Devolution Flashcards
(24 cards)
Define devolution
transferring legislative power from a central parliament to a local or regional legislature
Has devolution been successful?
YES:
- the UK is still together
- devolved powers are very popular in the regions
- more effective policy-making that better addresses regional issues
NO:
-Scottish parliament has increased the desire for independence
- west Lothian question unanswered (English votes on English laws)
- created a more complex political system, with overlapping powers between devolved governments and the UK Parliament.
Devolution of Scotland steps
Scotland act 1998:
gave primary legislative power and slight tax varying power
Scotland Act 2012:
increased tax varying power
Scotland act 2016:
more power over transport, energy and income tax
Welsh devolution steps:
Wales act 1998:
gave secondary legislative powers
2011 devolution referendum:
voted yes to giving the assembly power in 20 areas such as health
Wales act 2017:
gave further powers in transport, energy and income tax
Northern Ireland devolution steps
Northern Ireland Act 1998:
assembly created and power decentralised
2010:
devolution of policing and criminal justice
Corporation Tax Act 2015:
given power to set corporation tax
Points FOR devolution
Localized decision making:
allows region specific needs to be addressed: Free prescriptions in Wales
Political accountability: Scottish Parliament, Senedd elections
Policy innovation: Scotland’s alcohol pricing
Points AGAINST devolution
Policy incoherence:
Diverging rules create confusion COVID: 4 different rulesets
Asymmetric powers = confusion:
Inconsistency between nations creates unfairness: Scotland has income tax powers; Wales limited
Weak English representation: England has no devolved national voice: EVEL scrapped in 2021
Scottish parliament
Scottish Parliament (Holyrood), 129 MSPs (AMS)
Scottish government
Scottish Government led by First Minister
Scotland key powers
- Health, education, transport, justice, environment, agriculture
- Control over income tax rates and bands
- Some welfare powers (e.g. Carer’s Allowance Supplement)
Scottland examples
- Free university tuition
- Minimum alcohol pricing
- COVID: own rules & briefings
Scotland devolution impact
- SNP dominance
- 2014 Inide ref
- 2023 call for second indie ref
Welsh parliament
Senedd Cymru (60 MSs, AMS)
welsh government examples
- Free prescriptions
- Ban on smacking children
- COVID: lockdowns diverged from Westminster
welsh devolution impact
- Growing Welsh identity
- But limited support for independence
- Welsh Labour dominance
welsh Key Powers:
- Health, education, environment, transport
- Partial income tax control
- Land transaction and landfill tax
Northern Irish assembly
- 90 MLAs (STV)
- Power-sharing executive: requires unionist and nationalist cooperation
Northern Irish assembly challenges
- Frequent suspensions (e.g. 2017–2020, 2022–2024)
- DUP boycott over Northern Ireland Protocol
Northern Irish assembly key powers
- Policing, justice, health, education, environment
Northern Irish assembly example
- First nationalist First Minister (Sinn Féin, 2024)
- Separate abortion and same-sex marriage timeline (legalised via Westminster during suspension)
Northern Irish assembly impact
- Crucial for peace post-Good Friday Agreement
- Brexit threatens settlement
England devolution
- No Parliament – governed directly from Westminster
- Devolution to Cities/Regions:
- Metro mayors (e.g. Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester)
- Combined authorities with control over transport, housing, economic development
England examples
- Manchester’s integrated transport plan
- Burnham clashed with Boris Johnson over Tier 3 lockdown funding (2020)
england issues
- West Lothian Question
- No coherent national structure
- Regional inequalities persist
