Evaluate The View Devolution Reforms Havent Gone Far Enough Flashcards
Introduction
Many may argue devolution
English parliament
P- that represent + decide in important issues that just affect England. Same as SP.
E- problem with current system is its asymmetric. England lacking level of representation that Scotland, Wales and NI have. English parliament would complete devolution, grant England same level of representation.
A- Allow for policy preferences of English to be represented, same as Scotland. Scottish population more left wing than rest of UK and SP able to represent this in policies such as free tuition fees and higher income tax.
A- This would also solve the West Lothian Question, which questions why Scottish MPs should be able to vote on English matters in UK Parl that don’t affect their constituents, when English MPs can’t do same in SP.
d
English parliament - disagree
Around 83% UK’s population is in England, lead to English Parliament being very powerful.
There is little support for EP within England, most English voters feel sufficiently represented by UK Parl + have little interest in devolution.
It can be argued that UK Parl and Gov currently represents English issues and interests effectively.
Brexit opposed by both NI + Scotland, yet pursued strongly by UK Parliament in order to represent the majority of England which supported it.
Judgement
Overall, there are certainly issues with the current system of devolution, particularly the fact that England is underrepresented.
An English Parliament is not the right solution, however. Not only would it be impractical and create huge tensions with the UK Parliament, there is also little support for it among the English populatio
Agree - further powers to devolved bodies
P- existing devolve bodies shown can run public services and decide policy effectively, including during COVID crisis. Giving them greater power would increase their ability to reflect local opinion and address local issues.
E- Grant Scotland more powers over welfare and tax policy and transport.
A- allow it to further reflect the left-wing views of Scottish population in policy. for example, supports devolution of immigration policy to Scotland Brexit allows a lot of policy areas that used to be governed by the EU to be given to devolved bodies, including in already devolved areas such as agriculture and energy.
E- Wales should gain greater control over justice and policing as it currently lacks full control despite having its own elected Senedd (Welsh Parliament).
A- would allow decisions about criminal justice to be made closer to the people they affect, improving democratic accountability.
Similar powers are already devolved to Scotland and Northern Ireland why not Wales?
E- Northern Ireland skready has a range of powers due to Good Friday Agreement 1998
L- giving them more power would give more autonomy and perhaps dis encourage either of them to vote for independence in the future.A
DISGAREE further powers to devolved bodies.
P-Further, especially tax raising powers, risks lead to greater disparities in public services offer to ppl + the laws governing ppl in UK, further undermine equal citizenship.
E- the NI Parliament is frequently suspended as tensions and a lack of compromise between Sinn Fein and the DUP. Also, DUP and other unionists strongly oppose further.
A- makes little sense to grant powers to a parl. that rarely functions.
P- In some devolved bodies, there is little interest in the devolved bodies and little support for further devolution.
E- 2021 Welsh Parliament elections received just 46.6% support.
Judgement
