Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Devolution
The 1997 general election brought Tony Blair's 'New Labour' to power in the UK and the
devolution process got off the ground once again. In September of that year a referendum
on the establishment of the Welsh Assembly scraped through by the narrowest of margins.
Lacking the powers granted to the Scottish Parliament, the Assembly was always going
to have a hard time convincing the world, including Wales, of its merit. The unveiling of
the new National Assembly building in Cardiff Bay and the passing of the Government of
Wales Act in 2006, creating a new legislature and executive, gave the Assembly more teeth
and helped the new seat of government to become part of the fabric of daily Welsh life.
A further referendum in 2011, asking whether the Assembly should be able to create
laws in its own right, rather than having to have them rubber-stamped by the UK Parlia-
ment, passed with a much stronger affirmative vote. These law-making powers are still lim-
ited in scope, but include such important areas as housing, health, social welfare, tourism,
culture and the Welsh language.
TIMELINE
250,000 BC
Someone loses a tooth in a cave in Denbighshire, not realising what excitement it will cause a quarter
of a million years later, when it becomes the earliest evidence of a human presence in Wales.
600 BC
The Celtic people begin to settle in Britain. It's unclear whether they displaced the indigenous people
or whether the indigenous people adopted the Celtic culture and language.
AD 60
The Druids' last stand on Anglesey unleashes the brute force of the Roman army, who set about des-
troying the island's sacred groves and shrines.
383
Magnus Maximus, commander of Britain, becomes emperor of the Western Roman Empire. He enters
Welsh mythology as Macsen Wledig, whose 'dream' inspires the architecture of Caernarfon Castle.
