Devolution Flashcards
What are the powers of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Health and social services
- Education
- Environment
- Agriculture
- Unicameral assembly= single chamber
- 90 members
- Proportional representation system: Catholics + Protestant, fairer to Catholics than FPTP
Power sharing: Sinn Fein (Republicans, mainly Catholics), forced to permanently have a coalition government of the 2 most popular parties
What was the Irish population before 1997?
1.9 million
(Mostly Protestant, Catholic minority)
What is the Northern Ireland history?
- Britain was annoyed they lost America so took over Ireland, then only Northern Ireland
- Easter rising
- Around 1921, South of Ireland became independant, Northern Ireland stayed part of Britain
- Home rule, lasted around 50 years
- 1952- the troubles, Unionists (want to remain in the UK, majority protestants) + Republicans (wanted to leave UK, reform with the Republic of Ireland, including IRA, typically Catholic)fought
- 1972: Bloody Sunday, main event of the troubles, let to Parliament being prorogued and dissolved
- Sunningdale agreement: power sharing body between Republicans + Unionists (Unionists didn’t want power sharing), so eventually abolished
- 1974: power sharing executive was established, but it collapsed due to a workers strike
Constitutional convention + Thatcher’s Northern Ireland Assembly-> unsuccessful, but led to
Why does Ireland have the system it has?
But Protestants want a set up they can dominate (their own parliament), Catholics want a different voting system, something that allows them a fair say
What is the history of Welsh Devolution?
- 1997: Labour calls a Welsh Referendum, result is For, with a majority of 6,721 (50.4% said yes, turnout was 50.2%)
- 1998: Government of Wales Act is passed
1999: The National Assembly for Wales meets for the first time (Not a Parliament, less powers, UK government still had sovreignity)
- 1998: Government of Wales Act is passed
Why did New Labour introduce so many constitutional reforms?
- Ensure support of constant reform fanatics Lib Dems, in case they don’t get an overall majority in the 1997 election
- Distinguish New Labour from Old Labour, who had been interested in working class rights, not individual rights
- Democratise, earn kudos, and make the UK look more modern
- Give more rights, Thatcher had taken rights to protest away in Criminal Justice Act 84, and from trade unions
Decentralise because it’s democratic and because Scots etc want it (and tend to vote for labour)
What was the result of the 1997 Welsh Devolution referendum?
- 51% voted for
- 49% voted against
- Turnout of about 50% (therefore only around 1/4 of the population voted for devolution)
What does the low turnout of the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum mean ?
Therefore fewer powers were devolved to Wales than to Scotland (due to a smaller demand)
What did the 1998 Government of Wales Act do?
- Set up elected Welsh National Assembly + Welsh Executive to be chosen from largest party in the assembly + headed by First Minister
- Assembly- no powers to make or pass primary laws, given no financial control-> Welsh government could run a number of services but couldn’t pass laws relating to those services
- Did have power to decide how to allocate funds it received from central government
What were the main areas of Welsh devolved government?
Main areas of devolved government to Wales included Health, Education, Local authority services, Public transport, Agriculture
Lack of means of raising finance from the Welsh Government, they relied on an annual grant from the UK government
What did the Government of Wales Act 2006 do?
- Small increase in devolved powers
- Offered further referendum to allow to people of Wales to approve further devolution
What led to the 2011 referendum?
Government of Wales Act 2006
What was the results for the 2011 referendum?
- 64% for further devolution
- 36% against
What is the Government of Wales Act 2014?
- Nationalist sentiment didn’t grow after the first stage of devolution
- Demands started to increase after 2010-> Lib Dem coalition government, keen on further decentralisation of power
- Fears that further devolution in Scotland would create too wide a gap between the devolved powers in Wales and Scotland
What did the Government of Wales 2014 lead to?
- Decided to hold a referendum in Wales to decide whether the government of Wales should have partial control of income tax
- Welsh government was granted control over various taxes including business taxes, stamp duty charged on property sales, landfill tax
- Government of Wales would have limited powers to borrow money on open markets to enable it to invest in major projects and housing
What did the Government of Wales Act 2017?
- Gave greater power to Welsh Government
- More autonomy in ‘governing competency’
- Removal of the provisions from Government of Wales Act 2014, to require devolution of taxation to be decided by referendum
- Confirmation of fiscal measures passed to the Welsh Assembly, including ability to vary income tax by 10p to the pound
- Greater freedom in borrowing
- Transfer of administrative and legislative responsability, including energy efficiency, onshore oil electricity production
- Creation of the Welsh Revenue Authority to collect Welsh-based taxes
Allowed Assembly to be further known as Welsh Parliament, came into force in 2020
How are powers distributed through devolutions in Unitary systems like the UK?
