'Evaluate the view that constitutional reforms in the UK since 1997 have been weak, incomplete and
require further change' - P1) No english parliament
- The next logical step to devolution would be that there should be an English Parliament
- The EVEL created two levels of MPs but it has now bee...
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'Evaluate the view that constitutional reforms in the UK since 1997 have been weak, incomplete and
require further change' - ✔✔✔P1) No english parliament
- The next logical step to devolution would be that there should be an English Parliament
- The EVEL created two levels of MPs but it has now been removed
- Strong regional identities in Yorkshire, Devon and Cornwall
- The North had a devolution referendum in 2004 and 78% of people voted against it
- EVEL has been abolished as of 2021
P2) Uneven devolved powers
- Scotland has the most devolved powers
- Wales has far less devolved powers than NI and Wales
- The uneven devolution is deliberate because of different desires e.g. Scotland has a desire for
independence and NI has a history of conflict where the DUP wants unity and Sinn Fein want
independence
- Wales got law making powers and Scotland has also been given more devolved powers
- Apart from demands for independence the current system is working
P3) No British Bill of Rights
- The English constitution is unentrenched and uncodified
- The current rights of the English people are largely those which were drawn up in the ECHR and then
put into the BIll of Rights
- 2022 Queen's Speech set out plans for a new British Bill of Rights with a focus on freedom
, - Our constitution is better unentrenched and is regularly updated e.g. House of Lords reform, creation
of devolved powers, repeal of the Fixed Term Parliament act and leaving the EU. This is better than an
entrenched constitution and so it is not proof that they are piecemeal reforms
'Evaluate the view that the logical next step after devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is
the devolution of further power to England' - ✔✔✔P1) Strong regional identities
- Yorkshire, Cornwall and Devon all have very strong regional identities
- Cornwall has its own language and individual history
- There was a referendum on creating a Northern assembly but this was turned down by 78%
- Bristol voted to remove their metro mayor in 2022
P2) Lack of representation for English citizens
- West Lothian Question has gone unanswered because EVEL has been removed
- English people don't have their own Parliament
- England has a population of 67 million whereas Scotland has 5 million and Northern Ireland has 1.5
million
- Most people see Westminster as the English Parliament
- EVEL has been abolished
Questions
- All UK citizens have the same representation as there is a similar amount of citizens in every
constituency
- An English Parliament would create a challenge to Westminster due to the very large population
P3) People grow to love devolution when they have it
- Wales only narrowly supported devolution in the 1997 referendum but they grew to love it
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