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Devolution Flashcards

1
Q

What 3 reasons led to devolution being introduced?

A

-Expression for nationalism and silencing calls for complete independence
-Part of New Labour’s constitutional reform programme
-Believed that it would improve public services and economic conditions

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2
Q

What was included in the Scotland Act 1998

A

It was given the most powers out of all the regions, including control over most public services and significant legislative and tax varying powers.

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3
Q

When did hte SNP come into power?

A

2007

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4
Q

What powers were reserved to westminster from the scotland act 1998?

A

lots including foreign policy and defense, with the rest being being left to scotland

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5
Q

When was the first scottish referendum?

A

2014

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6
Q

What is included in the scotland act 2016?

A

Gave the scottish parliament further powers, including fiscal devolution, so they can set all income tax rates and bands

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7
Q

WHat 3 areas does scotland currently have power over?

A

Key public services
Significant fiscal area
Key constitutional powers

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8
Q

Explain scotlands public service power

A

Includes health and social policy and education
Welfare benefits
Enviromental policy and law also included.

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9
Q

Explain Scotland’s fiscal powers

A

Control income tax rates and bands
Have hte right to 50% of all VAT raised in scotland
Hollyrood no. raises 60% of its own funds.

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10
Q

Explain Scotland’s constitutional powers

A

Controls its own composition and elections - AMS
Since the scotland act 2016, it can only be abolished with a referendum, making it permanent in the constitution
2016 also enshrined the sewell convention into law

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11
Q

What is the sewel convention?

A

Westminster must ask the holyrood for permission if they want to legislate on a devolved matter

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12
Q

What triggered the 2022 scotland devolution ruling?

A

Due to our uncodified constitution, it was unclear who could legislate for indyref in scotland

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13
Q

how does parliamentary sovereignty influence the 2022 indyref ruling?

A

parliamentary sovereignty is deemed ot contrast with the popular sovereignty of the scottish people

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14
Q

How did the first scottish independence referendum come about?

A

a special agreement between the holyrood and westminster called the edinburgh agreement

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15
Q

What was Scotland arguing in the supreme court case 2022?

A

It could legislate for a second referendum under its own power

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16
Q

what was ruled on in the supreme court case for scotland 2022?

A

the court ruled that scotland doesn’t have the power to unilaterally legislate an independent referendum and it is a reserved power of teh UK parliament.

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17
Q

What potential is there for future reform in Scotland?

A

there is little power that can be devolved further, but many polls suggest that another indyref would result in indepdence.

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18
Q

Why did wales receive less power than the other regions?

A

there was little nationalist entailment in the country, with there only being a 50% turnout and 50.5% yes vote.

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19
Q

What powers was wales initially granted?

A

Administrative devolution, controlling the enforcement of laws from westminster.

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20
Q

why has wales seen an increase in nationalist sentiment?

A

-Introduction of devolution
-Issues surrounding brexit
-conscious efforts to revitalise welsh culture
-plaid cymru, a nationalist party, being the dominant force.

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21
Q

When has wales received more power?

A

2011 and 2017

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22
Q

What power was given to wales in 2011?

A

primary legislative power

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23
Q

What power does wales currently have?

A

they are able to legislate on an areas not reserved for westminster
this includes service areas and some constitutional areas such as its own composition and elections (AMS)

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24
Q

What fiscal power does wales have?

