Devolution / Independence

1. Devolution / Independence • Devolution “The settled will of the people” John Smith Labour Leader • Was meant to be a block on nationalist ambitions but it hasn’t worked out that way.

2. Texts • King, The British Constitution • Alan Trench, Options for Devolution Finance, Political Quarterly Vol 81, Issue 4, 2010 • Morrison, Public Affairs p31-42

3. Contents • Between Local and Central Government • Scotland • Wales • Northern Ireland • London • Police & Crime Commissioners • Key Issues

4. Between Local & Central Government • National Bodies: Scottish Parliament/Government Welsh Assembly/Government Northern Ireland Assembly • Regional Entities: Mayor of London/London Assembly Police & Crime Commissioners

5. Scotland: The Road to Devolution • 1707 Act of Union – abolished separate parliaments • 1979 – Referendum did not attract necessary 40% electorate support for devolution • 1989 – constitutional convention talks • 1997 – 74% support for Scottish Parliament

6. Democratic deficit 80’s and early 90’s • Labour in Scotland • Tories in Westminster • Poll Tax • Civic society get together 1989 – constitutional convention talks • (SNP boycott) • PR to avoid one party rule

7. Road to devolution • http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/modern_scotland/the_poll_tax/

8. SCOTLAND: Blair’s Legacy • Scottish Government/Executive: • Scottish Parliament: 1998 Scotland Act devolved decision-making on domestic issues from the Westminster Parliament to Scottish-based bodies Tax-raising powers limited to 3p in the £

9. Dewar’s legacy • http://news.stv.tv/politics/201551-donald-dewar-a-very-reluctant-leader/

10. Scottish Government & Parliament • First Minister (= Prime Minister) currently Alex Salmond (Leader of SNP) • 20 Ministers • 129 MSPs (members of the Scottish Parliament) • Presiding Officer (= The Speaker) • Annual Budget approx. £29b.

11. Scotland: Division of Powers Devolved powers on day to day issues: • Law & Order • Health • Housing • Education • Environment • Farming & Food

12. Scotland: Division of Powers Not devolved: • Foreign affairs & defence • Main economic, fiscal & financial issues • International development • Social Security & employment

13. Scotland –as seen from Westminster • 59 MPs representing Scottish constituencies • West Lothian Question • The Barnett Formula: total public spending £53.1b.

14. Scotland: After Devolution • May 2011: SNP wins overall majority • Relations with other parties • Oct 2012: agreement between Cameron & Salmond on referendum • 2014: Independence referendum

15. Scotland: Options • “Better Together” v. “Yes Scotland” • Stay the same • Devo max: more powers devolved • Scottish “independence”

16. Scotland: Referendum • Current Cameron/Salmond Deal: One Question: Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes/No" Questions on Vote: Majority of Voters or Simple Majority? 16s get the vote What about the rest of the UK?

17. Scotland: What Independence means for • Tax/benefits/public spending? • Border controls? • EU?Nato membership? • Defence/foreign affairs? • The Monarchy? • Scottish MPs? • Would Labour ever hold national office again?

18. What independence could mean • Defence - nuclear weapons are based at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde. • independent Scotland would continue to use the pound, at least initially, as its currency. • Euro? • membership of the European Union (President of European Commission thrown doubts over automatic membership) • Membership of Nato

19. WALES • Welsh Government and Assembly • Currently Labour-led • First Minister: Carwyn Jones (Lab) • 60 AMs (assembly members) • Assembly’s annual budget: £15.3b. • Annual public spending: £30.1b.

20. WALES Devolved powers on day to day issues: • Health • Education • Social services • Farming & rural issues • Local government

21. WALES: Where Next? • Labour’s Future looks good? • Last year won rights to introduce own legislation • Watching Scotland….. • Spending cuts?

22. NORTHERN IRELAND • Northern Ireland Assembly led by First Minister & Deputy: Peter Robinson (DUP)& Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein) • They preside over Executive Committee (= Cabinet) • 35 DUP MLAs; 27 Sinn Fein MLAs • 108 MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly)

23. Northern Ireland • Powers established by 1998 Good Friday Agreement • Total public spending £19.25b.

24. Northern Ireland Transferred powers on: • Health, education, social security, environment, farming • Policing and criminal law Non-transferred powers on: • Taxation, foreign and defence policy

25. NI Assembly: Where Next? • Polarised leadership • Continuing sectarian violence • Pressures for further transfer of powers • Impact of economy & spending cuts

26. GOVERNANCE OF LONDON • Mayor of London: Boris Johnson • Runs Greater London Authority • London Assembly with 25 AMs (Assembly Members) • Budget approx. £3 billion • Financed mainly by central government grants and by precept (charge) added to every Londoner’s council tax bill • + 32/33 London Boroughs

27. Governance of London Mayor & Greater London Authority, limited Powers: • Policing • Transport • Regeneration & Development • Olympics/cultural Events • Acts as “Ambassador” of London London Assembly: • Scrutinises and questions Mayor’s policies and actions

28. London: Current Issues • The Boris Factor • Impact of Spending Cuts • Reforms of mayoral/GLA Powers • Relations with stakeholders, ie. police, London boroughs, transport bodies • Olympics 2012 Legacy

29. Police & Crime Commissioners • 1st election November 15 • Of 41 PCCs • Replace regional police authorities (outside London) • US-type reform? • Contested by politicians • Fears over voter turn-out?

30. Key Issues for the Future • Devolution: Independence or stay within UK ? • Number of “layers” of government? • Centralisation v. localism • Amount & control of spending • Success/failure of police & crime commissioners • Appointed v. elected • Voting systems