Devolution - Constitution pt2 (Dr Furniss) paper 2

Devolution of Scotland

• Creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 → gave Scotland control over key areas like health, education, and transport

• Increased powers through the Scotland Acts (2012 & 2016) → included tax and some welfare powers, making it the most powerful devolved body

—> more democratic and representative, can focus policies on local needs.

—>remains limited by parliamentary sovereignty and has increased constitutional tensions.

Devolution of Wales

• Creation of the Senedd in 1999 → initially had limited powers (mainly administrative, not full law-making)

• Government of Wales Act 2006 → gave some law-making powers and separated the Welsh Government

• Wales Act 2017→ increased powers further (reserved powers model), broader autonomy + tax and constitutional powers

—> Uses proportional representation → more representative system

Devolution of Northern Ireland

• Good Friday Agreement (1998) → created the Northern Ireland Assembly and established power-sharing between unionists and nationalists

• Northern Ireland Act (1998) → formally set up the Assembly with powers over health, education, and justice

• St Andrews Agreement (2006) → helped restore the Assembly after suspension. However assembly has been suspended multiple times due to political disagreements.

Devolution of England

• England has no separate parliament → mainly governed by the House of Commons

• Limited devolution through combined authorities and metro mayors (since 2014) → powers over transport, housing, and the economy, but vary by region

• English Votes for English Laws (2015–2021) → gave English MPs more say, but scrapped due to complexity and low impact

Why is England less devolved

• Size and dominance

  • England makes up ~85% of UK population → an English parliament could dominate the UK

• Lack of strong national identity movement

  • Unlike Scotland/Wales, there has been less demand for independence or autonomy

• Fear of constitutional imbalance

  • Devolving England fully could destabilise the UK system

Should devolution be extended to the England

Arguments For:

• More democratic → decisions made closer to people, like in Scotland/Wales

• Fairness → solves imbalance after devolution (e.g. West Lothian Question)

• Better policies → reflects regional needs (North vs South differences)

Arguments Against:

• England too dominant already→ could overpower the rest of the UK

• Weak demand → little public pressure for an English parliament

• Could destabilise the UK → increase divisions between nations