Alternative governance

• Devolution


  The transfer of power by a central government to local or regional administrations
• Devolution in the UK has resulted in distinct legislatures and governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which have powers over a range of policy areas which had previously been the preserve of the UK Government
• Devolution was designed to

  • Bring decision-making closer to people across the UK
  • Mean that the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could have an increasingly greater say in the policies that affect them
• Powers of the Scottish Parliament

  • Abolish university tuition fees in Scotland (2001)
  • Introduce a ban on smoking in enclosed public places (2006)
  • Legalise same sex marriage (2014)
  • Abolished the right for council tenants to buy their homes (2014)
  • Improve how the justice system responds to domestic abuse (2018)
  • Raise the age of criminal responsibility from 8 to 12 years (2019)
  • Prevent the spread and impact of Coronavirus (2020)
• The Scotland Act (2012)


  • Gave the Scottish Parliament power to set a Scottish rate for paying income tax (ie, varying the rate by up to 10%)
  • Gave the Scottish Government new borrowing powers (up to £5 billion)
  • Gave additional powers in the areas of drink-driving, misuse of drugs and speed limits
  • Fully devolved Stamp Duty to the Scottish Parliament
• 'The Vow'


  Promise made by the leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum that the Scottish Parliament would gain further additional powers beyond the Scotland Act of 2012 if Scotland voted to remain within the UK
• Smith Commission for Devolution

  • Appointed by the Prime Minister, David Cameron after the 2014 referendum to take forward the proposals made in 'The Vow'
  • Recommended further devolved powers and for the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to be recognised as permanent institutions
• Further Devolution in 2016


  • Scottish Parliament received additional powers and control over all rates and bands for Scottish Income Tax, VAT receipts, welfare and benefits
  • Scotland now retains half of all VAT receipts and is allowed to top up welfare benefits and create new payments
  • Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament are now recognised as permanent parts of the constitution, with a referendum required before either can be abolished
  • Scottish Parliament has control over abortion laws and enhanced powers over welfare, including the ability to top-up any cuts to tax credits made by the UK government
• Reserved Powers of the UK Parliament

  • Defence – the Army, Navy and Air Force and national security
  • Foreign Policy – relations with other countries
  • Economic and monetary policy
  • Social Security – control universal credit, tax credit and child benefit
  • Energy – coal, gas and nuclear power
  • Immigration
• Example of Reserved Power


  • The UK Parliament is responsible for defence. This means that the UK Parliament makes decisions about how best to protect the UK against terrorist attacks. The UK Parliament passed the 2015 Counter Terrorism and Security Act which prevents individuals travelling abroad to engage in terrorist activities.
• Devolved Powers of the Scottish Parliament

  • Health – hospitals and local health services
  • Education – funding for schools and education policy of schools
  • Law and order – policing and criminal justice system
  • Health and social services
  • Local government
  • Aspects of transport
  • Housing
  • Planning
  • Tourism
  • Sport and the arts
  • Economic development
• Example of Devolved Power

  • During the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020 the Scottish Parliament enforced different regulations to those deployed in other parts of the UK. Restrictions on some aspects of lockdown were lifted (eg, opening bars and restaurants) at a later date in Scotland than in England. Restrictions placed on foreign travel were in some cases also different from the other home nations.
• Devo-max


  • A system of increased (or maximum) devolution in Scotland
  • Holyrood would have power over most reserved matters, except defence and foreign affairs
  • Holyrood would take charge of all domestic expenditure, including welfare, employment, transport and broadcasting policy
  • Scottish Parliament would receive all taxes raised in Scotland, making it fully responsible for spending in Scotland
  • Scottish Parliament would make payments to the UK government to cover Scotland's share of the costs for UK-wide services like defence, national security and conducting foreign affairs
  • Scottish Parliament would have the right to speak directly on devolved matters, such as fisheries policy
• Arguments for Devo-max


  • Devolution has worked well and makes it possible for the Scottish Parliament to deliver 'Scottish solutions to Scottish problems'
  • Devo-max is popular with Unionists who believe Scotland should remain within the United Kingdom
  • Scotland has flourished economically under devolution, whilst also remaining part of the UK
  • Devo-max neutralises the call for Scottish Independence
  • Devolution has enabled Scotland to introduce proportional representation into Parliamentary elections through the Additional Member Scheme
• Arguments Against Devo-max


  • Significant gap between Scottish Government spending and the tax that is actually generated in Scotland
  • Loss of the Barnett Formula would adversely affect Scottish citizens
  • Not popular with many who support independence as they feel it maintains ties to Westminster
  • Complicated negotiations to separate powers around finance and the economy
  • Would create too big a gap with the rest of the UK and could upset relations with England and Wales
  • Conflict could develop between the devolved Governments and the UK Government
• 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum

  • Over 3.6 million votes cast, 85% turnout
  • 'No' vote prevailed with 55% to 45%
  • 'No' vote had a majority in 28 of the 32 local authority areas
  • Areas with higher poverty and social deprivation voted 'Yes', areas with less poverty and unemployment voted 'No'
  • 16 to 17 year olds voted overwhelmingly for independence (71%)
  • Older population (over 65s) voted 'No' decisively (73%)
  • Women voted 'No' decisively (58% compared to 53% of men)
• Scotland voted 55% to 45% to reject independence and so the country remains within the UK
• Smith Commission (2014)


  Recommended further devolved powers for Scotland and that the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government should be recognised as permanent institutions
• Scotland Act 2016


  • Created substantial new powers for Scotland, including additional powers and control over all rates and bands for Scottish Income Tax, VAT receipts, welfare and benefits
  • Scottish Parliament given control over abortion laws and enhanced powers in respect of welfare, including the ability to top-up any cuts to tax credits made by the UK government
• The UK government claimed the Scotland Act 2016 has made the Scottish Parliament the most powerful devolved assembly in the world and that promises (the Vow) made before the referendum, had been delivered in full
• Those continuing to seek Scottish independence felt the extra powers contained within the Scotland Act 2016 fell short of what was promised before the referendum
• Wider Impact of the Independence Referendum

  • Greater devolution in Scotland would inevitably lead to significant constitutional changes
  • Following devolution, Scottish MPs retained the right to vote in Westminster like any English MP, but English MPs were no longer allowed to vote on a number Scottish devolved policy areas
  • Many MPs representing constituencies in England called for legislation where only English MPs could vote on English laws (EVEL)
  • A form of EVEL was introduced in 2015 whereby any law being discussed at Westminster which would affect only England would need to be approved separately by a majority of English MPs, in addition to being passed by the House of Commons as a whole
  • The decision-making powers held by the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies were also reviewed in light of the new powers granted to Scotland