A

it collects 10% of wales income and can vary the bands and rates for this 10%

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25
what further reform could be introduced in wales?
independence is growing in popularity, with some 30% support This could lead to greater devolution to satisfy autonomy Wales also demonstrated through covid that it can successfully diverge from english policy.
26
Why was devolution introduced in Ireland in 1998?
Part of the good friday agreement, a broader peace process between Catholics and protestants
27
How did the peace process in northern ireland impact its devolution?
Power sharing was key, with the first minister and deputy minster requiring cross-immunity support.
28
What weakens the northern irish government?
It is very fragile, as when parties refuse to work together it shuts down and westminster becomes sovereign, leading to hte passing of some legislation such as legalising same sex marriage.
29
What power does northern ireland have?
it has gained little power since 1998 apart from corporation tax and policing, and it now has service devolution.
30
What further devolution is possible in Norther ireland?
Further devolution is unlikely to occur due to how opposed unionists are to it However, it is likely that there could be a referendum on the reunification of Ireland, due to the balancing of catholic and protestants in Northern Ireland and the election of Sinn Fein in NI’s government.
31
What acts have devolved powers to england?
Greater London Authority act 1999, allowing for the creation of a mayor in London.
32
When was there nearly devolution across England?
new labour proposed regional assemblies in the early 2000s but dropped the idea after a 2004 referendum on a regional assembly in the north east got a 78% no.
33
What devolution occurred under the 2010 coalition?
They promoted the northern powerhouse, creating transport links and greater investment in the area, introducing city regions with elected metro-mayors in Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and more.
34
What power does the Greater London Authority currently have?
-the most in england -london mayors are important poliical figures with strategic responsibility over policing, transport and economic development
35
What transport reformations have been made in London?
Ken Livingstone was able to introduce congestion charge and free travel for young people.
36
What power do city regions old?
Each region has its own arrangements and powers on a city by city basis, for example greater manchester has gained substantial control over health, although the focus is mainly on transport and boosting local economy.
37
What ,id of devolution do city regions have?
administrative devolution
38
What is the west lothian question?
why should scottish MPs be able to vote on english matters that don’t affect their constituents when English MPs cannot do the same in scottish parliament?
39
what are 3 issues caused by teh west lothian question?
-democratic imbalance -political legitimacy -strain on the union
40
how does the west lothian question create democratic imbalance?
If MPs from Scotland, Wales and NI can vote on legislation, whilst English MPs have no equivalent voting rights on devolved matters, there is the concern that the people of the devolved regions are influencing issues that dont involve them, and the voices of the english people are being drowned out.
41
How does the west lothian question create issues around political legitimacy?
Critics argue that equal representation and accountability are undermined, and the government is acting in a legitimate manner, as MPs from scotland, wales and Northenr ireland are allowed to vote directly on issues not regarding them. Legitimacy is the idea that a government has the authority to legislate, however this is weakened if votes are diluted by non-representatives.
42
how does the west lothian question threaten the union?
It strains teh union of the UK by highlighting differences in governance and representation. between its constitutent nations. Resentment can arise if voters see their interests as being overlooked or disadvantaged, which could lead to greater calls for autonomy.
43
What was introduced to solve the west lothian question?
English votes for english laws in 2015, which allowed english MPs to veto any legislation affecting England from being passed
44
What are three features of evel?
principle of legislative equivalence special procedures for english only legislation teh scope and application of evel
45
how is EVEL enacted?
Under EVEL, certain stages in UK parliament are subject to a legislative consent motion from MPs representing English constituents, meaning that laws affecting only England are subject to the approval of English MPs alone.
46
What is the principle of legislative equivalence?
Aims to ensure that MPs from England have a say in laws that specifically impact their constituents, particularly in areas that policy
47
what special procedures for english only legislation are brought in?
the process involves changes to the legislative process, including a double majority requirement, where legislation affecting only England must be approved by a majority of all MPs and a majority fo English MPs, and hte introduction of a committee f english MPs reviewing it after it’s second reading.
48
what is the scope and application of EEL?
It applies to specific stages of the legislative process that only affect england The Speaker plays a key role in determining whether a bill falls under teh scope of EVEL which. opens it up to bias EVEL does not apply to all legislation debated in parliament, as its scope is limited to areas where devolved power already exists, such as service devolution.
49
What are 3 negatives to EVEL?
