1.4 debates on further reform Flashcards
What are the positives of devolution?
- modified the UK’s heavily centralised constitution by enabling policies that meet the needs of people at local level
- in NI devolution has helped to end violence between the two opposition communities by creating a power-sharing system
What are criticisms of devolution?
- the SNP argues that the wishes of the majority in Scotland, who wanted to remain in the EU have been ignored after the Brexit referendum
- devolution settlement is uneven in the way it applies to the component parts of the UK
What are some positives of electoral reform?
- produced more proportional results in elections to the Scottish parliament, Welsh parliament and NI assembly
- rejection of AV in the 2011 referendum shows no want for reform to Westminster
What are some positives of House of Lords reform?
- upper house based more firmly on merit and experience
- greater assertiveness in holding the government to account, meaning it should be left as it is
What are some criticisms of the House of Lords reform?
- the Lords lacks democratic legitimacy because none of its members are elected
What are some positives of the Human Rights Act?
- brought the UK into line with other European states by incorporating the ECHR into national law
- provides protection of citizens rights without threatening parliamentary sovereignty
What are some criticisms of the current Human Rights Act?
governments can currently take away important liberties by a simple majority vote in parliament
What is the main case for no more reform being needed in the UK?
- current settlement protects the rights of citizens and recognises the desire for autonomy
- lack of clear agreement on the form that any further change should take
What is the main reason for more reform being needed in the UK?
- the current settlement is incomplete and illogical
- UK is out of step with most other Western democracies, by having an unelected upper house and a voting system the imperfectly reflects the preferences of the electorate
- federal solution could remove the anomalies created by asymmetric devolution agreements
- citizens need greater clarity on the nature of their rights
What are the main arguments for extending devolution in England?
- England is the most heavily populated part of the UK
- EVEL makes Scottish MPs second-class representatives at Westminster, weakens the unity of the UK
- devolution has led to policies to meet the differing needs of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish people
- there is strong regional identity in some parts of the UK (Devon & Cornwall)
What are the main arguments against extending devolution in England?
- Englands size and wealth mean that it would dominate a federal structure
- EVEL may have resolved the West Lothian question
- most English people don’t make a logical distinction between England and Britain as a whole
- defeat of Blair’s proposals in 2004 suggests that there isn’t a strong enough sense of identity across the UK to make regional assemblies viable
What are the main arguments for the UK constitution being entrenched and codified including a Bill of Rights?
- codification would educate the public about constitutional issues
- entrenchment would not make it impossible to amend the constitution
- an entrenched Bill of Rights would provide stronger protection of individual liberties
- codification would mean greater clarity about the rights of citizens and the powers of government
What are the main arguments against the UK constitution being entrenched and codified including a Bill of Rights?
- there is almost no public demand for change of this kind
- uncodified constitution allows for greater flexibility
- strong executive is able to take decisions rapidly changing situations
- much of historic constitution is written with acts of parliament and works of authority providing clear guidance
