Reforms

• Referendums on devolution 1997/1998

  • Under Labour
  • The first time since 1975 referenudms had been used
  • Turnout was high for Scotland and Northern Ireland
  • An example of direct democracy
  • HOWEVER the Welsh referenudum had limited turnout and the goverment decieded on the wording, timing and other logistics
• Government of Wales Act 1998

  • Under Labour
  • Established the Senedd in Wales
  • The Senedd would be elected using the additional members system (AMS), trialling proportional representation in the UK
  • HOWEVER it only gave Wales secondary legislative power
  • There have been a series of colalitions in Wales that have limited the power of the government
• Scotland Act 1998

  • Under Labour
  • Established Scottish Parliament at Holyrood with primary legislative powers and limited tax-varying powers
  • Created a more pluralist democracy, with power shared to the regions
  • HOWEVER it did not quell nationalism in Scotland
  • It created asymmetrical devolution bettween Scotland and Wales
  • It challenged parliamentary sovereignty
• Human Rights Act 1998

  • Under Labour
  • Enshrined the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law
  • Allowed neutral and independent judges to defend human rights, rather than being dependent on the ideology of the government in power
  • HOWEVER it is only an act of parliament so it can be overturned
  • It gives too much power to unelected judges
• House of Lords Act 1999

  • Under Labour
  • Removed all but 92 hereditary peers from the House of Lords
  • Extended the number of life peers which increased the number of experts
  • The HoL has become more willing to challenge the government
  • HOWEVER hereditary peers still remain
  • The reforms extended the power of the PM who chooses who sits in the House of Lords
• Freedom of Information Act 2001

  • Under Labour
  • Allowed the public to access documents detailing how the government decisions have been reached
  • HOWEVER broad freedom of information requests can be denied for being too time consuming for government
  • There are several exemptions
• Constitutional Reform Act 2005

  • Under Labour
  • Created a seperate Supreme Court for the UK, removing this role from the Law Lords in the HoL
  • HOWEVER it gave power to an unelected and unnacountable branch of government that has directly challenged the government
• Fixed term Parliaments Act 2011

  • Under Coalition
  • Removed control of the calling of a general election from the government and cerated set dates instead
  • Ensured stablity for a coalition government, which was an uncommon political situation for the UK
  • HOWEVER snap elections could still be called with the support of two-thirds of MPs
  • The act was repealed in 2022 after it was able to be bypassed by Theresa May
• AV referendum 2011

  • Under coalition
  • A nationwide referendum was held on replacing FPTP with the alternative vote system
  • It settled the debate on replacing FPTP for at least the duration of the coalition
  • HOWEVER turnout was very low, underminding the use of referendums
  • AV was not the system the Lib Dems wanted as it is a majoritarian system
  • It furthered the expectation that matters of constitutional importance be settled by a referendum
• Welsh devolution referendum 2011

  • Under coalition
  • A referendum was held in Wales and ultimatley extended primary legislative powers to Wales
  • Reduced asymetrical devolution across the UK
  • HOWEVER turnour was just 35% which raised questions over the legitimacy of the results
• Succession to the Crown Act 2013

  • Under coaltion
  • It changed the line of succession for the crown from the first-born male heir to the first-born heir
  • Further enshrined a consitutional monarchy in the UK
  • Recognised the equality of womens rights in the UK
  • HOWEVER had very little impact beyond the monarchy
• Wales Act 2014

  • Under coalition
  • Gave Wales the power to determine certain taxes, extended Senedd terms to 5 years and precluded members of the Senedd from also being MPs
  • HOWEVER limits were still placed on Wales by the UK government including limiting their debt
  • It further threatened parliamentary sovereignity in the UK
• Recall of MPs Act 2015

  • Under coalition
  • Set out provisions for consitutents to be able to recall their MPs to face an election in certain circumstances - if they are convincted of a crime, if they produce a false expenses claim, if they are suspended from the House of Commons for at least 10 days
  • It was successfully invoked twice in 2019
  • HOWEVER the low limits of petitioners required, just 10% of a consituency, raise questions of legitimacy
  • It has only been used 3 times and one of those the required number of signatures failed to be reached
• English Votes for English Laws 2015

  • Under Conservatives
  • Allowed for English MPs alone to vote on legislation or parts of legislation that only affected England
  • Allowed England to form a devolution that Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland already had
  • HOWEVER, Scotland argued that due to the way that Scotland was funded, even legislation that may only affect England could end up affecting Scotlands funding
  • The act was therefore repealed in 2021
• Wales Act 2017

  • Under Conservatives
  • Moved Wales to a 'reserved matters model', the same as Scotland, meaning it could rule on any matter that was not reserved for UK Parliament rule on
  • Further erroded asymmetrical devolution in the UK
  • Changed the name of the National Assembly to the Welsh Parliament
  • HOWEVER it further challenged the sovreignity of UK Parliament
  • It raised further questions over the need for devolution to England to match that of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Referendum on the UKs membership of the EU 2016

  • Under Conservatives
  • A nationwide referendum + turnout was 72%
  • It gave legitimacy for the government to carry out negotiations on Brexit
  • HOWEVER the result was very close - 52% leave, 48% remain, which led to questions about legitimacy
  • Different nations in the UK voted different ways which increased nationalism, especially in Scotland
• EU (withdrawal agreement) Act 2020

  • Under Conservatives
  • Enacted the result of 2016 referendum
  • HOWEVER there was little agreement in Parliament over this, leading to 2 snap elections and numerous backbench rebellions and House of Lords defeats
• Elections Act 2022

  • Under Conservatives
  • An act that introduced a requirement for photo identification for elections in teh UK and changed mayoral elections from supplementary vote to FPTP
  • HOWEVER raised concerns over the protections around suffrage
• Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

  • Under Conservatives
  • A bill which introduced restrictions on 'unacceptable' forms of protest, to reduce disruption to the public
  • HOWEVER it raised concerns over the rights to protest and the power of the government
• Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act

  • Under Conservatives
  • Reprealed the Fixed term Parliaments Act 2011 and gave the power to call elections back to the prime minister
  • HOWEVER it challenged the sovereignity of parliament due to further powers being given to PM