-It is complex -It creates the potential for legislative gridlock, especially if legislation only for England is subject to different voting procedures than legislation for the rest of the UK -It undermines parliamentary sovereignty by introducing a two tiered system of governance
50
When was EVEL’s introduced and killed?
2015-2021
51
What is the Barnett formula?
A system used to determine the funding given to each body
52
What were teh %’s above or below the national an average for public spending per person in the devolved regions?
England., 2% below Scotland, 11% above, Wales, 6% above NI, 14% above
53
What are the consequences of the Barnett Formula?
Creates an unequal fiscal playing field, as England’s poorest areas are hit hardest by the lower publci spending.
54
Why hasn’t anyone tried to replace the barnett formula?
No one wants to face political repercussions form voters in Scotland, Wales and northern ireland.
55
How have attitudes to devolution from Westminster PMs changed?
All UK PMs since tony Blair were keen to support it as it was democratic and tied the union together, however things changed with johnson who described it as a disaster
56
What occurred under Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon?
Sunak used a section 35 order to block Scotland’s gender reform bill which would’ve introduced self identification for transgender people .
57
What is section 35 for the scotland act?
Allows Uk government to block a bill if it is believed to hold an adverse affect on Uk-wide law.
58
What policy differences became clear during covid?
initially everything was the same, however a time went on differences and tenssions began to arise England and Northern Ireland lifted restrictions faster than Wales and Scotland, as well as differences in high education results in 2021 There was also different levels of success in managing the spread of the virus.
59
What tensions arose during covid?
Nicola Sturgeon accused Johnson of using COVID as a political weapon and repealing restrictions too quickly Mark Drakeford accused Johnson of disrespecting the people of Wales Andy Burnam was criticism of wow Johnson failed to provide sufficient funds for businesses forced to shut down in the second lockdown.
60
What are the 2 examples of policy difference?
Higher education and healthcare
61
why is tuition so different in england compared to the other nations?
England has had a conservative government since 2010 whereas the other nations have had more left wing governance
62
how much does university cost in the UK?
9250 a year
63
how much does university cost in scotland
fees were scrapped in 2008
64
how much does education cost in wales?
fees aer capped at 9,000 a year with a1,000 grant for living cost, with more availed for lower income household
65
how much does education cost in NI?
fees are capped at 4,630 and there are maintaince grants for students from lower income households
66
How much does a prescription cost in England?
9.35
67
how much do prescriptions cost in the regions?
they are free
68
what is another health difference in england vs the opthe regions
there is more care for the elderly across teh regions, for example most in-care home for 75+ year olds is free in Northern Ireland
69
what power does city regions have over health care?
In 2015, greater manchester received devolved contro over the health budget for the city region, which is administrative rather than legislative power, although it has seen an increase in life expectancy in teh area
70
what are the 3 main debates over the impact of devolution?
democracy unity economic and policy
71
what are the arguments that devolution has had a positive impact on,pact on democracy?
-allows for more effective representation and policy difference -Allows for more proportional electoral systems with a mix of parties -UK still has the power to remove devolved nations
72
what are the arguments that devolution has had a negative impact on democracy?
-devolution undermines parliamentary sovereignty -turnout is low in devolved assemblies -devolution undermines equal citizenship as policy divergence means different citizen as are subject to different benefits and laws.
73
What was turnout like in the 2021 elections?
63.5% in scotland and northenr ireldn 466% in Wales
74
What are the arguments that devolution has had a positive impact on the unity of the UK?
-no nationalist movement has achieved independence -Devolution has led to a stable peace in Northern Ireland -Recent increases in support for indepdence can be attributed to the unpopularity of the conservative government more so than devolution itself.
75
What are the arguments that devolution has had a negative impact on on the unity of the UK?
-Asymmetric devolution has undermined the unity of the UK and the equal citizenship principle -Devolution has fueled nationalist calls for indepdence -Support for indepdence has increased everywhere -Relations between the devolved nations have been strained -EVEL has created a hole in the unity.
76
what are teh arguments that devolution has had a positive impact on the economy and policies?
-Scope for experimentation, such as the ban on smoking in public places in teh UK -Allowed for more reflective policies -In some areas, more affective policy can be seen as a result of devolution, such as. manchester and the life expectancy
77
What are the arguments that devolution has had a negative impact. on the economy and policy?
-Little dividend can be discerned, with some bodies even falling behind on the national economic stage -Deovltuion undermines equal citizenship -Devolved governments could focus too much on nationalist sentiment rather than day-to-day policy making

British Politics (11 decks)

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