1.2.3 Reforms by the conservatives since 2015

• Following the 2015 general election the Conservative Party gained power and remained in power following elections of 2017 and 2019 Some of the constitutional reforms reversed previous reforms and others developed them further
• Key constitutional reforms passed by the conservative party since 2015:

  • English Votes for English Laws 2015
  • Wales Act 2017
  • Referendum of the UK's membership of the EU 2016
  • EU (Withdrawal agreement) act 2020
  • Elections Act 2022
  • Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
  • Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022
• Impact of the English Votes for English Laws 2015 ?

  • Allowed for English MPs to vote alone on legislation or parts of legislation that only affected England.
  • Provided England with a form of devolution that all other regions of the UK already had
• Limitations of the English Votes for English Laws 2015?

  • Act was repealed in 2021
  • Scotland argued that the way it was funded, legislation that may only affect England could end up affecting Scotlands funding
• Impact of the Wales act 2017?

  • Moved Wales to a 'reserved matters model' the same as Scotland
  • Further eroded asymmetrical devolution in the UK
  • Changed the name of the National Assembly for Wales to the Welsh Parliament from May 2020
• A reserved matters model means a devolved parliament can rule on any matter that was not reserved for UK parliament to rule on
• Limitations of Wales Act 2017?

  • Further challenged parliamentary sovereignty
  • Raised further questions for the need of English Devolution to match other regions in the UK
• Impact of the Referendum on the UK's membership of the EU 2016?

  • Nationwide referendum held with high turnout of 72%
  • Gave the government legitimacy to carry out Brexit negotiations
• Limitations of the Referendum on the UK's membership of the EU 2016?

  • Scotland voted differently which increased nationalism
  • Result was very close 52% leave and 48% remain which raised questions over legitimacy
• The EU (withdrawal agreement) act 2020 enacted the result of the 2016 referendum
• The EU (withdrawal agreement) act 2020 was limited as there was very little agreement in parliament to leading to two snap elections, numerous backbench rebellions and House of Lords defeats
• The Elections Act 2022 introduced a requirement for photo identification for elections in the UK and changed mayoral elections to FPTP
• The Elections Act of 2022 was criticised for the protections over suffrage as it recognised Older persons bus pass and Over 60+ Oyster cards as valid id but didn't recognise Student ID, Student Oyster cards or national student rail cards and was criticised for discriminating against young people who often vote labour
• The Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 introduced restrictions on 'unacceptable' forms of protests, to reduce disruption to the public from protests
• The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 raised concerns over the rights and the power of the government
• The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 repealed the fixed-term parliaments act 2011 and gave the power to call elections back to the prime minister
• The Dissolution and calling of parliament act 2022 was criticised for giving too much power to the Prime Minster and undermining parliamentary sovereignty