The Blair years

Here's another view

Bronwen Maddox (BM): Let’s jump back 20 years. What did you see as the purpose of
devolution?

Tony Blair (TB): The purpose of devolution was to bring about a new settlement
between the constituent parts of the UK so that decision making was brought closer to
the people who felt a strong sense of identity. And politically, also, to ward off the
bigger threat of secession.

BM: And that was why you put it in the manifesto back at that point [1997]?

TB: Yes. I mean, it was the established Labour Party position but, essentially, I took the
view that it was right in principle and necessary politically. And before I became Labour
leader it was clear that was the pretty established and settled position of the Labour
Party. So frankly, it would have been hard to change it even if I had wanted to, but I had
become convinced myself that it was basically the right thing to do and that the
previous 100 years had been a series of failed attempts to do devolution. And it was
important that we succeeded otherwise I could see a situation, particularly in Scotland,
where the support for independence would be unstoppable. And I still think it was
basically necessary to prevent that even though it’s a continuing debate as to whether
Scotland goes for full independence or not.

Source

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/tony-blair_0.pdf