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The rivals

Labour's closest challenger in Wales is Plaid Cymru.

The official Opposition's central aim is to increase powers to those of the Scottish Parliament.

They have increasingly preferred this statement rather than pushing for outright independence.

Plaid Cymru's main theme over the last four years has been funding.

The Barnett formula they see as outdated, and its ability to fund Wales adequately, poor.

Even Lord Barnett himself has said it should be reformed.

At the next term of the Assembly, Plaid Cymru will be short of some of the stalwarts of Welsh nationalism - Cynog Dafis and Dafydd Wigley retire taking with them a breadth of experience and respect from colleagues.

The Conservatives returned from the referendum campaign accepting the outcome, but uneasy about calls for increased powers.

They remain certain the Welsh people did not vote for a parliament.

Only one of the nine Conservative Assembly members was elected through the 'First Past The Post' system.

Ironically, the Welsh Conservative party seem to be more supportive of New Labour than Welsh Labour at times.

Some Tories are dismayed the concept of foundation hospitals will not reach Wales.

Their loudest shouts have been over the new Assembly building.

They are the only party to call for a halt to the scheme and the project to be scrapped.

They've had change at the top too.

Former Cabinet Minister Rod Richards stepped down in 2002 for health reasons.

With Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats would like to see increased powers for the National Assembly.

They are calling for a Welsh Senedd with primary legislative and tax-raising powers.

The LibDems took credit for much of what the administration has achieved - free school milk is widely thought to be the brainchild of the Liberal Democrats.

The two Commissions set up to look into electoral reform and the assembly powers (Sunderland and Richard) were both believed to be driven by the Liberal Democrats. Assembly Group Leader Mike German has faced a lot of hostility in the Assembly from all sides.

Rebel Labour AM Peter Law is leading them.

His vocal dislike for the Liberal Democrats and proportional representation is well recorded.

Mr German was absent for a period following investigations of fraud during his time at the Welsh exam board.

South Wales Police cleared him and he was parachuted back into government.

Looking ahead

The UK Government insists changing the political landscape in Wales is not an embarrassment but actually to their credit.

Wales' solutions to problems were always part of the plan.

Public services reforms undertaken at Westminster simply won't be on the agenda in Wales and likewise where Wales is making the difference in key areas such as health and education, Westminster is embarking on a different road.

Key issues to watch:

Richard Commission - set up to review the Assembly's powers and electoral arrangements. Lord Richard will report after the election.

Smoking - AM's backed a motion calling for primary legislation for smoking to be banned in public places. Will Westminster agree?

Extending Proportional Representation - fiercely opposed among the Labour ranks, the Sunderland Commission recommended extending PR to local elections across Wales.

The Welsh Labour Conference voted against PR and in doing so, put Rhodri Morgan in a difficult position.

If he presses ahead, it is not unreasonable to suggest he could face a leadership challenge.

If he declines, a Lib/Lab coalition could be put in jeopardy.

Devolution was meant to herald a new relationship between the governors and the governed.

There is still a lack of interest in or knowledge of the institution, in some parts there is not just indifference to it, but real hostility.

Albeit, the Welsh Assembly is still a young body and the early years were far from smooth.

There is a real nervousness regarding the turnout.

There is evidence to suggest a growing support for the set-up particularly among business leaders.