devolution Flashcards
when was devolution first introduced?
First mentioned in Labour’s 1997 manifesto, and Labour won on a landslide.
how was devolution executed?
Referendums were held in these proposed devolved areas on whether the population were in favor of laboUrs devolution policies
what were the results of the devolution referendums 1997?
Scotland, wales and northern Ireland voted in favor of labours devolution proposials
why did labour promote devolution to begin with?
to improve public services and the overall state of the economy
what are 2 things that the Scottish act 1998 granted?
- primary legislative powers in a number of domestic areas including law and order and education
- vary rate of income tax by 3p
Devolution in England
What was the 2015 EVEL
addressed the issue of scottish MPs voting for english law
now only MP’s for england and Wales can vote on some law such as education, crime and health
Devolution in England
What is an example of Devolution in England
Granting UK cities a mayor with financial control over own city budget
Devolution in scotland
What did the 1999 scotland act grant
Established a scottish parliament which had powers of iit’s own
Devolution in scotland
What are 3 major advancements inndevolution to scotland?
- Scotland act 1998
- Scotland act 2012
- Scotland act 2016
Devolution in scotland
What did the scotland act 1998 do?
Gave the scottish parliament primary legislative powers such as law and order, criminal law and health
+ could also vary the income tax by 3p in the pound
Devolution in scotland
What did the Scotland act 2012 do?
transferred significant tax raising powers to scottish parliament - SRIT is now 10p in the pound
Devolution in scotland
What did the Scotland act 2016 do ?
further major transfer of powers to holyrood over issues such as equal opportunities, abortion rights and gaming machines
and allowed scotland to set it’s own rate of APD
APD = air passenger duty
Devolution in scotland
Give an exampleof how devolution in scotland has had an impact
Holyrood has passed over 300 pieces of legislation - significantly effects scottish people
Devolution in Wales
What are the 6 key advancements for devolution in wales
- Government of wales act 1998
- Government of Wales act 2006
- 2011 referendum
- Wales act 2014
- Wales act 2017
- Snedd and elections Act 2020
Devolution in Wales
What did the Government of Wales act 1998 do?
Set up welsh assembly - lacked primary legislative powers but could devise secondary legislation in some areas such as agriculture
powers similar to those held previously by the secretary of state
Devolution in Wales
What did the Government of Wales act 2006 do?
enabled the welsh assembly to request primary legislative powers
also set up a proper executive body called the welsh government
Devolution in Wales
What did the 2011 referendum do?
Power to enact primary legislation in 20 areas of devolved policy such as health, transport and agriculture
Devolution in Wales
What did the Wales act 2014 do?
First major transferof tax raising power to wales such as landfill tax
Devolution in Wales
What did the Wales act 2017 do?
- primary legislative powers in adiitional policy areas such as control over electoral system
- also could vary income tax by 10p in the ppound
Devolution in Wales
What did the Senedd and elections act 2020 do?
Formally changed the name of the legislature to Synedd Cymru and gave the vote to 16 and 17 year olds
Devolution in Wales
Give an example of how wales has used it’s devolved legislative powers
Wales passed an ‘opt out’ system for organ donation in 2015 which England adopted in 2020
Devolution in Northern Ireland
Explain ‘the troubles’ 1969
3 points
- Conflict between the unionist and nationalist parties in ireland
- unionists were mainly protestants and wanted to remain part of the uk whereas nationalists were mainly catholic and wanted to be unitary
- The IRA fought for the nationalists and the UVF fought for the unionists and the british army intervened in 1969 and events such a bloody sunday happened
Devolution in Northern Ireland
What was the 1998 good friday agreement?
Promise of a return to a devolved government for NI
released convicted parliamentary terrorists and lessened the number of british troops stationed in NI
Devolution conflict
Give an exampleof Welsh devolved powers conflicting with westminster
in July 2020 - M4 relief road
BOJO wanted to build a relief road in wales as congestion and traffic was affecting business there - he said he was doing what the welsh government had failed to do
But traffic was a devolved area of policy and labour ran wales said that it would cause too much carbon emissions and increase traffic
So BOJO could not build the M4
Devolution has worked well
What are 3 arguements that Devolution has worked well in the UK
- allowed for regional political differences to be recognised (scotland being more left leaning and having an income tax of 46p in the pound if your salary if over 150,000 compared to 45p in the UK)
- enabled the peace process in NI
- strengthened union between regions by providing a ‘best of both worlds’ scenario
Devolution has not worked well
What are 3 ways that devlution has not worked well? and examples
- led to inequalities in cost of public services in the UK (uni is free in scotland and prescriptions are free in wales and scotland)
- Devolution has encouraged greater demand for further devolution and full independence (55-45 vote on scottish independence in 2014 referendum)
- community relations and devolution itself remains fragile as evidensed from NI suspension from 2017 to 2020
Devolution in england
What are 3 reasons that england should have it’s own parliament
- It would solve the west lothian question
- devolution has worked well everywhere in the UK
- enabled more power to be decentralised away from london
Devolution in england
Give an example of how the west lothian question needs to be solved
2015 David cameron withdrew his attempt to relax the ban on foxhunting in england and wales because the SNP said that scottish MP’s would vote against this
Devolution in england
What are 3 reasons against England having it’s own parliament
- england is different from other devolved regions in size and economy
- EVEL has mostly adressed the west lothian question
- no evidence of public support for an english parliament
Devolution in England
Give an example of how there is a lack of public support for an english parliament
2004 referendum for a regional assembly set up in the north east and was heavely rejected by 78%-22% vote
