Resumen de Wales and the Westminster Model

Alan Trench

• This article discusses the significance of the ‘inward’ and ‘outward’ faces of the ‘Westminster model’ for the institutions of devolved government in Wales. In 1997–1998, the objective was to create something that resembled Westminster as little as possible. Subsequently, the ‘inward’ face has seen an increasing assumption of key features of the Westminster model, notably a separation between the executive and legislative branches, due to practical political needs in Wales. In other respects, the model has not been followed. As regards its ‘outward’ face, constraints on the autonomy of the Assembly mean it forms part of broader patterns of government within the wider UK system rather than possessing any form of sovereignty or autarchy.