WI: 1974/1975 Devolution Referendums

David Owen wrote in his autobiography, Time to Declare (which is a very good read), that Heath planned to offer Devolution referendums to the SNP and Plaid Cymru in order to get them on board if Jeremy Thorpe agreed to a coalition shortly following the election in February '74.

Let's assume that the deal with the Liberals doesn't peter out, and Heath launches referendums on Scottish and Welsh assemblies. How would the campaigns pan out? What side would Wilson, and indeed Thorpe, campaign on? How does this affect the growth of nationalism in both Scotland and Wales?
 
I think Thorpe would be pro-devolution; and my gut says that Wilson would sit on the fence - not wanting to annoy the anti-devolution-ites in the Labour Party. Would he even remain on as leader in this scenario?
 
I think Thorpe would be pro-devolution; and my gut says that Wilson would sit on the fence - not wanting to annoy the anti-devolution-ites in the Labour Party. Would he even remain on as leader in this scenario?
He might (he really wanted to defeat Heath iirc), but if he doesn't, I imagine Callaghan would probably be on the fence too.
 
Thorpe was pro-devolution, so we know which side he'd campaign on behalf of. As for Wilson, Gonzo is right that he'd probably sit on the fence assuming that he'd manage to remain leader - assuming that Heath manages to put together a coalition with the Liberals and got the SNP and Plaid Cymru to agree to supply-and-confidence for the government, there would have been pressure on Wilson to resign as leader.
 
Thorpe was pro-devolution, so we know which side he'd campaign on behalf of. As for Wilson, Gonzo is right that he'd probably sit on the fence assuming that he'd manage to remain leader - assuming that Heath manages to put together a coalition with the Liberals and got the SNP and Plaid Cymru to agree to supply-and-confidence for the government, there would have been pressure on Wilson to resign as leader.
How would the referendums turn out, in any case? I think there'd be cases for both YES and NO in the Scottish example. Wales would presumably reject devolution as they did in 1979 IOTL.
 
How would the referendums turn out, in any case? I think there'd be cases for both YES and NO in the Scottish example. Wales would presumably reject devolution as they did in 1979 IOTL.

Part of it would depend on whether there would still be any stipulations on the results as Callaghan put into place in OTL '79. It was only a narrow victory for 'Yes' in the OTL referendum for Scottish devolution, but still had a low turnout which meant it wasn't considered as accepting the requirements of Act. If that particular stipulation is not there, there's a better chance of Scottish devolution in the '70s however the Conservatives would be divided over the issue and if Labour is non-committal, which they could be given they're not the ones with their heads on the block this time around, it could easily go either way.

I'd agree with Wales though - the margin for 'No' was fairly conclusive in OTL '79 and I don't think there was a sudden & massive shift in opinions on the matter four years before hand.
 
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