8 End of course summary
At the time of writing for this course in early 2021, Wales – like the rest of the world – was dealing with the fallout from Brexit and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Politicians were gearing up for the 2021 Senedd elections. Although neither was the majority view, there were two lively discussions ongoing.
Abolishing the Assembly
Following defections from the UKIP group elected in 2016, the Abolish the Assembly Party gained two Senedd Members. In January 2021, the party’s website stated that it ‘had one policy: Abolish the Assembly’. Its rationale for this position is that devolution has ‘failed to deliver for the people of Wales… standards of education in Welsh schools have fallen well behind other areas of the UK. The Assembly says the solution is to give them MORE powers. We say “never reinforce failure”’ (Abolish the Assembly, 2021).
In early 2021, several Welsh Conservative candidates expressed strong devo-hostile views, committing to reversing the devolution settlement, if elected.
Welsh Independence
Long a niche political position, support for independence increased significantly through 2020, rising to 33% in November of that year. This was attributed to the UK Government’s handling of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, and a sense that an independent Welsh Government would be able to take decisions in the best interests of Wales. The real possibility of Scottish independence has prompted concerns that Wales risks being ‘left behind’.
Plaid Cymru have long called for Welsh independence – although some leaders have been more vocal in its promotion than others. In 2020, the Welsh Green party also backed a motion to support independence.
There is no clear majority consensus behind either view. It appears that a majority of Welsh voters are content with the status quo, choosing to back pro-devolution, unionist parties. However, both of these views are now part of mainstream political discussion. Both pro-independence and anti-devolution candidates are likely to be elected to the sixth Senedd.
Debates on how Wales should be governed look set to continue for many years to come. And what of the middle way, maintaining and perhaps improving the devolution settlement?
Undoubtedly, devolution in Wales is a work in progress and that work is not easy. Political change is difficult at the best of times, but politicians in Cardiff and Westminster are attempting to navigate their own party agendas to strengthen a devolution settlement which was built on unstable foundations.
As you have seen, a lack of enthusiasm from many politicians and the electorate hampered the early years of the Senedd, and it has proven very difficult to reverse that cynicism and spark interest and engagement. The pattern of review, report and reform between 2004 and 2016 sucked the energy out of the ordinary business of government.
That said, the Senedd is now more than 20 years old and it has achieved much to be proud of:
- In 2003, the National Assembly for Wales was the first legislature in the world to elect 50% female and 50% male representation.
- In 2007, Wales was the first part of the UK to introduce free prescriptions for all. This was intended to reduce health inequality.
- In 2011, a 5p levy on carrier bags was introduced. This resulted in an estimated 70% decrease in single use carrier bag consumption between 2011 and 2014.
- In 2013, the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act introduced a system of ‘deemed consent’ meaning that an individual has to opt out of organ donation as opposed to opting in. The aim of the Act is to increase the number of organs and tissues available for transplant.
In the early 2020s, the UK finds itself on a constitutional precipice with relations between the nations sorely tested. Northern Ireland has been caught in the rip-tides of Brexit and Scotland looks set for a second independence referendum. If the UK is redrawn, as seems increasingly likely, the Welsh position may well shift again. After all, devolution is a process and not an event.