Devolution Flashcards
What is devolution
The delegation of some powers away from parliament to regions with their own elected parliaments that make laws themselves. Policy matters such as trade, defence and foreign policy are retained by Westminster.
What voting system do Scotland and Wales use?
AMS
What voting system does Northern Ireland used?
STV
How many people initially voted for devolution for Wales?
50.3%
What key pieces of legislation enhanced devolution in Scotland?
-Scotland Act 1998
-Scotland Act 2012
-Scotland Act 2016
Scotland Act 1998:
-comes after the 1997 referendum
-gives Scotland legislative powers in domestic areas
-Scottish parliament could also raise income tax by 3p to the pound
Scotland Act 2012:
-transferred tax raising powers to the Scottish parliament
-raise/lower income tax by 10p in the pound
-stamp duty and landfill taxes transferred to Scotland
-allowed the Scottish government to borrow up to £5 billion
Scotland Act 2016:
Gave Holyrood the power over legislation including equal opportunity, abortion and speed limits
Allowed Scotland to set income tax across tax bands.
Scotland could make its own laws on who votes in Scottish elections.
The extension extension of powers was a promise of the no side of the 2014 Scottish Independence campaign
How many pieces of legislation has the Scottish Parliament passed?
Over 300
Edinburgh Agreement 2012:
Allowed Scotland to stipulate the voting age for the referendum (17 year olds could vote)
What key pieces of legislation have enhanced devolution in Wales?
-government of Wales Act 1998
-Government of Wales Act 2006
-2011 Referendum
-Wales Act 2014
-Wales Act 2017
Government of Wales Act 1998:
-sets up the Welsh Assembly
-did not give the assembly primary legislative powers but it could devise secondary legislation in areas including agriculture, fisheries, education and housing
Government of Wales Act 2006:
-enabled the assembly to request further powers from Westminster and gain legislative powers if approved by a referendum
2011 Referendum
-following approvals in a referendum, the Assembly gained the power to enact primary legislation in 20 policy areas
-64% voted yes, showing that the support for the Welsh government has grown since 1997
Wales Act 2014:
First major transfer of tax raising powers to the Welsh Assembly. (Stamp duty, business rates and landfill taxes)
Wales Act 2017:
-gave the Welsh government greater legislative powers and it gave control over its own electoral system and policy areas such as road signs, rail franchising and energy efficiency
-could vary income tax by 10p to the pound
-put Welsh devolution on the same footing as Scotland
Senned and Election Act 2020
-formally changes its name to the Senned Cymru
-gave 16 and 17 year olds the rights to vote in Welsh parliamentary and local elections
Example of Wales passing legislation that was later adopted in England:
-Wales passed an ‘opt out system’ for organ donation in 2015- it was adopted in England in 2020
What was ‘The Troubles’ in Ireland?
-a period of sectarian violence in Ireland between unionists and nationalists
-began in 1969
-the Northern Ireland parliament ‘Stormont’ was dominated by unionists who were seen to be discriminating against the nationalist minority
When was Stormont suspended?
-1972 and abolished in 1973
-British troops has a large peace keeping presence in Northern Ireland
What was the Good Friday Agreement (1998):
-promised the return of devolved powers to Northern Ireland
-prisoners released for convicted parliamentary terrorism
-reeducation in the numbers of British troops stationed in Northern Ireland
What was the result of the 1998 referendum in Northern Ireland?
-Northern Ireland voted 71%-29% for the creation of a Northern Ireland assembly and executive
When has the Northern Ireland assembly been suspended in recent times?
-2017-2020
-collapse in the power sharing agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein
What legislation was passed by Westminster during the suspension of Stormont (2017-2020)?
-extended same sex marriage and legalised abortion
How is devolution in Ireland different to that in Scotland and Wales?
-the party system is completely different - comprises of parties from both communities (DUP and Ulster Unionists v Sinn Fein)
-N.I has power sharing embedded in its systems meaning that the executive must contain members from each community
-since 1997 N.I has not really had its devolved powers enhanced
How did the M4 relief road bring to question the extent of devolution?
-2020 Johnson decides to build a relief road for the M4 in a section of Newport, Wales in order to relieve congestion
-the welsh government did not approve, stating the transport was a purely devolved issue
Argument that devolution has worked well in the UK:
-has allowed for regional political differences to be recognised (e.g Scotland is traditionally more left leaning)
-it has strengthened the union between regions
-popular with voters seen in the 1997 and 2011 referendums in wales
-enabled the peace process in N.I
-allowed for different electoral systems to be used
-devolved assemblies act as legislative laboratories (2006, Scottish government decision to ban smoking indoors extended to Wales, N.I and England
Argument that devaluation has NOT worked well in the UK:
-it has led to inequality in the cost of public services (no uni tuition fees in Scotland, prescriptions are free in Wales and Scotland, but not England)
-encouraged demands for greater separation- Scottish referendum in 2014 where 55% voted for independence
-SNP continues to push for a second referendum
-cross party working in Northern Ireland is problematic
-it often leads to gridlock
Examples of existing devolution in England:
-57 unitary councils (responsible for the full range of coal service e.g Portsmouth)
-36 metropolitan boroughs
-32 London Boroughs
Local Government Act 2000:
-allowed any council in England to hold a referendum on the introduction of a directly elected mayor (in 2020 there were 15 elected mayors)
Evidence of directly elected mayors being met with little enthusiasm
-2002,2005 and 2009, the Hartlepool town Mascot ran for mayor
What are the arguments for an English Parliament?
-it would provide parity with the rest of the UK
-provide an answer to the West Lothian Question
-reduce the dominance of London over English politics
-Devolution has worked well for the rest of the UK
What is the West Lothian Question?
-MPs from the devolved regions still have the right to vote on English matter, however English MPs can’t vote on devolved issues
-2015, David Cameron withdrew an attempt to relax the fox-hunting ban after the SNP said it would vote against it
Arguments against an English Parliament:
-an English parliament would dominate a federal UK - 85% of the population generates the bulk of GDP
-England lacks a cohesive cultural identity
-argument over its location
-it would weaken the union
-lacks popular support- attempt to introduce a North East assembly rejected in a 2004 referendum 78%-22%
How has devolution changes the British Constitution?
-changed the unitary framework to a ‘quasi-federal’ one
-arguably remains unitary because of parliamentary sovereignty
