Devolution

Is the UK a federal or unitary system and what does devolution create?

- UK is legally a unitary state, but devolution creates a quasi-federal structure

- Power is devolved, but Parliament remains sovereign

How was the Gender Recognition Reform Bill blocked in 2023?

- UK government used Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 to stop the bill from getting royal assent

- First time this power was used

Which English region first got full control over health and social care?

Greater Manchester in 2016 became the first English region to do so, under its metro mayor system

Which region has the lowest government spending per person?

- England – £12,227

- Vs Scotland (£14,456), NI (£14,453), and Wales (£13,967)

- Raises questions about funding fairness

What does low turnout in metro mayor elections suggest?

- Suggests low public engagement and weak legitimacy for mayors

- 2024 Turnout:

• London – 40.5%

• Manchester – 32%

• West Midlands – 29.8%

What does the Local Government Act 2000 allow?

- Councils can hold referendums to adopt mayoral systems and devolved powers

How was devolution set up in Northern Ireland?

- Through the Good Friday Agreement (1998) and Northern Ireland Act 1998

- Created Stormont Assembly

- Suspended many times due to political crises (e.g. 2002–07, 2022–24)

What is English Votes for English Laws and why was it repealed 2021?

- Allowed only English MPs to vote on English matters

- Scrapped due to complaints it was unfair and complicated

What systems are used in devolved areas?

- Scotland, Wales, London – AMS (Additional Member System)

- Northern Ireland – STV (Single Transferable Vote)

- Old mayors (pre-2021) – SV (Supplementary Vote)

What was proposed in Labour’s 2024 white paper?

- Greater devolution for English regions

- New mayoral & non-mayoral agreements

- Plans to match powers of devolved nations

What new powers were given to mayors in 2024?

- Strategic planning, housing, transport, skills

- Integrated multi-year funding (like devolved nations)

- Stronger links to national departments

- Role in delivering 1.5 million homes

What regional inequality did the 2024 white paper reveal?

- 90% of the North is covered by a devolved body, but only 46% of the South

- Labour aims to expand devolution in the South of England