WEEK 8 – IS THE UNITED KINGDOM BREAKING UP?

1. WEEK 8 – IS THE UNITED KINGDOM BREAKING UP?

2. THE CASE FOR DEVOLUTION … “The United Kingdom is a partnership enriched by distinct national identities and traditions. Scotland has its own systems of education, law and local government. Wales has its language and cultural traditions. We will meet the demand for decentralisation of power to Scotland and Wales. Subsidiarity is as sound a principle in Britain as it is in Europe. Our proposal is for devolution not federation. A sovereign Westminster Parliament will devolve power to Scotland and Wales. The Union will be strengthened and the threat of separatism removed.” Labour Party, 1997 election manifesto

3. THE CASE AGAINST DEVOLUTION “In a world where people want security, nothing would be more dangerous than to unravel a constitution that binds our nation together and the institutions that bring us stability. We will continue to fight for the strength and diversity that benefits all of us as a proud union of nations.” Conservative Party, 1997 election manifesto John Major’s “Battle for Britain” in 1997 Britain has “72 hours to save the Union”.

4. QUESTIONS FOR THIS WEEK • Why has power been devolved to Scotland, Wales and London? • How has devolution affected the nature of democracy in Britain? • Has devolution made the break-up of Britain more or less likely?

5. BRITAIN AS CENTRALISED STATE Data is for 2001. Source: OECD

6. FORMATION OF BRITISH ‘UNION’ • Amalgamation of England with: - Wales: 1536 - Scotland: 1707 - Ireland: 1800 (until 1921) • Parliament of UK replaces parliaments of England, Scotland and Ireland • Union dominated by England • But some autonomy to Scotland, Wales - Scotland: Law, church/education - Wales: Implementation of laws/rules • Administrative: - Scottish Office est 1885; Welsh Office est 1964

7. WHY THE PUSH FOR DEVOLUTION? Limits to diversity • Difficult for major policy differences between Scotland/Wales and England Non-representativeness of government • Con in Scotland: 50% of vote in 1955 38% of vote in 1970

8. FIRST MOVE TO DEVOLUTION • Growing electoral support for SNP in 1960s/70s • Reflected economic concerns, not necessarily demand for constitutional change • Labour took fright, and proposed devolution: - Strong Scottish Assembly - Weak Welsh Assembly • Failure of 1979 referendum

9. SECOND MOVE TO DEVOLUTION • Declining representativeness of government - Con vote in Scot: 31% in 1979; 24% in 1987 • ‘Trialling’ of unpopular policies on Scotland eg. Poll tax • Wales concerned about ‘quangos’ • Government seen in Scotland/Wales as unrepresentative/unresponsive. • Labour picked up on renewed demands for devolution.

10. THE DEVOLUTION REFERENDUMS, 1997-98 Source: Electoral Commission

11. SCOTLAND • Parliament has 129 members • Elected under AMS • Primary legislative power • ‘Reserved’: economic, foreign, defence, social • Budget: £30bn • Block grant; tax +/-3p Scottish Government: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/ Scottish Parliament:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/

12. WALES • Assembly has 60 members • Elected under AMS • Secondary legislative powers • Block grant; no tax raising powers • Budget: £14bn Welsh Assembly Government: http://www.wales.gov.uk/ National Assembly for Waleshttp://www.assemblywales.org/

13. GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY • Split Exec-Leg • Mayor proposes • Assembly scrutinises • Powers: transport, planning, economic development, environment • Budget: £11bn • Revenue only from council tax Greater London Authority: http://www.london.gov.uk/

14. ASYMMETRICAL DEVOLUTION

15. POLICY VARIATION SINCE DEVOLUTION: SCOTLAND Education • Abolition of up-front top up fees Health • Free LT personal care for elderly Others • Ban on smoking in public • Land reform

16. POLICY VARIATION SINCE DEVOLUTION: WALES Less market oriented policies • Abolition of secondary school league tables Institutional reform • Quangos (eg. WDA) brought within government • Establishment of Children’s Commissioner Small ‘welfarist’ policy initiatives • Free school milk; free nursery places • Free prescriptions; free bus travel

17. SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE? Which of these statements comes closest to your view? - Scotland should become independent (in or out of EU) (‘independence’) - Scotland should remain part of UK with its own elected parliament (‘devolution’) - Scotland should remain part of UK without an elected parliament (‘unitary’) Source: Scottish Social Attitudes

18. UNEQUAL REPRESENTATION: THE ‘WEST LOTHIAN QUESTION’ • Asked by Tam Dalyell in 1970s • Why should Scottish MPs vote on matters affecting England, while English MPs cannot vote on Scottish matters? • Scottish MPs do matter: legislation on foundation hospitals (2003) and tuition fees (2004)

19. WHAT’S THE ANSWER? Limit voting rights of Scottish/Welsh MPs • But difficult to distinguish ‘English’ part of legislation • Governments have different majorities on different issues English Parliament • Same difficulties English regionalism • But no public demand (eg. North East)

20. CONCLUSION “Devolution is the most radical constitutional change this country has seen since the Great Reform Act of 1832” (Bogdanor, 2001) • Union: Little evidence of support for independence in Scotland • Democracy: - Wal/Lon: Limited policy responsiveness - England: No ‘voice’ West Lothian Question