Evaluate the extent to which the UK is now effectively a federal system. Flashcards
Introduction - Themes
- Sovereignty
- Parties
- Legislation
Introduction - Argument
A significant numbers of powers have been delgated to devolved bodies in recent years, however, principally to the UK political system - Parliament is sovereign, this means the UK can never be considered a federal system
Disagree - Sovereignty - Point
Since the 1970s more and more sovereignty has been transferred from Westminster to devolved bodies around the UK. This has increased the powers of the devolved bodies, making the UK more federal
Disagree - Sovereignty - Examples
- After the Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014, the UK government introduced the 2016 Scottish Independence Act which gave more powers to Scotland, including control over income tax
- Wales has also experience significant devolution in recent years, the Government of Wales Act 2017 gave them greater authority to collect Welsh-based taxes and greater freedom in borrowing
Agree - Sovereignty - Point
The principle that Parliament is sovereign remains paramount, it is Westminster that dictates the amount of power devolved and can retake it at any time
Agree - Sovereignty - Examples
- Due to the history of Northern Ireland, they do not have as much power as the other countries. The Assembly’s power has been curbed through the ‘Stormont Break’ clause of the new Northern Irish Brexit Agreement
- England does not have a national devolved body in the same way that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do
Disagree - Parties - Point
Within multiple of the devolved bodies within the UK, therre are different parties which dominate that do not get much traction in Westminster. This gives these bodies a lot of influence and the ability to make thier own decisions
Disagree - Parties - Examples
- In the Scottish Parliament, the majority party is the SNP, which has been in power since 2007. The SNP has 48 seats in Westminster, yet in the Scottish Parliament they are able to push their agenda
- Northern Ireland has a completely different party system - in 2022 Assembly elections, the two major parties were Sinn Fein and the DUP, two parties which are smaller in Westminster
Agree - Parties - Point
Northern Ireland and Scotland are prehaps exeptions to the rule when it comes to party domination in devolved bodies in the UK which are controlled by Westminster’s main parties
Agree - Parties - Examples
- The Greater London Assembly it is Labour candidate, Sadiq Kahn, who is mayor, and Labour have 11 seats and the Conservatives 9. In the 2021 Welsh election it was Labour who won with a majority of 30 seats, and the Conservatives second largest with 16.
- The second and third largest parties in Scotland from the 2021 election were the Conservatives with 31 seats and Labour with 22
Disagree - Legislation - Point
Under the recent Devolution Acts, the UK Parliament has granted legislative powers, to the devolved bodies. This has given them the power to make thier own laws - something which largely defines a federal system
Disagree - Legislation - Examples
- The Northern Irish Assembly passed the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023 which implemented safe zones around abortion clinics to prevent protesting
- The Welsh Parliament passed the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 which made physical punishment to a child illegal in Wales
Agree - Legislation - Point
The principle of Parliamentary sovereignty is even more pressing when considering the legislative powers of the devolved bodies. Despite all these acts, Parliament can still veto legislation. This means the UK cannot be considered a federal system
Agree - Legislation - Examples
- The UK Government blocked the Scottish Parliament’s Gender Reform Act which was increasing trans rights in Scotland. This move was more controversial but completely legal
- The Supreme Court ruled that the Scottish government cannot hold an independence referendum with the UK government’s consent