- The constitution rests on the Sovereignty of the Westminster Parliament
- Westminster can grant a devolved assembly or parliament to Scotland etc, but it can also repeal that Act
What is Devolution?
The transfer by the centre of powers to subordinate authorities (whether a ‘nation’ like Scotland, or region like London), whilst retaining sovereignty.
What was the Parliament in Scotland like before 1707?
Scotland had some ties with England but had its own parliament
What happened in 1707 between the Scottish Parliament and Westminster?
In 1707 Westminster persuaded the Scottish parliament to abolish itself and passed an Act of Union formalising that Scotland was now only a region of the United Kingdom, allocating Scots a certain number of seats in the Westminster parliament.
Why was the SNP (Scottish Nationalist Party) set up?
A feeling among some Scots that decisions were often taken without much regard for them and Scotland would be better off as a fully Independant country
How did the SNP get so strong in support?
The SNP got stronger from the 1970s partly because the discovery of North Sea Oil made them think Scotland could survive economically.
In the 1970s, Why did Scotland end up staying part of the UK + how did they balance the lack of control with more Powers to Scotland?
Westminster government gave Scotland quite generous grants through the ‘Barnett formula’ and most Scots thought Scotland would be better off staying in the UK. However they wanted their own parliament so they could have control of some issues like education and transport.
What happened between 1976-9?
A small group of Scottish MPs at Westminster persuaded the Labour government 1976-9, which had a very small majority, to pass a Bill promising Scotland devolution but only if in a majority more than 40% of the total Scottish electorate voted for it. The Yes side in the referendum did not reach that threshold and no Scottish Parliament was set up.
Why did Blair want/promise Scottish devolution in 1997?
· Scots had been even more alienated by Thatcher’s policies in 1980s such as Poll tax
· Most Scots voted Labour for Westminster elections but if Labour did not give them devolution they might turn to the (still small) SNP
· The Conservatives opposed devolution, and Labour wanted to show how distinct they were
Why is Decentralisation important?
Decentralisation is necessary because countries can only be classed as democratic if decisions are made close to the people who will be affected by them.
What was the reason for holding the 1997 Scottish Devolution referendum?
- Referendum held to gauge support for devolution
What did the 1997 Scottish Devolution referendum ask?
Asked if they wanted a Scottish Parliament with law making powers + if it could also have tax-varying powers
What was the result of the 1997 Scottish Devolution referendum ?
74% in favour, 60% turnout
What did the 1998 Scotland Act do?
Power over health service, education, roads + public transport, make criminal and civil law, policing, local authority services, vary the rate of income tax up or down by 3%
New electoral system= additional member system (government formed by largest party or coalition, first minister would be leader of the largest party
How large was the Scottish Parliament in 1998?
129 MPs
What happened between 1998-2007 in the Scottish government?
Labour was the majority but accused of incompetence and/or corruption
What is the state of the Scottish government from 2007- now?
From 2007 the SNP has either been a majority government or a minority government dependent on pro independence Greens (like now).
What did the SNP government convince David Cameron to do?
They persuaded UK PM David Cameron they should have permission to hold a referendum asking should Scotland become an Independent country. (2014 Indy Ref)
What were the results of the 2014 Indy Ref?
55% against
45% for
Showed Clear pressure and interest for greater devolution
What were the voting demographics in the 2014 Indy Ref?
Older people tend to vote against independence
Younger people are more inclined to vote for- SNP is keen to have a 2nd referendum
What were the party views in the 2014 Indy Ref?
2014: Both Conservative and Labour were against independence, Lib Dem were also against
Only in favour= SNP, Scottish Green Party
How did the UK government respond to the result of the 2014 Indy Ref?
Scotland Act 2016
What did the Scotland Act 2016 entail?
- Widen the areas the Scottish Parliament can pass laws
- Power over the regulation of the energy industry transferred in Scotland
- Control over range of welfare services including housing and disability
- Control half the receipts of VAT collected in Scotland
- Control over income tax rates + control over all receipts from income tax
- Control over air passenger duty + control over its revenue in Scotland airports
- Control over some business taxes
What does increasing Scotland Government powers more give to the UK parliament?
