British Government and Politics (JN302)

Devolution

1. History of Devolution 2. Scotland 3. Wales 4. Northern Ireland 5. London

Lecture Outline

The United Kingdom is a unitary democracy (in contrast to federal democracy).

Statutory transfer of power from central government to the separate nations is known as devolution.

Devolution is a more limited form of autonomy than outright independence.

History of Devolution

Status of United Kingdom under pressure from above and below: influence of EU and devolution.

Historical formation of Britain in 1707 with Act of Union between England and Scotland.

Long-standing Scottish, Welsh and Irish nationalism.

Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties formed in 1920s but without much political impact.

History of Devolution

History of Devolution

Violent Easter Rising of 1916 in Ireland led to formation of Irish Free State in 1921 and Northern Ireland. Continued struggle for Irish independence still informs politics of Northern Ireland.

In 1972 after Bloody Sunday when British paratroopers killed 13 unarmed protesters PM Edward Heath suspended Northern Ireland parliament and Northern Ireland came under direct rule from Westminster.

Good Friday agreement in 1998. Assembly suspended several times but devolved government occurred in 2007.

Differing demands for devolution and asymmetrical implementation of devolved bodies.

1979 referendum on Scottish devolution was lost because even though more people voted yes than no (32.5% vs 30.7%) it did not attract the required 40% electoral support for devolution. In Wales only 12% voted yes and 46% voted no.

Scottish constitutional convention talks in 1989 hammered out plans for devolution.

History of Devolution

History of Devolution

Former Labor leader John Smith described devolution as “the settled will of the people.”

It was meant to be a block on nationalist ambitions but it hasn’t worked out that way.

History of Devolution

After election of New Labour government in 1997 a referendum voted in favour (74%) of a Scottish Parliament which was officially convened on July 1, 1999. Welsh yes vote scraped in.

Labour were the largest party in the first Scottish elections but failed to secure overall majority. Donald Dewar became the initial ‘First Minister’.

Scotland

Scottish Parliament: Holyrood

Unicameral 129 MSPs (Members of

the Scottish Parliament) Current First Minister Alex

Salmond (leader of the Scottish National Party)

Annual budget approx £29 billion.

Devolved powers on day to day issues: Law & Order Health Housing Education Environment Farming & Food

Scotland

Not devolved: Foreign affairs & defence Main economic, fiscal & financial issues International development Social Security & employment

Scotland

Westminster – 59 MPs represent Scottish constituencies.

Barnett Formula – mechanism for the per capital allocation of public spending across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

West Lothian Question: raised by Labour backbencher Tam Dalyell in the 1970s – unfair that Scottish MPs could vote on matters that have no bearing on their own country but directly affect England and Wales, while English and Welsh members have no say over particular issues in Scotland.

Scotland

SNP won overall majority in May 2011 In October 2012 there was agreement

between Cameron and Salmond on a referendum in 2014 about Scottish independence.

Scotland

Referendum Question: Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes/No.

Better Together vs Yes Scotland Yes campaign release of white paper: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/no

v/26/salmond-scottish-independence-white-paper-bargaining

Scotland

White Paper covers range of issues including: Trident nuclear weapons, currently based on the Clyde, removed

within the first parliament. Housing benefit reforms, described by critics as the "bedroom

tax", to be abolished, and a halt to the rollout of Universal Credit. It would be in Scotland's interest to keep the pound, while the

Bank of England would continue as "lender of last resort". BBC Scotland replaced at the start of 2017 with a new Scottish

broadcasting service, continuing a formal relationship with the rest of the BBC.

Basic rate tax allowances and tax credits to rise at least in line with inflation.

Scotland

Debates over what independence would mean for:

EU/Nato membership? Currency? Distribution of national debt? Labour’s chances of holding power in

Westminster?

Scotland

Scotland

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/scottish-independence-poll-backs-more-devolution-1-3256693

Useful websites: http://theconversation.com/scottish-independence-simple-question-but-no-easy-

answers-15316?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+3+July+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+3+July+2013+CID_7083601b7c730a210ce77c23ae3f4e6f&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk&utm_term=Scottish%20independence%20simple%20question%20-%20but%20no%20easy%20answers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/first_time_voter/8589835.stm http://www.scotreferendum.com http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13326310 http://bettertogether.net http://www.yesscotland.net

Scotland

Initial support more for preservation of Welsh culture and language than self-government.

New Welsh assembly had weaker powers than Scottish parliament – no tax raising powers, no right to pass primary legislation. Vote in 2011 extended full law making powers over the devolved functions of the Assembly.

Wales

Wales

Welsh Government and Assembly

Currently Labour-led First Minister: Carwyn

Jones (Lab) 60 AMs (assembly

members) Annual budget: £15.3

bln.

Devolved powers on day to day issues: Health Education Social services Farming & rural issues Local government (Unlike Scotland it has no tax-varying

powers)

Wales

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont led by First Minister & Deputy: Peter Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party) & Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein) – equal power.

They preside over Executive Committee (= Cabinet)

35 DUP MLAs; 27 Sinn Fein MLAs

108 MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly)

Powers established by 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Transferred powers on: Health, education, social security,

environment, farming Policing and criminal law Non-transferred powers on: Taxation, foreign and defence policy

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Current issues: Polarised leadership Continuing sectarian violence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk

-northern-ireland-25067081

Pressures for further transfer of powers

Scandal over pardons granted to IRA suspects:

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/27/northern-ireland-crisis-ira-fugitives-lord-trimble

London

1998 Greater London Authority Referendum

Mayor of London: Boris Johnson Runs Greater London Authority London Assembly with 25 AMs

(Assembly Members) Budget approx. £3 billion Financed mainly by central

government grants and by charge added to every Londoner’s council tax bill

32 London Boroughs

Mayor & Greater London Authority, limited Powers:

Policing Transport Regeneration & Development Olympics/cultural Events Acts as“Ambassador” of LondonLondon Assembly: Scrutinises and questions Mayor’s policies and

actions

London