View source for 2011 Welsh devolution referendum

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox referendum
| title = Do you want the Assembly now to be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for?
| country = Wales
| date = {{start date|2011|03|03|df=y}}
| previous_year = 1997
| previous_referendum = 1997 Welsh devolution referendum
| yes = 517132
| no = 297380
| total = 815628
| electorate = 2289044
| map = Welsh devolution referendum, 2011.svg
| mapdivision = [[Local_government_in_Wales#Principal_areas|principal area]]
}}{{Politics of Wales}} {{UK Referendums}}

A '''referendum on the powers of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]''' was held on 3 March 2011. Voters were asked whether the Assembly should have full law-making powers in [[Government of Wales Act 2006#Schedule 5 of the Act|the twenty subject areas]] where it has jurisdiction. The referendum asked the question: ‘Do you want the Assembly now to be able to make laws on ''all'' matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for?’

If a majority voted 'yes', the Assembly would then be able to make laws, known as [[Act of the National Assembly for Wales|Acts of the Assembly]], on all matters in the subject areas, without needing the [[UK Parliament]]'s agreement. If a majority voted 'no', the arrangements at the time of the referendum would have continued – that is, in each devolved area, the Assembly would be able to make its own laws on some matters, but not others. To make laws on any of these other matters, the Assembly would have had to ask the UK Parliament to transfer the powers to it.<ref name="electoralcommission">[http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/wales_referendum/what_is_the_referendum_about.aspx What is the referendum about?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302211511/http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/wales_referendum/what_is_the_referendum_about.aspx |date=2 March 2011 }} from the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]]</ref><ref name="bbcinfo">BBC Video with information on [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12221503 method of Welsh law-making in areas of power that are not devolved].</ref> Regulations for the referendum, and the powers to be approved or rejected by it, were provided for in the [[Government of Wales Act 2006]].

The results of the referendum were announced on 4 March 2011.  Overall, 63.49% voted 'yes', and 36.51% voted 'no'.  In 21 of 22 [[Local government in Wales|local authorities]] the vote was 'yes', with the exception being [[Monmouthshire]] by a slim majority.   The overall turnout was 35.2%. [[First Minister of Wales|First Minister]] [[Carwyn Jones]], welcoming the result, said: "Today an old nation came of age."

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Refferendwm Cymru 2011.jpg|thumb|centre|alt=A ballot paper for the referendum|A ballot paper in the referendum]] -->
While the referendum was technically [[Non-binding referendum|non-binding]], it gave the [[Welsh Government]] the statutory authority to make a [[ministerial order]] triggering the relevant changes in the Assembly's powers. The order was duly made on 30 March and [[came into force]] on 5 May 2011, the day of [[2011 National Assembly for Wales election|the quadrennial Assembly election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Government of Wales Act 2006 (Commencement of Assembly Act Provisions, Transitional and Saving Provisions and Modifications) Order 2011 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2011/1011/made |website=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>

==Background==
Part IV of the [[Government of Wales Act 2006]] provided for the [[National Assembly for Wales]] to pass [[Act of Senedd Cymru|Acts]] instead of [[Measure of the National Assembly for Wales|Measures]]. Acts required only the consent of the Assembly, whereas Measures required a [[Legislative Competence Order]] involving the United Kingdom's [[Secretary of State for Wales]], [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]], and [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]]. However, Part IV could not [[come into force]] unless an order was made by the [[Welsh Government]] after a referendum of Welsh voters.

In the ''[[One Wales]]'' coalition agreement on 27 June 2007, [[Welsh Labour]] and [[Plaid Cymru]] made the commitment "to proceed to a successful outcome of a referendum for full law-making powers under Part IV of the Government of Wales Act 2006 as soon as practicable, at or before the end of the Assembly term". The two parties agreed "in good faith to campaign for a successful outcome to such a referendum" and to set up an All-Wales Convention to prepare for such a successful outcome.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6246428.stm |title=UK &#124; Wales &#124; Details of Labour--Plaid agreement |work=BBC News |date=2007-06-27 |access-date=2010-08-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/27_06_07_onewales.pdf |title=One Wales: A progressive agenda for the government of Wales |date=2007-06-27 |access-date=2010-08-12 | work=BBC News}}</ref>

On 27 October 2007 the then First Minister [[Rhodri Morgan]] and the Deputy First Minister [[Ieuan Wyn Jones]] appointed Sir [[Emyr Jones Parry]], the recently retired Permanent Representative from Britain to the United Nations to head the convention.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7057919.stm |title=UK &#124; Wales &#124; Diplomat heads law-making group |work=BBC News |date=2007-10-23 |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref>   Sir Emyr stated on 22 November 2007 that he would like to begin to work as soon as possible and hoped to have the report ready by 2009 at the latest.<ref>{{cite news|author=Guto Thomas |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/wales/7107616.stm |title=UK &#124; UK Politics &#124; Wales politics &#124; Law-making report by end of 2009 |work=BBC News |date=2007-11-22 |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref>

