Blair - constitutional revolution Flashcards
When was the devolution for Scotland and Wales?
1998 - the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly were created
How popular was Blair’s devolution in Scotland and Wales?
75% in Scotland
53% in Wales
What was the impact of Blair’s devolution policy?
Allows for specialised policies in devolved areas. Under this Act a range of powers were transferred to Scotland including agriculture, economic development, education, environment, planning, health, housing, justice, local government and transport
When and what was the Human Rights Act?
1998
Incorporated ECHR into UK law
Allows judges to issue declarations of incompatibility with further legislation
What was the impact of the Human Rights Act?
Precedent of overriding legislation in UK - led to defeat of Anti-Terrorism Act
Large-scale codification of human rights in public bodies and secondary laws
Brought human rights suits into UK courts
In what way was Blair’s devolution policy limited?
Devolution unentrenched. Can be overruled by Westminster. Northern Ireland’s assembly and devolved powers have been rescinded and given back off and on over the years.
How was the Human Rights Act limited?
Could not technically override new laws
Only codified already existing code of human rights in ECHR.
When and how did Blair reform the House of Lords?
1998
Ended the right of unelected hereditary peers to sit in the upper house, was intended to strike a blow for democracy. The problem was what form the new chamber would take and what powers it would have.
What impact did the House of Lords Reform have?
By 2001 Blair had created more life peers in his four years of government than the Conservatives had in their eighteen. This led to the House of Lords becoming more balanced with Lords being picked on their own merits.
What happened to the political split in the House of Lords?
The Lords were more evenly split between Labour and Conservative allegiances, with, most of the time, the Lords better reflecting the balance of votes of general elections than the Commons itself.
What happened to the power of the House of Lords?
Lords became increasingly more assertive, leading to the Labour government suffering 514 defeats in the House of Lords between 1997 and 2010, and, although it was possible for the Commons to overturn the Lords, they still gave in 50% of the time, meaning the Lords rejected over 200 Labour policies.
In what way was the House of Lords Reform limited?
92 hereditary peers remained. Critics complained that it was part of his scheme for consolidating New Labour’s authority by packing the House of Lords with his own appointees. Even some of his own side were unhappy at this.
What did Tony Benn say about the reforming of the House of Lords?
Described the process as going back 700 years to the time when monarchs got their way by surrounding themselves with placemen.
Who was responsible for the Freedom of Information Act?
David Clark, who delivered the White paper, Your Right to Know in 1997
What was the Freedom of Information Act?
2000
Act required public authorities to grant ‘right to access’ to the information they held. Ordinary citizens were entitled to be told what information an authority had and to ask for it’s disclosure if it did not breach the rules of confidentiality.
