ABSTRACT
When the New Labour Government under the leadership of Tony Blair was elected with a landslide majority of 177 in May 1997, it was far better placed to deliver its policies on devolution than any previous Administration with a positive commitment to devolution in its programme. This was because it had telegraphed its intentions in the party Manifesto; it was not dependent upon any alliance with another party or parties to get the legislation through Parliament; and it had spiked the guns of any potential opponents of devolution in its own ranks by giving the 1996 commitment that it would only proceed with the policy if the people of Scotland and Wales gave their prior approval in separate referenda in Scotland and Wales respectively.
