Wales and devolution: A constitutional footnote?

Late June 1996 saw an upsurge in media interest in the devolution question following the publication of reports by the London‐based Constitution Unit on Scotland, Wales and the English regions, and the Labour Party's decision to hold referenda in Wales and Scotland before going ahead with legislation. A speech by the Prime Minister on 19 June 1996 indicated that the Government intends to place its opposition to devolution, together with defence of the constitutional status quo, at the heart of its electoral offensive. Wales is often a footnote to the main text in this debate, which centres on Scotland and the Union with England. This article reviews the fluctuating appeal of the home rule question in Wales and attempts to assess the current proposals and political discourse within that historical context.