9

• Devolution


  The transfer of powers from a central to a regional authority
• Scotland


  • An independent state until James I in 1603
  • Separate legal system, education system and established Church in the twentieth century
• Decline of Britain's empire and world role along with industrial decline


  Gave significance to Scottish nationalism
• Scottish nationalism


  SNP began to win significant votes and seats in 70s
• 1979 devolution referendum lost because required 40% of Scottish participation but majority of 'yes'
• 1997 referendum: overwhelming backing to a Scottish parliament and a smaller minority for tax varying powers
• 1999 1st Scottish Parliament elections


  • Labour maintain its largest party position but because of AMS not an overall majority and benefited the nationalists and Conservatives (opposed to devolution and proportional representation)
  • Lib-Dem coalition
• 2015 general elections: humiliating results for Labour in particular because of the decline in trade union membership and council housing, lower significance of religious divisions in Scotland
• The Scotland Act 2016: devolved further powers to Scotland
• 2016 referendum on EU membership: Scots clearly voted to remain in the EU
• Devolution in Wales


  • More to do with preserving the Welsh culture and language foil extinction rather than Welsh self-government
  • Support for Plaid Cymru negligible until the late 60s
  • 1979 devolution referendum: 11.8% 'yes'
  • 1997: percentage of 'yes' doubled but represented only one in four of the Welsh electorate
  • Weak powers of the proposed new Welsh Assembly
• Wales gained further devolved powers as a result of The Wales Acts 2017 and 2014
• Labour performed much better and the nationalists worse than in Scotland
• Asymmetrical devolution


  No common pattern to the devolution of powers within the state, different nations or regions within the state involve very different size ranges, and involve different institutions, powers and processes
• Wales essentially becomes a region of England

  1536
• Great Britain= between Scotland and England but separate legal powers


  1707
• Foundation of Plaid Cymru

  1925
• Foundation of SNP


  1934
• 1969: rejection of legislative and executive devolution for Scotland and Wales because unworkable
• Scotland and Wales Act (referendum)

  1978
• Rejection of devolution in referendum-> Conservative repeals both acts


  1979
• Scotland Act and the government of Wales bill introduced


  1999
• SNP= largest party in Scottish Parliament


  2007
• Wales Act devolves further powers to the Welsh Assembly

  2014 and 2017
• Scotland referendum= remain in the UK

  2014
• 2016-2017: Brexit vote


  Call for a second independence referendum
• Devolution of Scotland, Wales, Ireland represents 'nothing' because England is the largest area
• Some fear a narrow and racist English nationalist backlash and others believe that could help the English rediscover their own national culture and identity
• One issue: Scotland overrepresented at Westminster while own Parliament-> Scottish Boundary Commission-> Scottish and English constituencies similar average electorate
• Logical solution: creation of a separate English Parliament-> not yet attracted much support
• Another solution: English regional government
• Disintegration or federalism of the UK remains far from unthinkable
• The Conservative government at Westminster may lead to increased tensions with Scotland in particular
• Devolution


  The transfer of powers from a central to a regional authority to give power or a responsibility to a person or group that is at a lower level or has less authority
• Devolution


  Goes further than decentralization but not so far as federalism and stops short of sovereignty
• Devolved State


  • Lends power to make laws to subnational parliaments (Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru - Welsh Parliament, NI Assembly)
  • Primary legislation= main laws voted on the authority of Parliament (Acts)
  • Secondary legislation= add-on laws to fill in the detail of Acts of Parliament
• Federal State


  Cedes power to make laws to Bundesländer, Canadian provinces, Australian states, Brazilian state
• Growth of nationalism


  • Growth of nationalist sentiment in 1920s-30s
  • Creation of political parties - SNP, Plaid Cymru (IRA created earlier)
  • New militants in 1970s
• Thatcher Years


  • Double Democratic deficit
  • Thatcher's laboratory
  • Economic hardship
  • Hardline tactics in Ireland
• Thatcher Years


  Demands for devolution or independence