8.4a Debates on Constitutional Reform & Devolution

Question 1

Successful reforms

Answer 1

Successes include devolution and reform of the judicial system.

Devolution has been successful and supported in Scotland and Wales, whilst devolution has helped to ensure peace in Northern Ireland.

Regional devolution has led to power being decentralised.

The 2005 Constitutional Reform Act established a Supreme Court which is independent of parliament and the government.

Question 2

Success: fixed-term & electoral reform

Answer 2

Fixed-term elections have meant a check on the power of the executive and prevented the prime minister from calling a ‘snap’ election to gain a political advantage over others.

Proportional representation is used for elections to devolved assemblies, which has improved the representation of voters

Question 3

Failure: electoral reform

Answer 3

There has not been electoral reform away from first past the post (FPTP) for general elections to parliament.

FPTP remains in place which often results in outcomes which are unrepresentative.

In 2017 the SNP won 35 seats despite winning 3% of the vote, whilst the Liberal Democrats won 12 seats yet won over 7.4% of the vote.

Question 4

Failure: House of Lords

Answer 4

Despite reforms to remove many hereditary peers and make the House of Lords a more professional chamber, further reform is arguably needed.

The chamber should arguably become a fully elected and more democratic chamber as it has powers to check legislation and the government.

The House of Lords remains entirely unelected and therefore undemocratic.

Question 5

For further devolution

Answer 5

Further devolution would improve accountability by bringing the government closer to people and communities.

More devolution would prevent significant differences in living standards between different parts of the UK.
Devolution may increase political participation.

Having devolved governments would ensure regional problems are better addressed.

Question 6

Against further devolution

Answer 6

Devolution could increase divisions in English society by promoting disunity.

Further devolution could result in too many elections taking place which causes voter apathy.

There is not significant demand for greater devolution in England.