Evaluate the view Devolution has been a success Flashcards
Covid-19 it hasnt
Different responses to the pandemic by the devolved legislatures has created confusion making the function of devolution in these circumstances unsuccessful.
UK govt for example announced that people could now travel an unlimited distance in England, but the Welsh government instead retained rules restricting travel no further than 5 miles from their home.
Furthermore, when the ‘rule of 6’ was introduced in September 2020, in England this included people of all ages, in Scotland It was limited to two households, under 12s were not included and in Wales it did include under 11s.
National coverage in Scotland and Wales often came from the UK government, so this led to confusion, incoordination and confusion in the UK showed in times of crisis devolution was unsuccessful.
Covid-19 it has
Four nations in fact had a relatively coordinated approach, devolution enabled a united approach WHILST also providing for the local needs for each region according to the different effects that the pandemic was having.
For instance, Scotland announced financial support for its fishing industry a full month before this was provided in the UK, and Wales adopted a different approach to the business rates (taxes on commercial properties) holiday which had been given by England, Scotland and NI. Instead, it limited the entitlement to properties under £500000, in order to raise funds to support small businesses.
Covid-19 action pan had the backing of all four govts, published the day after all political leaders from the devolved legislatures and the PM had discussed what they were going to do during a COBRA meeting, all three devolved legislatures gave legislative consent just five days after the Covid Bills first reading.
Devolution provides a coordinated approach where devolves assemblies can respond to the specific needs of the people.
Nationalists it hasnt
Nationalists and Unionists continue to be in conflict, with nations continuing to push for greater devolved powers.
Each new devolution act gives greater devolved powers to the respective nations.
The 1998 Good Friday agreement was reached by multi-party consensus to bring a end to the violence in northern Ireland and established the devolved assembly, however it relies on a power sharing agreement where the executive committee is made up of both unionists and nationalist ministers. First minister and deputy first minister with equal executive powers are of different parties.
In 2022 the DUP first minister resigned in protest of the NI protocol, an election was called for May 2022 to reinstate a governing body in NI, and when Sinn Fein won and nominated the first minister the DUP refused to nominate a deputy first minister.
Since 2011, the Scottish Parliament has been dominated by the SNP who stand on a mandate of independence for Scotland, they won 69 seats and a majority in the Scottish assembly in 2011.
Growing support for the Scottish nationalist party, they won 48 seats in Westminster, however in 2022 the UK supreme court ruled that the SNP could not call a second referendum without a act of parliament. Growing support clearly shows dissatisfaction with the current devolved powers they posses.
Rishi Sunak and the ‘nuclear option’.
nationalists it has
In 2014 the Scottish independence referendum, 55% voted against and only 45% voted to leave, this means that arguably the people of the devolved nations are satisfied with the current powers that they have and would not rather independence.
Devolution strikes a balance.
In Wales, which only voted for devolution in 1998 by a margin of 0.3% in a referendum, there is little appetite for independence. Indeed, a Plaid Cymru rally for independence in 2019 had only 10,000 marchers.
Scotland Act 1998 gave Scottish parliament the power to vary the rate of income tax either way by up to 3%, while the Scotland Act 2016 gave the Scottish Parliament control over income tax rates and all receipts from income tax rates, giving the govt greater autonomy over its budget, and how it chooses to raise money.
Scotland in 2022 reduced the top rate of income tax from 150,000 to 125,000.
Democracy it hasnt
Ultimately parliament is Sovreign, and at Westminster the two largest parties still dominate.
For example, In 2023 Rishi Sunak’s government blocked legislation passed by the SNP and the Scottish parliament that would have made Scotland the first part of the UK to introduce a self-identification system for people who want to change gender.
Westminster used the ‘nuclear option’ and blocked the bill before it reached Royal Assent.
Furthermore, the UK supreme court ruled in 2022 that the Scottish Parliament and the SNP would not be able to call a second referendum without the approval from parliament, the SNP had no power to legislate In this case.
Scotland and NI voted to remain In the EU, 62% and 56% respectively.
EU act 2018 passed without the consent of the Scottish assembly, the EU Act 2020 passed despite all three devolved legislatures withholding consent.
Democracy it has
Proportional representation electoral systems elect members of the devolved bodies, this means that legislation is legitimate and the assemblies are very representative.
The Scotland Act 1998, The government of Wales act 1998 and the Good Friday Agreement 1998 devolved numerous powers to the nations of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Doing so has meant smaller parties have far more influence over the UK political system.
As a result, they have power over Scottish policy and legislation, for example as of April 6th the SNP reduced the top rate of tax threshold from £150,000 to £125=,000.
Until 2007 the Scottish parliament was controlled by a labour-LibDem coalition, furthermore the Welsh parliament has seen 4 different types of government including a labour-LibDem coalition and a coalition between Labour and Plaid Cymru.