The All Wales Convention reported to the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister on 18 November 2009. It reported that a "yes" vote would be obtainable but not guaranteed. An opinion poll for the convention had found that 47% would vote Yes, and 37% would vote No. The report suggested that the Assembly needed to decide before June 2010 whether to trigger a referendum if the vote was to be held before the next Assembly elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/8350333.stm |title=More powers for Wales says report |work=BBC News |date=2009-11-18 |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref>

On 2 February 2010 the new First Minister [[Carwyn Jones]], who had succeeded Rhodri Morgan on 9 December 2009, confirmed that a trigger vote would be held on 9 February on whether the Assembly should request a referendum on full law making powers.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/8492081.stm |title=Welsh assembly to vote to trigger power referendum |last=Hannaby |first=Mark |work=BBC News |date=2010-02-02 |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref> The [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]] and [[Welsh Conservatives]] stated they did not want the referendum to be held on the same day as the [[2011 National Assembly for Wales election|2011 Assembly elections]] and would [[Abstention|abstain]] from voting to trigger the referendum if this date was not ruled out.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> The trigger vote was held in the Assembly on Tuesday 9 February 2010, and was approved unanimously across all parties, with 53 out of the 60 AMs voting for it. Under the Government of Wales Act 2006 the First Minister was required to send a letter within two weeks to the [[Secretary of State for Wales|Welsh Secretary]] (then [[Peter Hain]]), who would then have 120 days to lay a draft order for a referendum before Parliament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/8506973.stm |title=AMs vote in favour of Welsh assembly powers referendum |work=BBC News |date=2010-02-10 |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref> It was expected that the referendum date would not be set until after the general election.

On 15 June 2010 [[Cheryl Gillan]], the new Welsh Secretary in the [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government]] at Westminster, announced that the referendum would probably be held between January and March 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-referendum-more-powers-2011-2753513|title=Welsh referendum on more powers in 2011 says Cheryl Gillan|date=16 June 2010|work=North Wales Daily Post|access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref> Others proposed that it should be held on 5 May 2011, together with both the Assembly elections and the AV referendum.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10591778 |work=BBC News |title=Call for assembly powers poll on day of two other votes |date=11 July 2010 |access-date=14 December 2010}}</ref> It was agreed that the referendum be held on 3 March 2011, after representations to the Welsh Secretary from the Welsh Government.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-11382649|title=Referendum date set for 3 March|work=BBC News |date=21 September 2010}}</ref>

==Referendum question==

===Draft question===

The draft referendum question submitted by the Welsh Secretary to the Electoral Commission on 23 June 2010 was:

{{blockquote|At present, the National Assembly for Wales (the Assembly) has powers to make laws for Wales on some subjects within devolved areas. Devolved areas include health, education, social services, local government and environment. The Assembly can gain further powers to make laws in devolved areas with the agreement of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Parliament) on a subject by subject basis.

If most people vote 'yes' in this referendum, the Assembly will gain powers to pass laws on all subjects in the devolved areas.

If most people vote 'no', then the present arrangements, which transfer that law-making power bit by bit, with the agreement of Parliament each time, will continue.

'''Do you agree that the Assembly should now have powers to pass laws on all subjects in the devolved areas without needing the agreement of Parliament first'''?<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assemblywales.org/newreferendum_qa_english.pdf |title=The Referendum: Your questions answered |publisher=National Assembly for Wales Commission |date=2010-08-05 |access-date=2010-08-12}}</ref>}}

This wording was, however, criticised by the Welsh Government.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts |first=Carl |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/wales/wales_politics/10406413.stm |title=Row over draft referendum question on assembly powers |work=BBC News |date=2010-06-24 |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref>

===Revised question===
A revised question was released in September 2010:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-11382649 |title=Referendum on more Welsh powers set for 3 March 2011 |date=21 September 2010 |work=BBC News |access-date=14 December 2010}}</ref>

{{blockquote|The National Assembly for Wales - what happens at the moment

The Assembly has powers to make laws on 20 subject areas, such as agriculture, education, the environment, health, housing, local government.

In each subject area, the Assembly can make laws on some matters, but not others. To make laws on any of these other matters, the assembly must ask the UK Parliament for its agreement. The UK Parliament then decides each time whether or not the assembly can make these laws.

