Jury still out on whether devolution has proved itself, says ex-Welsh Government Minister

Its Andrew Davies' own party -Labour - which has been in power in Wales since 1999......and thats been the problem.

The runaway success of Devolution is obvious.

Devolution isn’t on trial—it’s a democratic response to centuries of centralised control. Since 1999, Wales has gained a distinct voice in shaping its own future, from health and education to cultural policy. While challenges remain, especially under Westminster’s shadow, the question isn’t whether devolution has “proved itself,” but whether it’s been given the respect and resources to thrive. Wales is no longer England’s oldest colony—it’s a nation asserting its place in the union.

I agree with Andrew. So called ‘Welsh Labour’ has now governed Wales uninterrupted for 26 years. But the Welsh Parliament’s legitimacy in the eyes of the public still continues to be in the balance. Voter turnout is consistently low. But why is this? This is essentially because of Welsh’s Labour utter failure, refusal, to take part in the nation building opportunity which devolution afforded. Because of Welsh Labour’s refusenik negativity the project has still not really got off the ground at all. And why is this you might ask? Essentially because Welsh Labour is still shot through with a debilitating, paralysing, psychologically enslaving, deeply ingrained, British nationalism. Indeed the Welsh Labourites are perhaps the greatest grovelers of all. Deliberately denied any in-depth knowledge of their own history at school most of them are now thoroughly Britishized – the sad products of a people oppressed for many centuries, suppressed, mentally colonized – hence now supine, sycophantic, and irredeemably servile.

Devolution is not the problem, the problem is Labour. If Labour are failing to deliver then you vote them out (Which looks likely to happen next year). No one country questions their right to autonomy so why do we do so in Wales? Labour members who question devolution are the worst, because they are the problem.

The Jury is still out on whether UK membership has proven any benefit to Wales.

Devolution hasn't failed Wales. Both Labour and Conservatives have. Less former minister Andrew Davies forget being part of a government that's controlled Wales for 26 years. In 1997 Tony Blair and New Labour deliberately designed the then Welsh Assembly to fail. The evidence: Leading up to the 1997 referendum, we had the likes of Neil Knock, Llew Smith and others hostile influence those in government the type of devolution Wales had. And New Labour later even admitted that they had those against devolution in mind what responsibilities to devolve to Cardiff Bay from Westminster. From the beginning Tony Blair and New Labour had an Anti-Wales agenda. Remember Blair referring to those f@#*"&? Welsh after the close referendum result in 1997. Blair admitted later in his memoir that he was not a great enthusiast of Welsh devolution. So the evidence is there for all to see. Devolution was not meant for Wales. Labour tried its hardest to strangle it at birth. This is why he was angry. He expected the Welsh to say no not yes. What Labour offered Wales: We had a Welsh Assembly with only 60 members A First Secretary parachuted in by Labour central office against the wishes of Labour members. Wales had limited powers. No fiscal levers. The Assembly was located in what could be described as a multistorey carpark in Crickhowell House until the present Richard Rogers Senedd Cymru building was constructed and opened in 2006. Note: The Welsh Tories were not only hostile to devolution before, during and after, they also didn't want an Assembly building and thought the inadequate Crickhowell House was fine. This wasn't a party thinking of cost to the Welsh taxpayer but likely done because a designated building to them cemented devolution. Devolution comparisons: In 1997 both Scotland & Northern Ireland had First Ministers and a Parliament with 127 MSPs, and a Northern Ireland, a legislative Assembly with 108 MLSs , until reduced to 90. But even then, Northern Ireland still had more 30 more politicians than Wales, a country twice the size and twice the population until 2020 when the Senedd voted to change the name of the Assembly to Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament, and to increase the Senedd size from 60 to 96 MSs ready for the 2026 Senedd election. In reality Welsh devolution began in 2011 not 1999 after the successful legislative Assembly referendum thanks to Plaid Cymru's One Wales coalition deal with Welsh Labour. Up to that point Westminster still ruled Wales by proxy, especially using the New Labour LCO system (Legislative Competent Order) where any legislation had to pass through four layers of government to become law. So Whitehall affected Wales greatly but received no blame for their part played in the running of Wales. See, it would only take one layer, the Welsh Secretary, Westminster or House of lords to reject Welsh law and it would be dead unless sent back to the Welsh Government be changed. Only Wales was made to jumped through hoops. Whitehall only has two layers of government to scrutinise legislation. So back to my opening remarks. Devolution hasn't failed Wales. Both Labour and Conservatives have. And it doesn't help the constant refusal to devolve powers and levers requested that could benefit and transform Wales.

So let's get this straight. What you are saying is Wales does not have the right to decide what its priorities should be and that Westminster should? I believe Your critique misses the mark. Devolution isn’t about swapping one bureaucracy for another—it’s about bringing decision-making closer to the people of Wales. If Cardiff has a concentration of political activity, that reflects population and infrastructure, not a betrayal of devolution. And if Labour’s support varies across Wales, that’s a matter for voters—not a reason to undermine the principle of self-governance. Devolution empowers Wales to choose its own path. The real trial isn’t of the model, but of whether those in power use it wisely.

Andrew Davies questions whether devolution in Wales has proved itself. One could equally well question whether the political set-up in Westminster has proved itself. For Wales it certainly hasn't, considering the vast resources/wealth taken from it over centuries, the repeated discrimination against Wales (compared to Scotland) and its permanent position as bottom of the 4 UK nations in GDP per capita. Moreover, in August 2025 the UK's debt was £2,900,000,000,000 (£2.9 tr). Does this suggest success for the UK parliament?

Free Wales.