The document discusses the history and development of devolution in the United Kingdom. It notes that devolution movements can be traced back to the 19th century, with the establishment of nationalist parties like the SNP and Plaid Cymru. Ireland gained independence in 1921 after partition. Direct rule was imposed in Northern Ireland in the 1960s due to inter-community violence. The Good Friday Agreement in 1998 established a new system of devolved governance. Devolution came to Scotland and Wales in the 1990s and 1999 respectively due to growing nationalist sentiment and a desire for more self-governance, as well as political pragmatism within the Labour party. Referendums were held and legislation passed to create the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

1. Devolution
Definition: A process of constitutional
reform whereby power, but NOT legal
sovereignty, is distributed to national or
regional institutions.

2. Background to Devolution
• Movements for reform can be traced back
to the 19th
Century
• The SNP came into existence on 1928,
Plaid Cymru 1925
• Ireland was granted almost full
independence in 1921
• Ireland, a different issue, following
PARTITION was self-governing under the
British Crown

3. IRELAND
• Inter-community violence in the 1960s led
to DIRECT RULE from London
• In 1972, devolution was ABOLISHED
• 1998 the GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT
was signed, bringing with it a new system
of devolved governance

4. Homework
• Research the last century of Irish political
history
• To what extent would you agree with the
statement that ‘ The reform of the British
constitution remains unfinished business’.
Discuss with particular reference to the
situation in Ireland

5. Devolution in the 1990s
• The 1980s saw financial prosperity that
somewhat assuaged the desire for
devolution
• 1987 saw a huge financial crash, which, in
turn led to the re emergence of cries for
devolution
• The reasons for this were three fold

6. Demand for devolution
1. Under Thatcher, the Scots and Welsh resented the
fact that the Conservative MANDATE was weak in the
two countries. As Conservative support weakened, so
demands for self government grew
2. The Labour Party in Scotland and Wales felt
threatened by nationalist voting. It feared it might lose
support like the Conservatives.
3. Scotland was hugely resentful over the early
introduction of the Poll Tax one year before England
and Wales. This was the final nail in the conservative
coffin
4. 1988 saw the Scottish Constitutional Convention come
out firmly in favour of devolution. This was an example
of multi-party political opinion

7. Demand for Devolution
5. 1993 saw the Welsh Language gain official
recognition.
6. The end of the Cold War saw a global upsurge in
national feelings. Spirit of self- determination spread to
Wales and Scotland
7. John Smith, who took over the Labour Party leadership
in 1992 was a convinced devolutionist
8. The Labour Party in the 1990s believed it would need
the co operation of the Liberal Democrats to secure
and retain power. Devolution was a key Lib Dem
policy, so the Labour Party made a PRAGMATIC
decision to adopt this also

8. How Devolution Came about: a model of how constitutional
change is effected in Parliamentary Democracies
• Labour adopted devolution as part of its manifesto, providing a
MANDATE for change when they won power in 1997
• Labour had to win well in Scotland and particularly not allow any
Conservative resurgence
• Referendums were held, soon after the 1997 elections. Key to the
relevance of these was
– Turnout: this had to be high enough for it to be taken seriously
– A vote of Yes had to be given. Scotland 74.3% voted yes, Wales 50.3%,
which should not have been enough
• Legislation had to be passed. As Labour had a huge majority this
was no issue, although there was a stumbling block over the
application of income tax in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament
wanted tax varying powers, or what the Conservatives termed
‘Stealth Tax’ power to vary the income tax in Scotland of +/- 3%
• The actual elections in Scotland and Wales. Question marks over
turnout proved to be born out; Wales showed a 46% turnout,
Scotland 58%. This suggested that too few people were interested
in devolution.

9. Devolution Realised
• In 1999, the Scottish Parliament and Welsh
Assembly same into existence.
• Scotland: Coalition government between Labour
and Lib Dems with Donald Dewar as First
Minister
• Wales: Labour formed a minority executive
under Alun Michael, later replaced by Rhodri
Morgan in 2001. In the same year a coalition
was formed between Labour and Lib Dems

10. Three Types of Devolution
1. Administrative Devolution: where limited
powers are transferred. This means the
devolved administration controls
allocation of public funds, the nature of
administration, the ways in which laws
should be implemented and the passage
of secondary legislation (those rules and
regulations that can be imposed under
powers granted by Parliament in
Westminster)

11. 2. Financial Devolution: the ability for the
devolved administration to raise its own
taxes. Most funds available come from
central government in the form of grants.
This means there is very little financial
independence Granting taxation powers
conveys a great deal of autonomy.

12. 3. Legislative Devolution: the transfer of
power to make PRIMARY legislation.
This is the distinction between the
Scottish Parliament and the Welsh
Assembly

13. Homework
• In groups, prepare a presentation on the
following topics:
• Devolution in Scotland (p184-7)
• Devolution in Wales (p187-9)
• Devolution in Northern Ireland (p190-3)
• English Regional Devolution and an
assessment of devolution (p193 onwards)

14. THERE WILL BE A PRIZE…
• For the group who makes this the most
interesting; think outside the box people!
• You MUST make handouts (to be emailed
to me so I can print out)
• You COULD make it regional (bagpipes,
anyone?)
• You MAY make it interactive (think
debate/Q&A)

15. Summary of Homework
1. Research and essay: for Monday 1st
November
2. Presentation for Monday 22nd
October

16. Glossary
• Devolution: A process whereby power but not
legal sovereignty is distributed
• Nationalism: a political sentiment felt by people
who feel they have common circumstances of
birth, often linked to aspirations for a nation to
gain POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
• Power Sharing: a method of forming a
government in a divided society, such as
Northern Ireland.