The Assembly cannot make laws on subject areas such as defence, tax or welfare benefits, whatever the result of this vote.

If most voters vote 'yes' - the Assembly will be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for, without needing the UK Parliament's agreement.

If most voters vote 'no' - what happens at the moment will continue.

'''Do you want the Assembly now to be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for?'''}}

permitting a simple '''YES''' / '''NO''' answer (to be marked with a single (X)).

==Opinion polls and comments==
In 2007, one poll suggested that 47% might say Yes in a referendum vote, with 44% against.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-12600517|title=Has Wales warmed to devolution?|first=Guto|last=Thomas|work=BBC News |date=March 2, 2011}}</ref>  A poll in February 2008 saw 49% in favour of a full law-making parliament and 41% against.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/30104/welsh_open_to_full_law_making_parliament |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718192123/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/30104/welsh_open_to_full_law_making_parliament |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2012-07-18 |title=Welsh Open to Full Law-Making Parliament: Angus Reid Global Monitor |publisher=Angus-reid.com |access-date=2010-06-27 }}</ref> On 3 February 2010 the ''[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]]'' endorsed the Yes campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/yes-vote-is-sensible-option-1850508|title=Yes vote is sensible option|date=February 3, 2011|website=walesonline}}</ref>  A [[BBC]] poll released on 1 March 2010 ([[Saint David's Day|St. David's Day]]) found that support had risen for full law making powers, up to 56%, with 35% against, although [[Welsh Conservatives|Welsh Conservative]] leader [[Nick Bourne]] (who supported a yes vote) was sceptical of the poll results.<ref>{{cite news |last=Powys |first=Betsan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/8541797.stm |title='Support grows' for full law-making Wales assembly |work=BBC News |date=2010-03-01 |access-date=2010-06-27}}</ref>

A summary table of poll results in advance of the referendum is set out below.

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 95%;"
|-
! rowspan="2" |Date(s) conducted
! rowspan="2" |Polling organisation
!Yes
!No
! rowspan="2" |Undecided
! rowspan="2" |Won't vote
! rowspan="2" |Lead
|-
! class="unsortable" style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); width: 100px; color: white;" | 
! class="unsortable" style="background: rgb(220, 36, 31); width: 100px; color: white;" |
|-
|25–28 Feb 2011
|[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/2011/03/02/voters-to-deliver-a-big-yes-says-poll-on-more-powers-91466-28261054/ Research and Marketing Group]||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''49%'''|| 22% ||28%|| - ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |21%
|-
|21–23 Feb 2011
|[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2011/03/01/67-will-vote-yes-in-referendum-says-poll-91466-28252921/ YouGov]  ||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''67%'''|| 33% || -|| - ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |34%
|-
|24–26 Jan 2011
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110207200329/http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/YG-Archives-Pol-ITVWales-260111.pdf YouGov]||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''46%'''|| 25% ||21%|| 8% ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |21%
|-
|20–22 Dec 2010
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110221183905/http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/YG-Archives-Pol-ITVWales-DecemberPolling-221210.pdf YouGov]||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''48%'''|| 30% ||14%|| 8% ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |18%
|-
|25–28 Nov 2010
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20101226152643/http://www.icmresearch.co.uk/pdfs/2010_december_bbcwales_poll.pdf ICM]  ||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''70%'''|| 30% || -|| - ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |40%
|-
|25–28 Nov 2010
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20101226152643/http://www.icmresearch.co.uk/pdfs/2010_december_bbcwales_poll.pdf ICM]||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''57%'''|| 24% ||18%|| - ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |33%
|-
|22–24 Nov 2010
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20111016135856/http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/YG-Archives-Pol-ITVWales-251110.pdf YouGov]||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''52%'''|| 29% ||13%|| 7% ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |23%
|-
|19–22 Nov 2010
|[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2010/12/11/voters-ready-to-give-ams-resounding-yes-in-2011-vote-91466-27806817/ Beaufort Research]||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''73%'''||23%||4%|| - ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |50%
|-
|19–22 Nov 2010
|[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2010/12/11/voters-ready-to-give-ams-resounding-yes-in-2011-vote-91466-27806817/ Beaufort Research]||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''60%'''||28%||13%|| - ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |32%
|-
|25–27 Oct 2010
|[http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/YG-Archives-Pol-ITVWales-WelshAssembly-031110.pdf YouGov]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''49%'''|| 30% ||15%|| 5% ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |19%
|-
|27–29 Sep 2010
|[http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/YG-Archives-Pol-ITVWales-290910v2.pdf YouGov]{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''48%'''|| 32% ||15%|| 6% ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |16%
|-
|26–28 Jul 2010
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110221190456/http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/NON_TRACKER_YG-Pol-ITVwales-VotingIntention-280710.pdf YouGov]||style="background: rgb(153, 255, 153);" |'''48%'''|| 34% ||14%|| 5% ||style="background: rgb(0, 129, 66); color: white;" |14%
|}

