UK Constitution & Devolution Flashcards
How are the HoL reforms
Great Repeal Bill - May agreed that after leaving the EU all
What are the benefits of reforms to the constitution since 1997 and 2010?
Freedom of Information Act?
What have been the weaknesses of reforms to the constitution since 1997 and 2010?
Why should we codify the constitution?
Why shouldn’t we codify the constitution?
Is further devolution needed now, have recent reforms gone far enough, should it be extended and entrenched?
My opinion: I think further devolution is needed
Yes:
No:
London’s share of the national economy has risen to 24% since 2000. Reeves announced forthcoming policy documents on English devolution. Emphasising strategic partnerships between Mayor led regions and the Department for Business and Trade
Yes:
(talk about metro mayors
Evaluate the view that devolution is in danger of undermining the unity of the UK
P1: No because it has made Northern Ireland united
K
E:
C: UK has had to keep taking back control in recent years because the rep of both groups means they wont come to an agreement
E: Has been suspended 6 times because they can’t cooperate (9Jan 2017- 11 Jan 2020 and recently 2022- 3 Feb 2024)
An
Ev+judgement:
P2: yes definitely because of assymetric devol
K
E:
C:
E
An
Ev+judgement:
P3:
K
E:
C:
E
An
Ev+judgement:
Conc: :)
(ITS TALKING ABT THE NATIONS)
Evaluate the view that devolution is in danger of undermining the unity of the UK
intro and conc
Intro: the aim of devolution was to prevent independence by appeasing with some powers, and to decentralise responsibilities
- are united , i.e Labour announced incr defense spending of 2.5% of GDP in Scotland by 2027, bc Scot is hub for defense. shows unity bc the most important powers are reserved for Westminster and apply across the UK which allows for significant cooperation and smooth relations between govs, united national policy, devolved regions can then focus on local needs and matters rather than international/national ones
What are the positive impacts of devolution
March 2025:
- Starmer announced £415m funding to improve rail links between Huddersfield, Manchester, Leeds and York
- Also announced £1b for local leaders to boost regional transport - like West York’s transit system
- Came not long after Yorkshire’s three Metro Mayors, Mayor of West Yorks. Tracy Brabin, South Yorks.’s Mayor Olive Coppard, and Mayor of York and North Yorks. David Skaith united under new White Rose Agreement to champion Yorkshire and work together across key areas w priorities inc rail connectivity
- Show + imp bc north underinvested for years and the Mayors’ plans can change this by having power base bc of devol to put incr pressure on gov to improve regional transport..
What is the Sewel Convention and how can we use it in essays
The convention was established to help dev regions and westminster manage overlapping legislative powers, brought about bc even though has distributed powers to dev nations, UK Parl still retains the right to legislate on any matter, even on those that have been dev. i.e Section 28(7) of the Scotland Act states: Scot Parl’s power to make laws “does not affect the power of the parliament of the United Kingdom to make laws for Scotland” - since this UK Gov has not tried to pass leg in dev policy areas until dev legislatures have passed a ‘legislative consent motion’ - shows approval
Also with SC Scottish Independence ruling in 2022 - meant that no Scotland can’t hold own referendums, esp about independence because laws that created the Scotland Parl in 1999 meant that dont have power over areas of the constitution that have imp on union of scot and Eng.
Policy Divergence in the UK
England:
- only one with prescription charges (£8.40 in 2016 now £9.90)
- Tuition fees (£9535)
- School league tables
Scotland:
- Abolished prescription charges - 2011
- No tuition fees for scot students ant scot unis
- Abolished School league tables (2003) - believe school performance isnt just determined by grades
Wales
- Abolished prescription charges - 2007
- Tuition fees grant for students from wales studying in wales or the rest of the uk
- Abolished School league tables (2001) - believe school performance isnt just determined by grades
- SATS replaced by new national tests for children aged 7 to 14 - like Eesa’s
Northern Ireland
- Abolished prescription charges - 2010
- lower tuition fees for northern irish universities
- Abolished School league tables (2001) - believe school performance isnt just determined by grades
- No national tests
