Evaluate The View That Devolution Reforms Haven’t Gone Far Enough {30}

Introduction

Key Definitions

This essay considers three key potential reforms to devolution: an English Parliament, more regional devolution in England and granting further powers to existing devolved bodies.

Paragraph One Should There Be An English Parliament?

For: Arguments That There Should Be An English Parliament

One key potential further reform to devolution in the UK is the creation of an English Parliament to represent and decide on important issues that just affect England, in the same way that the Scottish Parliament does so for important issues that just affect Scotland.

One problem with the current system of devolution is that it is asymmetric, with England lacking the level of democratic representation that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. An English Parliament would complete devolution within the UK, making it symmetrical and granting the English population the same level of representation as the rest of the UK.

This would allow for the policy preferences of English people to be represented, such as has been the case in Scotland. The Scottish population is more left wing than the rest of the UK and the Scottish Parliament has been able to represent this in policies such as free tuition fees and higher income tax.

An English Parliament would create a more coherent system of devolution, with a federal UK parliament responsible for UK-wide issues such as defence and macroeconomic policy and each country having a devolved parliament that controls issues such as health, education and transport.

This would also solve the West Lothian Question, which questions why why Scottish MPs should be able to vote on English matters in the UK Parliament that don't affect their constituents, when English MPs can't do the same in the Scottish Parliament.

Finally, it would give English identity and interests effective political and institutional expression in a way that other proposed further devolution to England, such as greater use of regional assemblies, wouldn't.

Against: Arguments That There Shouldn't Be An English Parliament

Against: Arguments That There Shouldn't Be An English Parliament

An English Parliament would only serve to create another layer of government and would create tensions between the English parliament and government and the UK-wide government, with the former challenging the latter.

These tensions would be greater and the relationship more fraught than the current relationship between the UK Parliament and devolved bodies, as around 85% of the UK's population is in England, which would lead to the English Parliament being very powerful.

Federalism arguably works best when there is no dominant state or region, such as in the US.

There is little support for an English Parliament within England, with most English voters feeling sufficiently represented by the UK Parliament and having little interest in devolution.

It can be argued that the UK Parliament and Government currently represents English issues and interests effectively.

Brexit, for example, was opposed by both Northern Ireland and Scotland, yet was pursued strongly by the UK Parliament in order to represent the majority of England which supported it.

Some of those proposing a federal Britain and English Parliament are perhaps just using the issue to secure a codified constitution, rather than seeing it as a desirable goal in itself.

Paragraph One Should There Be An English Parliament?

Judgement

Overall, there are certainly issues with the current system of devolution, particularly the fact that England is underrepresented.

An English Parliament is not the right solution, however. Not only would it be impractical and create huge tensions with the UK Parliament, there is also little support for it among the English population.

Paragraph Two Should There Be More Regional Devolution In England?

For: Arguments That There Should Be More Regional Devolution In England

A more realistic proposal for further devolution in England is greater use of city regions/regional assemblies to cover the whole of England.

This would deliver greater representation of local interests, whilst not disrupting the UK Parliament and not creating significant tensions.

This would bring decision making closer to the people and address the differing interests of each English region, therefore improving democracy and representation.

The Greater Manchester City Region, which has the elected mayor Andy Burnham, for example, has been effective in gaining significant administrative control, including over healthcare.

The devolution of some healthcare policy to Greater Manchester has been linked to modest increases in life expectancy, partly because the region put an emphasis on prioritising mental health care.

Some areas, such as Cornwall and Yorkshire have a strong sense of regional identity. Regional assemblies for these areas would therefore makes sense and provide representation for this collective identity.

Different regional assemblies/city regions would be able to experiment with different policies and learn from each other, in the same way that a number of policies first introduced in Scotland have been adopted in the whole of the UK, such as the ban on smoking in public places

Against: Arguments That There Shouldn't Be More Regional Devolution In England

On the other hand, it can be argued that a greater use of city regions/regional assemblies would break up England and fail to provide expression/a platform for English interests and identity.

There is also little public support for a regional layer of government in England.

A 2012 referendum on whether Birmingham should have an elected mayor received a 58% turnout on just a 27.67% turnout

The 2004 referendum on whether to introduce a regional assembly for the North East of England received a 78% no vote on a 47% turnout.

A greater use of regional assemblies/city regions would also create the potential for tensions with local councils. As these assemblies would also cover large populations, there would be the risk of urban interests dominating and drowning out rural interests.

Whilst areas such as Yorkshire and Cornwall have a strong sense of regional identity, many others such as Berkshire don't and would likely attract very little attention/support as a consequence.

Paragraph Two Should There Be More Regional Devolution In England?

Judgement

Overall, regional assemblies/city regions are certainly effective in some areas and deliver greater local representation, however they should only be extended across England if there is support from local populations in referendums.

Paragraph Three Should Further Powers Be Granted To Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

For: Arguments That There Should Be Further Devolution To Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Existing devolved bodies have shown they can run public services and decide policy effectively, including during the COVID crisis. Giving them greater power would increase their ability to reflect

local opinion and address local issues.

Scotland, for example, could be granted further powers over transport, welfare policy and tax policy to get closer towards 'Devomax'.

This would allow it to further reflect the more left wing views of the Scottish population in policy. The SNP for example, supports the devolution of immigration policy to Scotland.

Brexit allows a lot of policy areas that used to be governed by the EU to be given to devolved bodies, including in already devolved areas such as agriculture and energy.

Though Wales is smaller than Scotland and more closely integrated with England, there is no reason why Cardiff shouldn't gain many of the powers Holyrood already enjoys.

A key area it could gain greater control is in relation to justice and policing.

Granting further devolution to Scotland and Wales would give them even more autonomy and potentially discourage either of them from voting for independence in the future.

Against: Arguments That There Shouldn't Be Further Devolution To Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Further devolution, especially in terms of tax raising powers, risks leading to greater disparities in the public services offered to people and the laws that govern people in the UK, further undermining equal citizenship.

Further fiscal devolution in particular would also lead to reduced burden sharing between richer and poorer regions.

In some devolved bodies, there is little interest in the devolved bodies and little support for further devolution.

The 2021 Welsh Parliament elections received just 46.6% support.

In Northern Ireland, further devolution is strongly opposed by the Democratic Unionist Party and other unionists.

In many areas of regulation such as food and safety standards and environmental targets, national policies better protect people and limit the burden on businesses.

It can be argued that the devolved bodies have failed to prove their effectiveness and the economic and policy benefits of devolution.

Scottish education has been drastically changed by the SNP, but Scotland has since fallen behind England in the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) rankings.

The Northern Irish Parliament is frequently suspended due to tensions and a lack of compromise between Sinn Fein and the DUP. It therefore makes little sense to grant further powers to a Parliament which rarely functions.

Paragraph Three Should Further Powers Be Granted To Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Judgement

Overall, further devolution should be granted to both Scotland and Wales, but not to Northern Ireland.

In Scotland and Wales, it would allow greater local representation and help to prevent an increase in support for independence. In Northern Ireland, however, it makes little sense due to its dysfunctional parliament and government.

Overall Argument

In conclusion, devolution hasn't gone far enough and the UK population should be given the opportunity of further devolution.

In England, this should be through local referendums on regional assemblies/city regions, as an English Parliament would be highly impractical due to the size of the English population.

Further powers should also be granted to Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.