==Overall result==
[[File:Referendum result announced at the Senedd.jpg|thumb|Referendum result announced at the Senedd by [[Jenny Watson (civil servant)|Jenny Watson]]]]

The results were counted and announced the following day on Friday 4 March 2011, locally initially with the final result declared at the [[Senedd]] in [[Cardiff]] by the Chair of the Electoral Commission [[Jenny Watson (civil servant)|Jenny Watson]] who announced the result in both Welsh and English.

In 21 of 22 unitary authorities, the vote was '''Yes'''. The only counting area to declare a '''No''' result was [[Monmouthshire]], which was announced following a recount. The difference was only 320 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://referendumresults.aboutmyvote.co.uk/en/Authority.aspx?id=71436 |title=Electoral Commission, ''Authorities {{!}} Monmouthshire'', Electoral Commission, 3 March 2011 |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805203335/http://referendumresults.aboutmyvote.co.uk/en/Authority.aspx?id=71436 |archive-date=5 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Referendum
| option1        = Yes / {{lang|cy|Ydw}}
| yes            = 517,572
| yespct         = 63.49
| option2        = No / {{lang|cy|Nac Ydw}}
| no             = 297,380
| nopct          = 36.51
| valid          = 814,512
| validpct       = 99.86
| invalid        = 1,116
| invalidpct     = 0.14
| total          = 815,628
| turnoutpct     = 35.63
| turnoutneeded  = 
| electorate     = 2,289,044
| source         = [https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/referendums/2011-referendum-on-the-law-making-powers-of-the-National-Assembly-for-Wales Electoral Commission]
}}

{{Referendum bar
| title = Regional referendum

| text1       = Yes
| vote1       = 517,132
| background1 = #6c0
| textcolor1  = #000

| text2       = No
| vote2       = 297,380
| background2 = #f39
| textcolor2  = #000
}}

===Results by council areas===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Unitary authority
! colspan=2 | Votes
! colspan=2 | Proportion of votes
! rowspan=2 | Turnout
|-
! Yes
! No
! Yes
! No
|-
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Anglesey]] || '''14,401''' || 7,620 || '''64.7%''' || 35.3% || 43.8%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Blaenau Gwent]] || '''11,869''' || 5,366 || '''68.8%''' || 31.2% || 32.4%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Bridgend]] || '''25,063''' || 11,736 || '''68.2%''' || 31.8% || 35.6%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Caerphilly]] || '''28,431''' || 15,731 || '''64.4%''' || 35.6% || 34.5%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Cardiff]] || '''53,437''' || 33,606 || '''61.4%''' || 38.6% || 35.1%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Carmarthenshire]] || '''42,979''' || 17,712 || '''70.8%''' || 29.2% || 44.3%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Ceredigion]] || '''16,595''' || 8,412 || '''66.3%''' || 33.7% || 44.0%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Conwy]] || '''18,368''' || 12,390 || '''59.7%''' || 40.3% || 33.7%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Denbighshire]] || '''15,793''' || 9,742 || '''61.8%''' || 38.2% || 34.4%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Flintshire]] || '''21,119''' || 12,913 || '''62.1%''' || 37.9% || 29.4%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Gwynedd]] || '''28,200''' || 8,891 || '''76.0%''' || 24.0% || 43.3%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Merthyr Tydfil]] || '''9,136''' || 4,132 || '''68.8%''' || 31.2% || 30.1%
|- bgcolor=pink
| [[Monmouthshire]] || 12,381 || '''12,701''' || 49.4% || '''50.6%''' || 35.8%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Neath Port Talbot]] || '''29,957''' || 11,057 || '''73.0%''' || 27.0% || 38.0%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] || '''15,983''' || 13,204 || '''54.7%''' || 45.3% || 27.9%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Pembrokeshire]] || '''19,600''' || 16,050 || '''54.9%''' || 45.1% || 38.7%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Powys]] || '''21,072''' || 19,730 || '''51.6%''' || 48.4% || 39.6%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]] || '''43,051''' || 17,834 || '''70.7%''' || 29.3% || 34.6%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Swansea]] || '''38,496''' || 22,409 || '''63.3%''' || 36.7% || 32.9%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Torfaen]] || '''14,655''' || 8,688 || '''62.7%''' || 37.2% || 33.8%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Vale of Glamorgan]] || '''19,430''' || 17,551 || '''52.5%''' || 47.5% || 40.1%
|- bgcolor=lightgreen
| [[Wrexham]] || '''17,606''' || 9,863 || '''64.1%''' || 35.9% || 27.0%
|}<ref name="Electoral">{{Cite web |url=http://referendumresults.aboutmyvote.co.uk/en/default.aspx |title=Electoral Commission, ''About My Vote'', Electoral Commission, 3 March 2011 |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307120346/http://referendumresults.aboutmyvote.co.uk/en/Default.aspx |archive-date=7 March 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Turnout was highest in [[Carmarthenshire]] (44.36%) and lowest in [[Wrexham]] (27.04%). The highest percentage of '''Yes''' votes was in [[Gwynedd]] (76.03% Yes) and the highest percentage of '''No''' votes was in [[Monmouthshire]] (50.64% No).