Gives them a lower chance of another referendum happening in the future
How did the Scottish people vote in the Brexit referendum 2016?
62% voted to remain in the EU
- Only way to stay is to become an independant
How did the UK vote in the Brexit referendum?
52% leave
48% remain
Why did Scotland vote differently to the rest of the UK in the Brexit referendum?
Scotland is more left than England
- Brexit may have been thought to control immigration
- Scottish people are more left leaning on issues like immigration
Scotland wants to trade with the EU
What was the effect on the Brexit (leave) result on Scottish politics?
Brexit strengthened support for SNP + independence
Nicola Sturgeon could call for another independence referendum
What happened post Brexit that shows further devolution shouldn’t happen?
SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the failure to get a second Indy referendum (UK Supreme Court 2022).
Why couldn’t Sturgeon organise a second referendum on leaving the EU herself?
Westminster is Sovereign parliament who has the power to hand out a referendum
Why should Scotland become independant?
The nation state
A proud history of independence
Logic of devolution + SNP
Liberation from England
Moving with the times
Scotland can stand on its own
Why shouldn’t Scotland become independant?
Scottish representation in Westminster
Independence is a minority view
Independant Scottish Pound would be inviable
Depleting oil reserves
2008 financial crash
Links to UK political unions and alliances
Why does the nation state mean Scotland should become independant?
Nation State- means Scotland wants to control its own political and legal destiny. Own culture, history and identity, democratic
Can only truly do that if its independent.
How does a Proud History of independence show Scotland should be independant?
- 1707, England + Scotland were legally united
- Previously, long history of conflict
- Scottish do not identify with the English
Always had independence with own legal and education system, they feel they aren’t the same country
How does the Logic of devolution + the SNP show Scotland should be independent?
- 2011 victory to SNP (pro independence) by Alex Salmond
- Since devolution elections in 1999, no party had won a majority until 2011
- The party have the authority to make Scotland independent
Independence is a logical extension of devolution, giving the elected government more powers
How does Liberation from England show Scotland should be independant?
- Westminster is too distant from the concerns of the Scottish people
- Ie Thatcher years, Scots felt economically and politically harmed by Conservative policies
- Lack of Tory MPs in Scotland, 14 years of Conservative government (doesn’t represent their political views, illegitimate)
Independence would give the country more confidence in their ability and potential
How does Moving through the times show Scotland should be independent?
- Throughout history, there are examples of country’s winning independence
Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Iceland, Ireland
How does Scotland being able to stand up on its own show it should be independent?
- North sea oil and as reserves-> would give Scotland a budget surplus, instead of current deficit from Westminster
- Estimated 25% of Europe’s potential offshore wind and tidal energy
Sustains tourism industry, several of the best unis in Europe
- Estimated 25% of Europe’s potential offshore wind and tidal energy
How does the Scottish representation in Westminster show it shouldn’t be independent?
Scotland has a provided a large share of the Westminster political leadership over the past few years
- Prime ministers have been Scottish or Scottish-educated
- NOT underrepresented in Westminster
How does Scottish Independence being a minority view mean Scotland shouldn’t be independent?
Independence is a minority view
- 2010 general election, 19.9% scots voted for the SNP, 77.6% voted for parties against independence
- Around 1/3 want independence
How does an Independent Scottish pound being inviable mean Scotland shouldn’t be independent?
Independent Scottish pound would be inviable
- Scotland would have to launch their own currency or enter a currency union with partners
- High borrowing costs due to the small, illiquid nature of the scottish bond market
- Exports + overseas business would be damaged
- Sticking with the pound, Scotlajnd would have to accept the consequences of interest rate decision by the Bank of England with the English economy and market in mind
How does the Majority of the rich oil reserves being depleted show that Scotland shouldn’t be independent?
Majority of the rich oil reserves have depleted
- Much of the infrastructure will move to a costly and potentially polluting decommissioning phase
- Wouldn’t make more money than the Subsidy Scotland currently receives from Westminster
How does the 2008 financial crash show that Scotland shouldn’t be independent?
2008 financial crash, needed British government to bailout Scotland of over £60 billion, over 40% of Scotland’s GDP
- The country is not economically stable enough to be independant
How do global political alliances and trade links show that Scotland shouldn’t be independent?
Get seats at top global political unions and alliances such as the UN and NATO
- Would be unable to do that as an independant country
- Benefit from stability and power of being part of a larger entity
