Devolution

• Devolution was included in Labour's 1997 election manifesto. After winning the election, referendums were held in each of the proposed devolved regions.
• Parliament passed the Scotland Act 1998, Northern Ireland Act 1998, Government of Wales Act 1998 and the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to implement the referendum results
• COVID allowed devolution to become far more visible and high profile due to their announcements and policy decisions
• Education is a good example of differing policies between devolved bodies as in England students have to pay above 9,000 a year whereas in Scotland tuition is free. Northern Ireland and Wales also offer grants to students where England do not
• Health policy also differs as all devolved bodies have free prescriptions where England doesn't. Also, Scotland have free long-term care for the elderly
• Arguments that Devolution is positive include:

  • Far more effective representation, devolved bodies can respond to electorate concerns. E.G. COVID policies
  • Devolved bodies have more representative electoral systems. Scotland + Wales(AMS), Northern Ireland (STV)
  • The powers can be removed from devolved bodies if needed as parliament is sovereign
• Arguments that Devolution is negative include:

  • Devolution undermines parliamentary sovereignty as it takes decision making power away from England
  • Turnout is low in devolved assembly elections, e.g. 46% in Northern Ireland 2022 shows they don't need it
  • Devolution undermines equal citizenship as Scottish residents have more government support
• Arguments that Devolution is positive for unity include:

  • Devolution has satisfied demands for self-governance without breaking up the UK
  • Provided framework for peace in Northern Ireland
  • Increases in support for independence can be down to failure of conservative governments instead of devolution
• Arguments that Devolution is positive for unity include:

  • Asymmetric nature of devolution results in citizens having different levels of representations
  • Devolution has fueled increased nationalism and calls for independence by showing the devolved bodies that they have the ability to govern themselves
  • Relations between devolved bodies and UK government have been strained, with tensions and lack of cooperation
• Arguments that devolution has had a positive economic and policy impact:

  • Some policies in devolved bodies, e.g. ban on smoking in public places, have been adopted across the whole of the UK
  • Allowed for policy that reflects local interests, can be seen in policy divergences over COVID, Healthcare and education
  • Devolution has led to more effective policy making, e.g. in Greater Manchester greater control over health policy has led to increases in life expectancy
• Arguments that devolution has had a negative economic and policy impact:

  • Devolvement has caused some devolved bodies to fall behind. e.g. Scotland's student assessment ranking has dropped
  • Undermines equal citizenship as different citizens have different access to healthcare, education etc and different laws
  • Some devolved governments, e.g. SNP, care more about independence than policy-making
• Arguments for further devolution include:

  • Devolved bodies have proved they can run public services and decide policy
  • Brexit allows policy areas that were given to the EU to devolved bodies
  • Further devolution may discourage independence calls
• Arguments against further devolution include:

  • Undermines equal citizenship
  • Devolved bodies already hold significant powers and there is little demand for further devolution
  • Devolved bodies have failed to prove the economic and political effects of devolution