1. POLITICS & DEVOLUTION Westminster, Holyrood, Stormont and the Senedd Natalie Chisholm 235MC

2. Aims for today Go over the rest of Westminster and its role Look at devolved government in the UK How it affects the way we report devolved issues (have you done your homework?) 3. Westminster Parliamentary democracy in the UK Twin chambers at Palace of Westminster See virtual tour online: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/ Bicameral legislature twin chambers House of Commons & House of Lords Commons has 650 members numbers to be reduced each representing a seat/constituency. 4. Westminster House of Lords Role? Check and balance. Can send bills back to House of Commons Limitation: House of Commons can overule it Ongoing reform eg. House of Lords Act 1999 Wakeham Commission, 2001 White Paper Recently scuppered proposals: more elected representation 5. Westminster: MPs Role of MPs For constituents: Represent concerns and interests of all constituents Hold weekly surgeries or clinics Write to relevant ministers to resolve their grievances Ask written or oral questions in House of Commons at Question Time on their behalf Canvas support from fellow MPs for Early Day Motions Introduce Private Member's Bills Parliamentary/ general public responsibilities: Take active part in parliamentary activities Debate, scrutinise and hold executive (government + cabinet) accountable Party duties: Support party policies and activities, toe party line conflicts? 6. Westminster Parliamentary committees Select committees Public Bill committees Ad hoc committees Joint committees 7. Westminster: bills Types of legislation Primary bills: Public: Initiated by govt; change the law of the land Private: Init by govt; affect individuals and organisations Hybrid: mix of the two Private members bills: introduced by backbench MPs 8. Westminster: bills 9. Holyrood, Senedd and Stormont Devolution: from union to government in the nations UK as a representative democracy: power is exercised through democratically elected representatives.Federal (U.S.) versus unitary democracy (UK) Federal major foreign and domestic policy decisions made on a national level with day-to-day matters decided by the states. Unitary the bulk of power remains under central control in Westminster. 10. Devolution Despite a gradual move towards centralisation of power over the centuries, more recently there has been a move back towards decentralisation through devolution Further tiers of government now in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to which significant powers have been devolved by Westminster Not inevitable that devolution will lead to full independence Labour argued that devolution would safeguard the union of Britain: One Nation speech. 11. Devolution Scottish Parliament: 129 MSPs, elected through form of PR known as Additional Member System National Assembly for Wales: 60 members, known as Assembly Members, can be MPs also Northern Ireland Assembly: (2007) 108 elected representatives, MLAs 12. Who has power over what? 13. What Westminster still has power over 14. Welsh Assembly In existence since 1999 Less devolved power than Scotland (Education) The Silk Commission reported in August 2013 There would be a big transfer of power from London to Cardiff if its 33 recommendations were enacted. 15. Holyrood Home to the Scottish Parliament (Edinburgh) Get a vote on more issues than in Wales and Northern Ireland Free prescriptions and social care for the elderly Tuition fees Great Q&A 16. Devolution Scottish independence? Referendum to be held on Scottish independence 18 September 2014 for the Referendum Spring 2016 an independent Scotland? "We are Scotland's independence generation and our time is now. Previous debate: Should the Scottish people be allowed to consider Devo max whereby all but limited powers, eg. defence and foreign policy and financial regulation, are transferred back to Scotland? 17. Devolution West Lothian Question Tam Dalyell raised question in 1970s as to whether it was right for Scotland to be able to vote on matters relating to England and Wales but not vice versa Should England have similar powers to create its own form of parliament? Regional Development Agencies set up under Blair: Given regional chamber in anticipation of an elected English assembly at some point in the future. 18. Stormont In 1972 the British government suspended Northern Ireland's parliament at Stormont, after fifty years of Unionist one-party rule 1998 Tony Blair proposed that Northern Ireland could have some devolved powers Good Friday agreement was made in April 1998 Was not implemented until 1999 and Northern Ireland Executive met for the first time in December 1999 June 2001 First Minister David Trimble resigns over IRA Arms March 2007: The DUP's ruling executive decides it will share power with Sinn Fin, and agrees to nominate ministers to a Stormont executive 8 May 2007 Westminster finally ends control over Northern Ireland Stormont timeline 19. Why we should care 20. Conclusion There are so many news stories that are created or affected by politics Devolution and Scottish Independence is an ongoing story. Has been for 100s of years When reporting on political stories, check if it is a devolved issue 21. 235MC Seminar Reporting Politics PMQs Watch yesterdays session What do you believe are the key issues discussed? If you had a half hour long TV programme to produce, what would do? How would you do it? Think about pictures How would you structure it Would it just be packages? What else could you do? Audience is 30 45 year olds (men and women)