Devolution
The UK
- A union of separate states; often referred to as nations but more ‘cobbled’ together, than
unified.
- This reflects the existing “devolution settlement”;
- The fact that, each nation to a lesser or greater extent has retained its own political identity
within the union of the UK.
Wales
- Conquered by England. Under the act of union 1536, was legally part of England
- No form of government on its own (other than local councils), until the wales office was formed
in 1965, a department based at whitehall.
- Since 1998, the national assembly for wales.
Scotland
- Was a separate kingdom, with its own monarch- james 1 of England, james vi of Scotland
- Act of union in 1707 brought engalnd (including wales) and Scotland together. – Scottish
parliament merged with the English parliament to create the parliament of great Britain.
- Scotland retained several of its own systems, - legal system; church. – Scottish identity remained
stronger than in wales.
Ireland
- England long had a form of control over Ireland- laws made by the irish parliament in Dublin
were subject to some control by England, since 1494.
- A formal union was formed in 1800, largely because of the failure of the English to colonise
Ireland. – irish MPs and peers sat at westminister.
- Uneasy relationship; Ireland- catholic. England- protestant
- Home rule, a perpetual issue during the late 19th century.
- The easter rising… 1916… brutally suppressed by the british.
- Ireland declared independent shortly afterwards
- Anglo- irish treaty 1921- irish free state within the british commonwealth
- Later became the republic of Ireland
- However, the countries of antrim, down, Armagh, Londonderry, tyrone and farmangh formed
northern Ireland.
Northern island
- Northern Ireland, predominantly protestant
- Republic of Ireland, predominantly catholic
- Northern Ireland parliament from 1922, but seen as repressive and discriminatory against the
catholics.
- From 1972, “direct rule”, from whitehall, secretary of state for northern Ireland.
- The troubles… IRA
1998- the year of devolution
Scottish parliament
- Scotland cats 1998, 2012 and 2016
- MPs – constituency and list members.
- Income tax raising powers- big changes next year.
- Acts of the Scottish parliament- section 29 (1998 act) – cannot make legislation that is
incompatible with the ECHR or EU law.
- Reserved matters- sch 5 – part 1; general reservations: the constitution, political parties,foreign
affairs, defence, the civil service.
- Reserved matters, sch 5, part 2
- More specific reservations, under subject matters
- I.E head B – home affairs – misuse of drugs, data protection, election of house of commons,
immigration and nationality, scientific procedures on live animals, national security, emergency
powers and betting gaming and lotteries.
Scottish government
The UK
- A union of separate states; often referred to as nations but more ‘cobbled’ together, than
unified.
- This reflects the existing “devolution settlement”;
- The fact that, each nation to a lesser or greater extent has retained its own political identity
within the union of the UK.
Wales
- Conquered by England. Under the act of union 1536, was legally part of England
- No form of government on its own (other than local councils), until the wales office was formed
in 1965, a department based at whitehall.
- Since 1998, the national assembly for wales.
Scotland
- Was a separate kingdom, with its own monarch- james 1 of England, james vi of Scotland
- Act of union in 1707 brought engalnd (including wales) and Scotland together. – Scottish
parliament merged with the English parliament to create the parliament of great Britain.
- Scotland retained several of its own systems, - legal system; church. – Scottish identity remained
stronger than in wales.
Ireland
- England long had a form of control over Ireland- laws made by the irish parliament in Dublin
were subject to some control by England, since 1494.
- A formal union was formed in 1800, largely because of the failure of the English to colonise
Ireland. – irish MPs and peers sat at westminister.
- Uneasy relationship; Ireland- catholic. England- protestant
- Home rule, a perpetual issue during the late 19th century.
- The easter rising… 1916… brutally suppressed by the british.
- Ireland declared independent shortly afterwards
- Anglo- irish treaty 1921- irish free state within the british commonwealth
- Later became the republic of Ireland
- However, the countries of antrim, down, Armagh, Londonderry, tyrone and farmangh formed
northern Ireland.
Northern island
- Northern Ireland, predominantly protestant
- Republic of Ireland, predominantly catholic
- Northern Ireland parliament from 1922, but seen as repressive and discriminatory against the
catholics.
- From 1972, “direct rule”, from whitehall, secretary of state for northern Ireland.
- The troubles… IRA
1998- the year of devolution
Scottish parliament
- Scotland cats 1998, 2012 and 2016
- MPs – constituency and list members.
- Income tax raising powers- big changes next year.
- Acts of the Scottish parliament- section 29 (1998 act) – cannot make legislation that is
incompatible with the ECHR or EU law.
- Reserved matters- sch 5 – part 1; general reservations: the constitution, political parties,foreign
affairs, defence, the civil service.
- Reserved matters, sch 5, part 2
- More specific reservations, under subject matters
- I.E head B – home affairs – misuse of drugs, data protection, election of house of commons,
immigration and nationality, scientific procedures on live animals, national security, emergency
powers and betting gaming and lotteries.
Scottish government
