Neil Kinnock

The sceptic's entry. As a young Labour MP from the south Wales valleys, Kinnock was one of the most effective opponents of the 1979 devolution proposals, arguing an assembly would be a talking shop that divided Wales and distracted from economic problems. Wales voted No by four to one. His later shift as Labour leader to accept devolution reflected how far opinion had moved during the Thatcher years, when Wales repeatedly voted Labour but was governed by Conservatives.