Alevel Edexcel Government and Politics | Devolution essay plan | "Is devolution working?"
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Course
Unit 2 - Governing the UK
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
The following is a written essay plan on the prompt "Is devolution working?". This is a written summary of a podcast episode of Nick Dsouza's podcast "The A Level Politics Show". It is a detailed plan, explaining devolution in different parts of the UK, providing strong evidence backing arguments, ...
“Evaluate the view that devolution is benefiting all four nations of the UK, including Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland,
and England.” (30 marks)
- If a questions asks you about specific devolved bodies, it is recommended that you take each
devolved body in turn and evaluate for each (or at the very least 2)
- How has devolution worked in each country within the UK?
Yes, it’s working No, it’s not working
Scotland Scotland
Successes: Failures:
Scottish parliament was created in 1999 after an 1. England has reserved powers in the Uk’s devolution
overwhelming majority of Scots voted in favour of it in the settlement. This means that parliament in Westminster
1997 referendum. still decides upon the most important issues: defence,
most taxes, etc.
1. Brings power closer to the people of Scotland through - The Gender Recognition Act that Scotland
multiple Scotland Acts overtime, giving it more power. recently passed was blocked by UK parliament in
- 1. Scotland Act 2016 - Gave Scottish Parliament Westminster by invoking section 35 of the
power over disability living allowances and Scotland Act (allows UK parliament to prevent a
personal independence payments law from taking effect elsewhere if it feels these
- Allowed the Scottish gov to introduce reserved matters will be affected by it) -> UK gov
different welfare arrangements claimed the Equalities Act 2010 (national law)
- Gave power to vary income tax and keep would be compromised by the Gender
half of VAT raised in Scotland Recognition Act (Scottish law).
- Also has significant tax raising powers This evidences the regional tensions between England
over local property taxes: and Scotland, which has grown immensely partly
- Stamp duty because of the laws previously stated, Brexit, and how
- Landfill taxes the different countries adopted different strategies to
- Air passenger duty tackle COVID.
This gives the Scottish parliament a significant revenue
base with which to address the needs of the Scottish 2. Devolution has not stopped calling for independence
electorate. despite that being the reason for devolution in the first
place -> has built up tension.
2. The Scottish gov uses the AMS (additional member - The UK Supreme Court has blocked the call from
system) electoral system. This keeps the constituency the Scottish government to hold a second
link but stops up the seat share of parties whose vote is independence referendum, again citing reserved
not concentrated. This lessens the winner’s bonus seen powers of Westminster.
in FPTP. Helps to avoid too much executive dominance. This case demonstrates to the SNP the weakness of the
- The SNP in Scotland has to work in coalition with devolved settlement and to others the inbuilt tension that
the Green Party. devolution has caused: whether to have an independence
This provides greater opportunities for participation in referendum or not, whether the scottish parliament has a
elections from non-dominating parties . right to have a say on Brexit (the supreme court denied),
whether scotland should be allowed to introduce new
3. Scottish voters have seen an extension of their rights, rights for trangender people.
especially in relation to access to services and with
liberal democracy. 2. The AMS voting system produces minority
- 16/17 year olds in Scotland and Wales have the governments and coalitions, resulting in questionable
right to vote inr regional and local elections and mandates and limited legitimacy.
in referendums. - The Scottish government claimed a mandate to
- Scottish parliament protecting transgender rights hold a second independence referendum after the
- becoming the first part of the UK to extend hate SNP won most seats in the 2021 election, and
crime laws to cover transphobic hate crimes in then worked with the pro-independence Greens in
2009. As well as looking for ways to ease the coalition to allow them a parliamentary majority
process of transitioning. after that parliamentary election in 2021. Though,
this mandate has not been recognised by
Westminster.
Because of AMS, parties tend not to get overwhelming
Keyword describing scottish devolution = tension majorities, which then leads to questionable legitimacy
and a lack of recognition from Westminster.
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