1.3 the roles and powers of devolved bodies in the UK, and the impact of this devolution on the UK

What did Labour create in England?

Regional Developing Agencies

What did labour propose in England?

Regional assembles
- Idea was rejected in Northeast in 2004 (by 78%)
- No further attempts in other areas

England devolution - metro mayors - good thing

• elected metro mayors 2000 e.g.. Sadiq Khan

• directly elected mayor and directly elected 25 member LA

• power over policing, transport, Econ dvlpt

• e.g., Ken Livingstone Feb 2003 - congestion charge

EVEL and how it did not work for English devolution

·       EVEL brought in - Conservative coalition government 2015-2021 (abolished) - Legislative Grand Committee - just English-based MPs regarding issues in England – decided on laws before went to rest of HOC – did not work – as still went to HOC after – did not solve issue

Devolution under coalition

- George Osbourne (Chancellor of the Exchequer) thought a 'northern powerhouse' would improve transport links and investment in sciences and innovation
- Elected local mayors were introduced w/o referendums in certain areas of country (e.g., Greater Manchester) 2014

Devolution in London

- Greatest level of devolution in England
- Directly elected mayor and a directly elected 25 member London Assembly
- Mayor and assembly have power over policy, transport and economic development
- London mayors often influential (Johnson is a former London mayor)

Scotland Act 1998 heelg

• Created a Scottish Parliament

• Gave it power over housing, environment, education and local governments

Scotland Act 2016

- Gave Scottish parliament considerable power
- Can set income tax rates and bands
- Followed the 2014 INDYRef on Scottish independence (however, 55% voted against it)

- air passenger duty

- strengthen powers of Scottish gov

Which devolved body has most power in UK?

Scottish Parliament - no school fees in Scottish unis

What legislation, as a result of Scottish MPs' votes, has been passed and who did this effect?

Tuition Fees in 2005

Higher Education Act 2004
- Only effected English citizens

How much do Scottish and English citizens have spent on them/head 2023-4

Scotland	££14,759
England (average)	££12,625

What does SNP want?

- Scottish independence
- Proposed IndyRef2 for Oct 2023, but Supreme Court has thwarted this

What was result of 2014 Scottish independence referendum?

- 55% of Scots voted to remain in UK
- Turnout was 84.6% (85%)

What might jeopardise unification of UK

BREXIT - 62% of Scotland voted Remain, so may encourage further support for independence

Which parties have most influence over Welsh assembly?

- Labour over English speaking Wales
- Plaid Cymru over Welsh speaking Wales

Turnout in Welsh assembly

- Always quite low
- Only 46% in last election

Welsh Devolution Referendum

2011
- Now called Welsh Parliament as has gained power and credibility
- Decision as to whether Wales should be given further devolved power
- Turnout was only 35% but 63% voted in favour of primary legislative powers

Wales Act 2017

Gave Welsh assembly varying powers
- Control over 10p income tax
- Control over assembly and local elections
- Fracking

How many people attended the Plaid Cymru rally, what was it advocating for, when was it?

10,000 marchers, advocating for independence in Wales, 2019

What happened as a result of Good Friday Agreement?

1998
- Aimed to end communal conflict with Nth Ireland
- Established power sharing between unionists and nationalists
- NI assembly was created

Unionist parties:

DUP and UUP
- UVF and UFF were Loyalist terrorist unionists

want Ireland to be a part of the UK

Nationalists

SDLP
- IRA were terrorist nationalists

(want reunification and independence of ireland

republicans)

Republicans

Sinn Fein - want re-unification and independence of Ireland

Northern Irish executive

Led by First Minister and Deputy First minister
- Have the same powers
- one must be unionist, one must be nationalist
- meant to stop Protestants having superiority and causing civil war (originally)

What does Northern Irish assembly have control over?

- Similar powers to Welsh Assembly (less than Scottish Parliament)
- Corporation tax (not big taxes like income tax)
- NHS
- Environment
- Education
- Home affairs

Windsor framework 2023

• introduced by Rishi Sunak- aim to resolve the Sausage Wars

• Issues is that NI legally left EU but still in single market to avoid boarder between NI and the Republic – as to not reignite the troubles

why is NI powers limited - in what way?

• Less control over income tax, has control over health system, police force

• Not as much power as Scotland and Wales – still asymmetric

What body adjudicates issues concerning devolved powers?

Supreme Court
- Allows for a fairer process to arbitrate disputes
- e.g., Has turned down the SNP's legislation for a 2nd independence referendum in Oct 2023

Where have 'divergent policies' between devolved bodies proved a strength?

January 2020 - Welsh Assembly banned hitting of children in Wales by their parents
- Scotland recently followed suit with a similar policy, and their is belief that UK Parliament may soon bring this into play for England

What is a quasi-federal state?

System where although there may be more than one set of government, ultimate sovereignty lies at central government (Westminster in the UK)
- Vernon Bogdanor argues that Britain has become this, due to devolvement

2 examples of Westminster Parliament using their sovereign power over a devolved assembly:

1. 2019
- Northern Irish Assembly was disbanded, but Westminster legislated to legalise both Abortion and Same-Sex marriage in Northern Ireland, despite the DUP being strongly opposed to this

2. Plan
- Use their powers under Section 35 of 1998 Scotland Act to block the Scottish Parliament's Gender Recognition bill, which they believe will help protect UK equality

Proof that Westminster has respect for devolution and will not reverse this:

1. Tories have been traditionally opposed to devolution, but have been in power from 2010 onwards, in which time Wales was granted more devolved power and IndyRef was held

2. The Sewell Convention was codified, which means the Scotland Act 2016 and Wales Act 2017 cannot easily be repealed

What means the UK cannot be considered a fully federal state?

- There is no English Parliament which can vote on English Only legislation