Devolution: Sharing Power Across the UK

Welcome to the study of Devolution! This is a vital part of your Paper 1: The Government of the UK course. Simply put, devolution is the process of moving certain powers away from the central government in London (Westminster) to other parts of the UK.

Think of it like a school: the Headteacher (Westminster) has final authority over everything, but they decide to give Department Heads (Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) the power to make their own rules for their specific subjects. The Headteacher could technically take that power back, but it would cause a lot of trouble!

In this chapter, we will explore the different devolved bodies, the situation in England, and how this whole system changes the way the UK is governed.

Quick Review: Remember that in the UK, Parliamentary Sovereignty (from Chapter 3.1.1.1) means that the Westminster Parliament is the supreme legal authority. This is different from the USA, where power is divided by a written Constitution.


1. The Devolved Bodies: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Following referendums in 1997 and 1998, the UK government moved from being a highly "unitary" state (where everything is run from the centre) toward a "union" state with devolved powers. There are three main bodies you need to know:

A. The Scottish Parliament and Government

Established in 1999, the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh is the most powerful of the three. It has legislative powers, meaning it can pass its own laws on "devolved matters."

  • Powers: These include education, health, transport, and most importantly, the ability to vary income tax rates.
  • Electoral System: It uses the Additional Member System (AMS). This is a hybrid system where people get two votes: one for a local candidate and one for a party. This is more proportional than the system used for Westminster.

B. The Welsh Assembly and Government

The syllabus specifically uses the term Welsh Assembly. While it started with fewer powers than Scotland, it has gained more over time.

  • Powers: It manages areas like the Welsh NHS, schools, and economic development.
  • Electoral System: Like Scotland, it also uses the Additional Member System (AMS).

C. The Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive

Devolution in Northern Ireland is unique because it was designed to create peace between different communities (Unionists and Nationalists).

  • Power-Sharing: The government must be a coalition where both sides of the community are represented. This is known as the Executive.
  • Electoral System: They use the Single Transferable Vote (STV), which is a highly proportional system where voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Key Takeaway: Devolution is asymmetric. This is a fancy way of saying that Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not all have the same amount of power.


2. Devolved vs. Reserved Powers

To understand how this works day-to-day, we divide powers into two buckets:

1. Devolved Powers: These are the areas where the devolved bodies can make their own decisions.
Examples: Education (e.g., Scotland has no tuition fees), Healthcare, Housing, and Local Government.

2. Reserved Powers: These are areas that only the Westminster Parliament in London can deal with.
Examples: Defense (the military), Foreign Policy, Immigration, and the Constitution itself.

Watch out! If a devolved body tries to pass a law in a "reserved" area, it is acting ultra vires (beyond its legal power). This can be challenged in the Supreme Court (see Chapter 3.1.1.4).


3. The "English Question" and Devolution in England

England makes up about 84% of the UK population but does not have its own separate Parliament. This has led to a major debate about fairness.

Existing Devolution in England

Currently, there is no single English Parliament. Instead, we have "patchwork" devolution:

  • Directly Elected Mayors: Places like Greater Manchester and London have mayors with powers over local transport and policing.
  • Regional Deals: Some areas have "devolution deals" to manage their own budgets for skills and growth.

The Debate: Should England have more Devolution?

Arguments FOR:

  • It would solve the West Lothian Question (the problem where Scottish or Welsh MPs can vote on laws that only affect England, but English MPs cannot vote on devolved Scottish/Welsh matters).
  • It would bring decision-making closer to the people in the English regions.

Arguments AGAINST:

  • An English Parliament might be too powerful and dominate the rest of the UK.
  • Most people in England don't seem very interested in another layer of politicians and taxes.
  • It could lead to the total breakup of the United Kingdom.

Did you know? In 2004, the government held a referendum for a regional assembly in the North East of England, but the people there voted "No" by a huge margin!


4. The Impact of Devolution on the UK Government

Devolution has changed the UK from a "Centralised" system to a "Multilevel" system. Here is how it impacts the government:

1. Constitutional Impact: While Westminster is still technically sovereign, it is now politically very difficult for London to overrule Scotland or Wales. The UK is starting to look a bit like a Federal system (like the USA), even though it legally isn't one.

2. Policy Divergence: This means that different parts of the UK now have different rules. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Scotland and Wales often had different lockdown rules than England. This can be confusing but allows for "local solutions to local problems."

3. The Party System: Devolution has helped "minor" parties (like the SNP in Scotland) become very powerful. The UK is moving away from a two-party system towards a multi-party system (see Chapter 3.1.2.3).

4. Threat to the Union: Some people argue that devolution has given nationalists a platform to argue for total independence, especially in Scotland. This creates constant tension between the UK government and the devolved governments.


Summary Checklist

Don't worry if this seems like a lot! Just focus on these three core areas for your exam:

  • Identify: Know the three devolved bodies and that they use proportional electoral systems (AMS or STV).
  • Distinguish: Understand the difference between devolved (local) and reserved (national) powers.
  • Evaluate: Be ready to discuss the English Question and whether devolution has made the UK stronger or weaker.

Memory Tip: To remember the "West Lothian Question," just think: "Why can they vote on us, but we can't vote on them?"