Devolution in Scotland & Wales

1. Devolution inScotland & Wales Crashing toward constitutional change?

2. Explaining devolution How important was • the impact of Thatcherism? • the changing value of Union? • party politics & the party battle?

3. The party battle 1979 as turning point: Labour out, Conservatives in • Labour reduced to core support. Wins seats in • North (of England) • Scotland • Wales • Thatcher wins 3 successive elections, Major 1 more http://www.upolitical.info/Region.htm • Regaining power requires • not only revamping the party & reassuring electorate, • But also responding to change, • As well as demands of key constituencies

4. Scotland Less content with previous quid pro quos, accommodations granted: • Empire wound down • Welfare state under siege • Offshore oil & EU offer new opportunities

5. 1980s: Multiple developments: • Thatcherism far less popular in Scotland than England • Poll tax (1990) • Switch from ‘rates’, paid only by owner-occupiers to poll tax implemented first in Scotland • Resisted • Scots begin to take matters into their own hands

6. Scottish Constitutional Convention • Who • Scottish Labour + • Scottish Liberals • SNP refuses to participate • Formulates plans for devolution • Doing so, poses significant intellectual & political challenge

7. New Labour forced to respond: • Need Scottish seats • Need to show that New Labour is different • ‘Insurance policy’ – support sought from Liberals lest they lack a majority • Back in gov’t, New Labour has to deliver • Important segments of the party committed to change

8. Result • Scotland offered more extensive devolution than before: • ‘Package’ resembles previous devolution to Northern Ireland • Enumerate competences of Westminster rather than Scottish Parliament • Remainder to Scottish Parliament • Two questions in 1998 referenda • Do you want a Scottish Parliament? • Should it have tax varying powers?

9. Outcome • Both carried • Scottish Parliament established with power to pass primary legislation • Scottish government & Scottish first minister assume the powers of the Scottish Office • In Wales, referendum on Welsh Assembly with power to pass secondary legislation carried

10. Broader constitutional agenda Blair government moves on broader constitutional agenda: • Reform House of Lords • London Assembly • Restored but with less competence than Great London Council • Creation of a separate Supreme Court • Changing role for Lord Chancellor Northern Ireland question doesn’t go away

11. Devolution changes shape of UK: • Scottish Parliament meant to be different than Westminster: • Elected by PR • Intended to be non-adversarial • Welsh Assembly also elected by PR • UK is not federal, but is it still a unitary system? • In some senses, yes • In others, no

12. Multiple centres of power • Until recently, Labour control in London, Edinburgh & Cardiff minimizes differences • From 2007, SNP minority govt in Scotland • What happens if (when) Conservatives come back to power in London

13. But how much change? • Parliament is still sovereign • Devolution to Scotland & Wales could be reversed Dogs that did not bark in the night: • ‘English question’ unresolved: • As yet, no devolution to regions • Incomplete reform of Lords • PR not introduced for general (national) elections • No written constitution or UK charter of rights