Model Essay Answers:
AQA A-Level Politics 7152: A* UK Essays [Paper 1]
Section A 9 Markers
● Explain and analyse three ways in which powers have been devolved from Westminster since 1997. [9/9]
● Explain and analyse three ways in which EU Membership has impacted UK Politics. [9/9]
● ‘Explain and analyse 3 significant constitutional developments pre-1997’. [9/9]
● ‘Explain and analyse three ways that democracy has developed in the UK.’ [8/9]
© 2026 Grades Express
,UK Government: Devolution - Section A 9 Marker
Score: [9/9]
Explain and analyse three ways in which powers have been devolved from Westminster since 1997. [9 Marker]
────────────
Since 1997, Westminster has transferred Fiscal Powers to the devolved administrations. The Scotland Act 2016 granted the
Scottish Parliament greater control over tax rates and bands. Scotland was able to increase or decrease income tax by 10%.
The Scottish Parliament was now also able to keep 50% of all VAT raised in Scotland. These fiscal powers are mirrored in
Wales – the Wales Act of 2014 allowed the Senedd the authority to set rates for taxes e.g. stamp duty and landfill tax within
Wales. This greater fiscal devolution allows regions to have a more direct influence on their economic policies, generate
more revenue and increase investment in public spending. However, all devolved institutions still fall short of ‘devo-max’
and there are still calls for full fiscal autonomy.
Legislative powers have also been devolved from Westminster since 1997. Primary legislative powers in devolved matters
e.g. health, education, transport were granted in The Scotland Act 1998. Due to the asymmetric nature of devolution, it
wasn’t until The Wales Act (2017) -after the 2011 referendum’s 64% favour vote- that primary legislative powers (similar in
scope to Scotland and N.Ireland) were reinforced allowing for ‘service devolution’ e.g. in housing- just like N.Ireland.
Consequent policy divergence shows the sub-national governments have led to more representative policies,e.g. The
Graduate Endowment (Scotland) Act in 2008, which restored free higher education, reflected the Scottish SNP’s more
leftwing stance. Hence, despite Westminster’s sovereignty (de jure) and ‘reserved model’ e.g. on matters like defence
limiting legislative authority, devolved bodies have been granted de facto day-to-day operational independence.
Devolution also transferred powers to regional assemblies and combined authorities. This saw service devolution e.g. the
Greater London Authority Act 2007 devolved more powers over housing strategies and waste management policies to the
mayor; it also ensured climate change was considered by the mayor when making the policies. The Localism Act 2011 also
gave long-term responsibilities for economic and political strategies. This shows mayors have been innovative with policies
e.g. the congestion charge (2003) that reduced traffic in London by 10% and led to a decrease in pollution. Furthermore,
There are 10 combined authorities with directly elected mayors with similar ‘service devolution’ e.g. Cambridge and
Peterborough have power over apprenticeship grants, they also stand up to central government e.g. in 2017 when the
government was to stop the electrification of the Manchester Leeds train line. This shows how powers have also enhanced
democracy and government legitimacy, as the devolved powers allow for enhanced local representation and accountability
to the regional electorate’s needs.
© 2026 Grades Express
, UK Politics: EU Membership - Section A 9 Marker
Score: [9/9]
Explain and analyse three ways in which EU Membership has impacted UK Politics. [9 Marker]
────────────
The EU membership had a significant impact on the legal sovereignty of the UK government due to the constitutional
implications of joining the European Economic Communities (EEC) but now the EU: EU law was to take precedence over UK
law as stated in the ✔ European Communities Act 1972; this was confirmed in the factortame case 1990 where the
Merchant Shipping Act 1988 had to be unmade as it contradicted EU legal laws. Furthermore, the EU had significant power
in areas of laws e.g. trade which further threatened parliamentary sovereignty as the UK government as a legislative body
was restricted. However, modern eurosceptics argue ✔ sovereignty could have been preserved by ‘opt-outs’ e.g. when
they refused to adapt the European currency, maintaining economic sovereignty. Overall, the withdrawal Agreement 2020
led to the UK formally leaving the EU restoring sovereignty so the impact is not as significant.
EU membership led to divisions within political parties e.g Labour: Harold Wilson had to call a 1975 referendum due to
divide ✔✔ between europhiles and eurosceptics: In the 1980s after the party committed to leaving the EU many high
profile ✔ members defected, forming the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ✔ - now libdems. Conservatives also saw division,
with factions e.g. ERG forming, who defied the party whip via an abstention on May’s Brexit policy leading to defeat of the
motion. The severe divide led to relaxations on collective ministerial responsibility in the 1975 and 2016 EU referendums,
allowing ministers and MPs to campaign for opposing sides: e.g. despite Cameron campaigning for ‘remain’, Johnson was
publicly ‘leave’. This enhanced representation within the government ✔ as more public sides were represented, however it
hindered the efficiency of passing legislation ( a key government function) ✔ with the decision shifted to the electorate via
referendums.
EU membership also affected post-referendum politics and electoral outcomes. The Labour red wall collapsed in the 2019
GE due to Johnson’s ‘Get Brexit Done’ deal ✔ ✔. In Scotland support grew for pro-remain SNP, with only 2% of the vote
going to the Brexit party: enhancing the gap between West-Minster (pro-leave) and the devolved body. However, UKIP
gained 24 seats in the 2014 European elections and 29 seats by the Brexit party were gained in the 2019 elections, showing
Brexit impacted voter behaviour, granting success to ✔ minor parties as it was a salient voting issue.
Feedback:
9/9
Way too long- it’s only 9 marks + you will have to do 3 of them.
