Devolution

1. Devolution The disunited United Kingdom

2. Lesson Objective • As Britain faces trouble from above in the shape of a European Superstate, so does the threat that it could break up into individual component parts. • We will look at how devolution has changed the political landscape

3. Task • What is a Federal State? • What is a Unitary State? • What is Devolution?

4. A little bit of history mate…. • 1554 – England and the Principality of Wales are officially joined • 1707 – An Act of Union combines England and Scotland to form a United Britain • 1801 – An Act of Union with Ireland forms a United Kingdom • 1922 – all but 6 Counties in Ireland leave the Union to form the Irish Free State (Rep. of Ireland) • 1998 – Devolution to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

5. Definition • Devolution is the delegation or decentralisation of power • Devolution is different from federalism because it does not involve any transfer of sovereignty • Therefore any devolved powers can be called back by Parliament

6. Northern Ireland • Those blimming Liberals gave the Irish a sniff of home rule in the late 19th century and now look what mess they’ve created • Always worth learning separately the history of the troubles. The Anglo-Irish agreement, signed by Big Thatch. • And the Northern Ireland Peace process from 1993 onwards

7. The Northern Ireland Assembly • Stalemate, the IRA could not be defeated, nor could the Unionists!! • The Good Friday Agreement 1998 • A devolved Assembly elected by STV • An Executive consisting of 10 Ministers, proportional to seats won (Educ. Sec.) • An Intergovernmental British-Irish Council

8. Referendums • 94% in the South and 71% in the North voted in favour of a Nthn Ireland Assembly • Nationalists held 38.9% of the seats in the first assembly • David Trimble (UUP) 1st Minister, Seamus Mallon (SDLP) Dep 1st Minister • IRA decommissioning has led to a suspension of the assembly as has the £20 million bank robbery……shheeeesh! • David Trimble lost his Westminster seat and thus leadership of the UUP in 2005

9. Scotland • Scotland provides a good example of a bunch of ginger haired savages with skirts, thinking they can run a country • Even the Aussie in Braveheart got caught! • After the Act of Union, Scotland retained it’s own legal system, education system and established church. A strong sense of national identity therefore. • However, they were not strong nationalists ,when taking advantage of the opportunities of Empire • Only when the Empire retreated which adversely affected Scottish mining, shipbuilding and textiles, did they start thinking about a separate Scottish State

10. 1979 Devolution attempt • Although 32.5% voted yes and 30.5% voted no, the largest proportion of the electorate abstained 37.1% • Should show it was a non-issue as it ended Callaghan’s Government • However, Thatcher’s Poll Tax changed all that. Hey why not bring in an unfair tax and try it on the Sweaties first?

11. 1997 Devolution • Thanks to Big Thatch’s mistake • In 1997 74.3% voted yes, with 63.5% supporting tax varying powers (Tartan Tax, not issued to Northern Ireland or Wales) • The elections aided the Nationalists and the Conservatives (who had no MP’s in Scotland) However, Labour formed the majority – Donald Dewar 1st Minister • Issues of interest have been Student fees, Clause 28, PR in local elections and fox hunting

12. Whopping Great fishes are Whales • What is it about the Welsh which separates them from the English? • Welsh nationalism has more to do with preserving culture and language than any great need to run their own country • In 1979 only 11.8% of the electorate voted yes to devolution, 46.5% voted no and 41.5% couldn’t be bothered to vote

13. A Taffy Stitch up • Labour proposed a weak national assembly for Wales – no tax raising powers and no right to pass primary legislation • Only 49% bothered to vote in 1997, of these on 50.1% voted yes, compared to 49.9% voting no. – Nationalism is simply not an issue – regardless of what the lefties say! • Rhodri Morgan became leader after a strange incident regarding Ron Davies and a rastafarian on Wimbledon Common

14. Issues • “The part of Labour’s Constitutional settlement which is clearly not working is the National Assembly of Wales” Hazel • Rows over EU regional funding, free eye tests, teacher’s pay and agriculture • “Owen Glyndwr wanted a country united in a properly organised society” – Rhodri Morgan • Although we have won a Grand Slam!!!!

15. Devolution compared • Each assembly is different in size, composition and variety of powers • Executive functions are similar health, education, sprts etc, but Wales cannot pass any ‘Acts’ which enable them to legislate on them • Scotland aswell as funded by a block grant from Westminster, also can vary tax by 3p in the £, Wales cannot do this. • Labour’s constitutional overhaul, has no clear direction

16. What about devolution in England? • The West Lothian Question – Scottish MP’s cannot vote on Education in Scotland, because that power has been devolved yet they can vote on English education • The over-representation of Scotland in English affairs is over-bearing • How would you solve this? • In a referendum in 2004, the North East voted against a regional assembly

17. The break up of the UK Over my dead body! • Worst case scenario and could happen • Northern Irelands Catholic minority, become a majority and they form a United Ireland • Wales and Scotland become independent States within the E.U. • Westminster becomes an English Parliament • YOU have the power to make sure this does not happen!!