law-making powers in devolved areas with UK Parliament permission and the potential for full powers after a referendum.
In March 2011, Welsh voters supported direct Assembly law-making powers in a referendum by 63.5% to 36.5%, with a turnout of 35.4%.
The report highlights this rare high-level cabinet discussion on Welsh devolution and underscores ongoing tensions within the Labour Party over whether powers should be located in Cardiff or London and the future of the devolution settlement. Contextually, Scotland held an independence referendum in 2014, and Plaid Cymru remains active in polling, indicating that debates over further devolution and potential independence remain active issues.