© 2026 Grades Express
AQA A-Level Politics 7152: A* UK Essays [Paper 1]
Section A 9 Markers
● Explain and analyse three ways in which powers have been devolved from Westminster since 1997. [9/9]
● Explain and analyse three ways in which EU Membership has impacted UK Politics. [9/9]
● ‘Explain and analyse 3 significant constitutional developments pre-1997’. [9/9]
● ‘Explain and analyse three ways that democracy has developed in the UK.’ [8/9]
© 2026 Grades Express
,UK Government: Devolution - Section A 9 Marker
Score: [9/9]
Explain and analyse three ways in which powers have been devolved from Westminster since 1997. [9 Marker]
────────────
Since 1997, Westminster has transferred Fiscal Powers to the devolved administrations. The Scotland Act 2016 granted the
Scottish Parliament greater control over tax rates and bands. Scotland was able to increase or decrease income tax by 10%.
The Scottish Parliament was now also able to keep 50% of all VAT raised in Scotland. These fiscal powers are mirrored in
Wales – the Wales Act of 2014 allowed the Senedd the authority to set rates for taxes e.g. stamp duty and landfill tax within
Wales. This greater fiscal devolution allows regions to have a more direct influence on their economic policies, generate
more revenue and increase investment in public spending. However, all devolved institutions still fall short of ‘devo-max’
and there are still calls for full fiscal autonomy.
Legislative powers have also been devolved from Westminster since 1997. Primary legislative powers in devolved matters
e.g. health, education, transport were granted in The Scotland Act 1998. Due to the asymmetric nature of devolution, it
wasn’t until The Wales Act (2017) -after the 2011 referendum’s 64% favour vote- that primary legislative powers (similar in
scope to Scotland and N.Ireland) were reinforced allowing for ‘service devolution’ e.g. in housing- just like N.Ireland.
Consequent policy divergence shows the sub-national governments have led to more representative policies,e.g. The
Graduate Endowment (Scotland) Act in 2008, which restored free higher education, reflected the Scottish SNP’s more
leftwing stance. Hence, despite Westminster’s sovereignty (de jure) and ‘reserved model’ e.g. on matters like defence
limiting legislative authority, devolved bodies have been granted de facto day-to-day operational independence.
Devolution also transferred powers to regional assemblies and combined authorities. This saw service devolution e.g. the
Greater London Authority Act 2007 devolved more powers over housing strategies and waste management policies to the
mayor; it also ensured climate change was considered by the mayor when making the policies. The Localism Act 2011 also
gave long-term responsibilities for economic and political strategies. This shows mayors have been innovative with policies
e.g. the congestion charge (2003) that reduced traffic in London by 10% and led to a decrease in pollution. Furthermore,
There are 10 combined authorities with directly elected mayors with similar ‘service devolution’ e.g. Cambridge and
Peterborough have power over apprenticeship grants, they also stand up to central government e.g. in 2017 when the
government was to stop the electrification of the Manchester Leeds train line. This shows how powers have also enhanced
democracy and government legitimacy, as the devolved powers allow for enhanced local representation and accountability
to the regional electorate’s needs.
© 2026 Grades Express
, UK Politics: EU Membership - Section A 9 Marker
Score: [9/9]
Explain and analyse three ways in which EU Membership has impacted UK Politics. [9 Marker]
────────────
The EU membership had a significant impact on the legal sovereignty of the UK government due to the constitutional
implications of joining the European Economic Communities (EEC) but now the EU: EU law was to take precedence over UK
law as stated in the ✔ European Communities Act 1972; this was confirmed in the factortame case 1990 where the
Merchant Shipping Act 1988 had to be unmade as it contradicted EU legal laws. Furthermore, the EU had significant power
in areas of laws e.g. trade which further threatened parliamentary sovereignty as the UK government as a legislative body
was restricted. However, modern eurosceptics argue ✔ sovereignty could have been preserved by ‘opt-outs’ e.g. when
they refused to adapt the European currency, maintaining economic sovereignty. Overall, the withdrawal Agreement 2020
led to the UK formally leaving the EU restoring sovereignty so the impact is not as significant.
EU membership led to divisions within political parties e.g Labour: Harold Wilson had to call a 1975 referendum due to
divide ✔✔ between europhiles and eurosceptics: In the 1980s after the party committed to leaving the EU many high
profile ✔ members defected, forming the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ✔ - now libdems. Conservatives also saw division,
with factions e.g. ERG forming, who defied the party whip via an abstention on May’s Brexit policy leading to defeat of the
motion. The severe divide led to relaxations on collective ministerial responsibility in the 1975 and 2016 EU referendums,
allowing ministers and MPs to campaign for opposing sides: e.g. despite Cameron campaigning for ‘remain’, Johnson was
publicly ‘leave’. This enhanced representation within the government ✔ as more public sides were represented, however it
hindered the efficiency of passing legislation ( a key government function) ✔ with the decision shifted to the electorate via
referendums.
EU membership also affected post-referendum politics and electoral outcomes. The Labour red wall collapsed in the 2019
GE due to Johnson’s ‘Get Brexit Done’ deal ✔ ✔. In Scotland support grew for pro-remain SNP, with only 2% of the vote
going to the Brexit party: enhancing the gap between West-Minster (pro-leave) and the devolved body. However, UKIP
gained 24 seats in the 2014 European elections and 29 seats by the Brexit party were gained in the 2019 elections, showing
Brexit impacted voter behaviour, granting success to ✔ minor parties as it was a salient voting issue.
Feedback:
9/9
Way too long- it’s only 9 marks + you will have to do 3 of them.
© 2026 Grades Express
