Abstract

Devolution in the UK is renowned for its asymmetry. The article presents a comparison between the new institutions of Scotland and Wales in order to show the significance of the reforms that the latter is currently undertaking. A specific focus on first term's (1999-2003) political changes in Wales allows some tentative conclusions to be reached. The first concerns the irreversibility of the devolution process, after a difficult start caused by the apathy of public opinion (as the narrow margin of approval of devolution in the 1997 referendum attests), further boosted by the "control freakery" of the first First Secretary A. Michael. Another, more important, conclusion regards the possible direction of Welsh devolution in the footsteps of Scotland, through a general process of emulation based on two fundamental principles: the acquisition of primary legislative powers and the consolidation of the parliamentary system of government.