On 18 September 1997, voters in Wales narrowly approved the creation of a national assembly. The Welsh devolution referendum, a key pledge of Tony Blair’s new Labour government, produced a ‘Yes’ vote of 50.3% (559,419 votes) versus 49.7% (552,698 votes).

The victory, secured by a majority of only 6,721 votes on a turnout of 50.2%, effectively reversed the overwhelming ‘No’ vote in the first devolution referendum in 1979. The post-legislative referendum on the Wales Act 1978, held on St David’s Day 1979, saw a devolution scheme rejected by a margin of four to one. At the time, Welsh secretary John Morris commented that when “you see an elephant on the doorstep you can’t ignore it”.

The result sidelined the devolution issue in the immediate term. In the following decades, however, the cause was sustained by the growing strength of Labour’s pro‑devolution tendency, the policies of Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government, and the ability of Plaid Cymru to maintain its parliamentary standing.

From 1987 to 1997, four English MPs held the post of secretary of state for Wales. Among them was John Redwood, a prominent Thatcherite, who faced widespread criticism for his unsuccessful attempt to mime the Welsh national anthem at the 1993 Welsh Conservative Party conference.

The strength of Labour’s pro-devolution tendency ensured the inclusion of commitments to establish legislatures in Wales and Scotland in the Labour Party’s 1997 general election manifesto.

The party’s 1997 manifesto stated: “The United Kingdom is a partnership enriched by distinct national identities and traditions. Scotland has its own systems of education, law and local government. Wales has its language and cultural traditions. We will meet the demand for decentralisation of power to Scotland and Wales, once established in referendums.”

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The 1997 campaign, Yes for Wales, was led by the Welsh secretary Ron Davies. It brought together Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrat politicians. The campaign argued that a Welsh assembly would provide Wales with a stronger voice and greater control over its domestic affairs.

The Conservative Party, which had been wiped out in Wales at the general election, led the Just Say NO campaign. Anti-devolution activists argued that an assembly would be an expensive “talking shop” and threaten the unity of the UK.

The campaign claimed the assembly would cost in the region of £50 million. This figure was first advanced by William Hague during his tenure at the Wales Office.

Unsurprisingly, the ‘No’ campaign was hampered by the fact that no Welsh MPs rallied to the cause. It stood in stark contrast to the extremely effective anti-devolution operation in 1979, which included prominent Labour figures such as Neil Kinnock.

The referendum ballot papers featured two statements, both written in English and Welsh, beneath a neutral preamble.

The ballots read: “Parliament has decided to consult people in Wales on the Government’s proposals for a Welsh Assembly / Mae’r Senedd wedi penderfynu ymgynghori pobl yng Nghymru ar gynigion y Llywodraeth ar gyfer Cynulliad i Gymru.”

Voters then checked one of the following options: “I agree there should be a Welsh Assembly / Yr wyf yn cytuno y dylid cael Cynulliad i Gymru” or “I do not agree there should be a Welsh Assembly / Nid wyf yn cytuno y dylid cael Cynulliad i Gymru”.

In the end, support for devolution was strongest in the Welsh-speaking areas of the west and the traditional Labour heartlands of the South Wales Valleys. Most of rural and north-east Wales voted ‘No’.

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The pre-legislative referendum led directly to the passage of the Government of Wales Act 1998, which established the National Assembly for Wales.

The devolution scheme was a ‘mixed-member’ 60-member body (40 members were elected by first past the post and 20 from a party list to ensure proportionality).

The assembly was convened for the first time after elections in May 1999. Labour’s Alun Michael subsequently emerged as first secretary of Wales.

The Welsh devolution settlement was ultimately more limited than that established in Scotland.

The Welsh assembly, endorsed by a slender majority of voters, acquired the executive functions of the former Welsh Office. By contrast, voters in Scotland endorsed a tax-raising parliament by an overwhelming majority.

Over time, Welsh devolution has evolved.

The assembly acquired primary legislative powers following a further referendum in 2011.

In 2011, 63.5% of voters were in favour of further powers to the assembly (the same percentage that voted in favour of tax-raising powers for a Scottish parliament in 1997).

The Wales Act 2014 devolved fiscal powers to the assembly for the first time. These powers were buttressed by the Wales Act 2017.

The Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 renamed the assembly as the Senedd Cymru (Welsh parliament).