Devolution essay facts

current system

asymmetric devolution

pros of English devolution (EVEL + fox hunting, West Lothian Q, Burnham + Rotherham, Sadiq Khan)

EVEL campaign = 47 Scottish MPs in Westminster, block vote to prevent May legalising Fox Hunting in 2017 / answers West Lothian question / Burnham benefitted Manchester with refranchised buses in 2023 + Rotherham to do the same in Liverpool by 2027 / Sadiq Khan froze bus fares for 2025

cons of English devolution (Greater London Assembly - importance, but turnout / North East ref / mayors)

Greater London Assembly (most important, £18.4bn for public services) but only has a 37% turnout / 2004 - regional govt. in the North East ref - 78% voted no / already 15 mayors + support declining for metro mayors (Bristol 2020)

pros of devolution in Northern Ireland (current system not working, 2015 survey = nationalism)

current system not working - Sinn Fein won in 2022, paralysis, Sinn Fein MPs refuse to work in Westminster / 2015 survey - 55% now support nationalisation = Sinn Fein’s win

cons of devolution in Northern Ireland (ECHR in Good Friday Agreement / Brexit = remain + hard border / tensions)

NI had to join ECHR and ECHR was named in Good Friday Agreement - nationalisation could cause troubles / 56% voted to remain, betrayed by hard border = calls for independence / hard border reignites tensions between unionists and nationalists

pros for Scottish independence (popular, Brexit, SNP power, tensions with English law)

popular - independence ref. 2014 (though lost to a 56% no vote, only remained to stay in the EU) / Brexit = calls for independence / SNP has been in power for 17 years + Yousaf said would try for independence again at next general election / 2022 gender recognition bill + International Market Act 2020 = chlorinated chicken

cons for Scottish independence (SC 2022 ruling, Oct. 2023 by-elections, 2024 elections)

2022 - SC ruled Scotland couldn’t have another independence ref. without Parl.’s permission / Oct 2023 - lost 4 by-elections to Labour, less calls for independence / 2024 elections - lost 36 seats to Labour

Recent examples (NI Assembly unsuspended, Internal Market Act + Trump, 2024 election, Labour pledges - Uni of Glasgow response, Devolution Priority Programme + 6 new regions)

Feb 2024 - Northern Irish Assembly unsuspended after a 2 year long hiatus / UK Internal Market Act 2020 = Scotland forced to have chlorinated chicken (US trade deal talks, April 25) / July 2024 - SNP lost 36 seats to labour / Labour govt. pledges to restore relationship with devolved nations - Uni of Glasgow: commitment ‘cannot be met unless the roadblock is resolved’, i.e. UK IMA (Oct 2024) / Dec. 24 - Devolution Priority Programme = more devolved powers to mayors, e.g. over transport + Feb. 25 - 6 new regions added to the programme)