British Public Affairs (JN805)

Devolution

1. History of Devolution 2. Scotland 3. Independence Referendum 4. Wales 5. Northern Ireland 6. 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 the 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.Still there.

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 needed by law. 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 Labour leader Scotsman 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 in Scotland 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

Nicola Sturgeon (leader of the Scottish National Party)

Annual budget approx £29 billion.

Scotland

Devolved powers on day to day issues:

Law & Order Health Housing Education Environment Farming & Food

Not devolved: Foreign affairs &

defence International

development

Scotland

Westminster – 59 MPs represent Scottish constituencies.56 SNP

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.

SNP won overall majority in May 2011.Not supposed to happen. Scots tired of the Labour one party state and First Ministers who were mediocre.

In October 2012 there was agreement between Cameron and Salmond to have a referendum in 2014 about Scottish independence.

Independence Referendum

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

Better Together vs Yes Scotland http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-1332

6310

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

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

Independence Referendum

White Paper from the Scottish Government 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 to be replaced at the start of 2017 with a new SBS: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.

Independence Referendum

Debates over what independence would mean for:

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

Westminster?

Independence Referendum

Vote in September 2014 was No 55%, Yes 45%

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29270441

After the vote David Cameron announced the formation of the Smith Commission to follow up on the pledge by each of the three major parties during the referendum campaign to devolve further powers to Scotland if independence was rejected. That has reported and Scotland Act become law.

Independence Referendum

In November the Smith Commission set forth its key points Holyrood power to set income tax rates and bands;

Scotland to receive proportion of VAT raised in Scotland; Scottish control over number of welfare benefits including

disability living allowance, winter fuel payments and housing elements of universal credit (bedroom tax);

Scottish control over air passenger duty charged on people flying from Scottish airports; and

Scottish control over licensing of onshore oil and gas extraction. UK government published draft legislation in January 2015. Scotland Bill published May 2015 Second reading due in Commons and Lords this week(24/11)

Independence Referendum

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

b.

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

Silk Commission has recommended that Wales be given powers over policing and justice, greater control over transport and large energy projects.

Wales Bill currently working way through the Westminster Parliament

Wales always been the poor cousin in devolution

Assembly Elections due May 2016;Plaid to power?

Wales

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont now 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:*Agreement just been pulled out the fire after then weeks on negotiations. Polarised leadership Next First Minister?(Arlene

Foster) Continuing sectarian

violence/random terrorism Pressures for further transfer of

powers Scandal over pardons granted to

IRA suspects ‘On the runs’

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

Scottish independence. Not if but when? What will trigger a new referendum ; Brexit from EU? Scottish Parliament elections May 2016 Wales; Plaid Cmyru majority government from 2016? Northern Ireland;Will the GFA hold? George Osborne’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’ What does

it mean? Other ‘powerhouses’ Remember John Prescott/elected

mayors and police commissioners

DEVOLUTION: THE NEXT STEPS