At Conservative meeting in Fife in 1977 Fletcher described himself as a supporter of Scottish devolution, but warned that "exaggerated claims" were being made by some campaigners about the benefits of a Scottish Assembly. Following the result of the 1979 Scottish devolution referendum Fletcher stated that he did not see how parliament could now proceed with the Scotland Act 1978, which would have set up an Assembly, citing the fact that so many regions of Scotland had voted against the assembly.