A* Politics essay on the question of whether devolution has created more problems than it has solved. Initially was a source question.
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evaluate the view that devolution has created more problems than it has solved
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A/AS Level
PEARSON (PEARSON)
Government and Politics
Devolution
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Using the source, evaluate the view that devolution has created more
problems than it has solved
Devolution has remained a prominent division within the UK political system, whereby the
transfer of powers under various acts has led to progression to an ef ciently collaborating
system however equally political upset to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland through
dissatisfaction in the asymmetry across the political sphere. Although devolution has led to
vast development to preserve the union of the UK, it is more persuasive to argue that
devolution within the UK has truly created more problems than solutions within the UK, with
Scotland and Wales dissatis ed with the powers readily available and con ict within Northern
Ireland over topics of Brexit.
It can be argued that devolution has created more problems than it has solved, through the
asymmetry of devolution reinforcing an unequal balance of power between parliaments
within the UK. Asymmetric devolution, although offering powers to countries within the UK
(Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) to make decisions over topics including Health and
Education as well as providing the regions to maintain their own governments and
legislatures, has been highly limited within devolved powers in regards to issues including
raising the minimum wage and foreign affairs. As a result, this has led to heavy criticisms
within Scotland especially, through dissatisfaction of moving towards a more independent
Scotland, that is wholly in command of their policies and public funding. A strong gure
pushing for this independence is Nicola Sturgeon, with the recent rst minister pushing for a
second independence referendum following the close result in 2014, with 55.3% of voters
voting against independence from the UK and 44.7% voting yes on an 84.5% turnout.The
Scottish Nationalist Party remains a strong lobby for a second referendum on Scottish
independence and has made electoral gains, including further successes in the 2019 general
election. In recent years, it can be argued that the demand for an independence referendum
has become desired by the Scottish public, with the majority favouring to become separate
from the UK and have sovereignty in themselves as a nation. Devolution creating problems
can be recognised here as Sturgeon and the Scottish Government drafted a bill to hold a
second referendum, claiming they had the powers to hold their own referendum without the
consent of Westminster. Which ultimately creates divisions across the UK over the topic of
broken unity. However this led to uproar in division on whether this was constitutionally
correct until the Supreme Court ruled under the Scotland Act of 1998, Scotland was indeed
limited of this power as it did not hold any direct legal effect to a reserved matter.
However it is credible to suggest devolution has created some solutions within UK politics as
devolution has given “people more policy choices” and as a result “public trust in government
has been improved”. An example of successful policy in action was the smoking ban
implemented in 2006 in Scotland prohibited smoking in virtually all enclosed public places.
With England adopting the policy a year later in 2007. Similarly, devolution has enabled
parliaments to act in consciousness of their own regions needs, especially in crisis as seen
with the Covid-19 pandemic whilst being able to work in collaboration for ef ciency across
the UK. Although this is limited in its argument as the Scottish Parliament still ultimately
pushes for Scotland to be ridden of its strong ties with the UK, and will likely continue to
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