==Reactions to the result==
[[First Minister of Wales|First Minister]] Carwyn Jones said: "Today an old nation came of age."<ref name="bbcnews040311">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-12648649|title=Wales says Yes in referendum vote|work=BBC News |date=4 March 2011}}</ref>

[[Deputy First Minister for Wales|Deputy First Minister]] and [[Plaid Cymru]] leader [[Ieuan Wyn Jones]] said that it marked "the beginning of a new era of Welsh devolution - the decade to deliver for Wales.&nbsp;... To demand respect, you must first display self-respect. Today we have done just that, and the rest of the world can now sit up and take notice of the fact that our small nation, here on the western edge of the continent of Europe, has demonstrated pride in who we are, and what we all stand for."<ref name =bbcnews040311/>

[[Kirsty Williams]], leader of the [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]], said that the referendum showed that people "wanted to endorse and strengthen devolution", but they "also want it to work better". She said that voters were right to show "widespread dissatisfaction" with the Welsh Government's performance.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12656631 | work=BBC News | title=Welsh Lib Dems' Kirsty Williams' power 'elite' warning | date=6 March 2011}}</ref>

[[Welsh Secretary]] [[Cheryl Gillan]], a member of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], said that there had been concern over turnout, but called it "a good day for Wales". She said that the UK Government would reinforce its commitment to make the arrangements work effectively.<ref name="bbcnews040311"/>

Roger Lewis, Chairman of the [[Yes for Wales]] campaign, said he was delighted, adding: "It is clear, the people of Wales have spoken."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/yes-camp-claim-victory-in-wales-referendum-2232529.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/yes-camp-claim-victory-in-wales-referendum-2232529.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Yes camp claim victory in Wales referendum|author=Press Association|date=4 March 2011|work=The Independent|access-date=23 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Rachel Banner, of the No campaign, said that it marked a "turning point for our nation".<ref name =bbcnews040311/> She questioned the legitimacy of the result, asking: "Has it got the full-hearted consent of the Welsh people?" She also stated that she did not believe that the 42 backbench members of the Assembly could provide high-quality scrutiny of the activities of the Welsh Government.<ref name="bbcnews040311"/>

==See also==
* [[Yes for Wales]]
* [[Commission on Scottish Devolution]]
* [[Referendums in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Welsh devolution]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.yesforwales.com/site/ Official website of the "YES" campaign "Yes for Wales"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109011748/http://www.yesforwales.com/site/ |date=9 January 2011 }}
*[http://www.tomorrow-wales.co.uk/ Official website of the "YES" campaign "Tomorrow's Wales"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120115332/http://www.tomorrow-wales.co.uk/ |date=20 November 2011 }}
*[http://www.truewales.org.uk/ Official website of the "NO" campaign "True Wales"]
*[http://markbeech.org/133-no/ Official website of the "NO" campaign by "Mark Beech"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222160241/http://markbeech.org/133-no/ |date=22 February 2011 }}
*[http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/elections/upcoming-elections-and-referendums/wales/referendum Electoral Commission webpage on the referendum]
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/contents/enacted Government of Wales Act 2006 (full text)]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-12447463  BBC News: Wales Referendum 2011]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12587227 BBC News, Roger Scully, ''What will Wales powers referendum result mean?'', 28 February 2011]
{{Welsh devolution}}{{Welsh elections}}
{{United Kingdom local elections, 2011}}
{{Opinion polling for Senedd elections}}

[[Category:Referendums in Wales]]
[[Category:2011 elections in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2011 referendums]]
[[Category:2011 in Wales]]
[[Category:2010s elections in Wales]]
[[Category:Senedd]]
[[Category:Welsh devolution]]
[[Category:Autonomy referendums]]
[[Category:March 2011 in the United Kingdom]]