1. Devolution in Scotland and Wales

2. Devolution
= the delegation of powers from central government to regional or local administrations
the state remains united / unitary
devolved powers can be reclaimed by central government
Vocabulary:
to devolve powers from …to…
What is devolution?
How is different from feredalism.

3. Devolution in the UK
In recent years some powers have been devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The power to legislate on non-devolved subjects remains with MPs in Westminster
Each devolved administration / government has different powers.
Why?
In recent years some powers have been devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The power to legislate on non-devolved subjects remains with MPs in Westminster S, W and NI still elects MPs to Westminster
Each devolved administration / government has different powers,
Why? reflecting its different historical and political relationship with the UK.
Today focusing on Scotland and Wales

4. Scotland

5. Scotland – a history of independence
1235: first recorded meeting of the Scottish Parliament
1706 / 1707: the Acts of Union joined Scotland and England/Wales, to create Great Britain
1934: The Scottish Nationalist Party was formed
: Conservative governments refused any devolution
Scotland was an independent country for hundred of years before its union with England
1235: first recorded meeting of the Scottish Parliament > long Parliamentary tradition in Scotland, Scotland was an independent nation for hundreds of years
1706 / 1707: the Acts of Union joined Scotland and England and Wales to create Great Britain. These acts were voted by the English and Scottish Parliaments, effectively abolished the Scottish Parliament, replaced by a British Parliament (Palace of Westminster)
There were always nationalists in Scotland who disagreed with this union.
1934: The Scottish Nationalist Party was formed to fight for greater independence for Scotland.
In the nineteen sixties and seventies there was some support for devolution, but then : Conservatives governments refused any devolution. This created a lot of anger in Scotland

6. Anger, resentment and growing support for devolution
The Conservatives had little electoral support in Scotland, but the party remained in power for almost 20 years
Conservative austerity policies affected Scotland disproportionately
In 1997 not one of Scotland’s 72 constituencies elected a Conservative MP
Between 1979 and 1997, there was Anger, resentment and growing support for devolution
The Conservatives had little electoral support in Scotland, but the party remained in power for almost 20 years
Conservative austerity policies affected Scotland disproportionately
In 1997 not one of Scotland’s 72 constituencies elected a Conservative MP

7. Scotland - devolution
1997: The Labour Party promised a referendum on Scottish (and Welsh) devolution in their manifesto
Following Labour victory a majority of Scottish voters voted for devolution
1998: The Scotland Act
1999: The Scottish Parliament was reconvened
2004: The Scottish Parliament moved to Holyrood
1997: The Labour Party promised a referendum on Scottish (and Welsh) devolution in their manifesto
Following Labour victory a majority of Scots voted for devolution
1998: The Scotland Act devolved powers and created the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish executive (> now called the Scottish government) which had limited devolved powers
1999:The Scottish Parliament was reconvened (sat for the first time since 1706)
2004: The Scottish Parliament moved to Holyrood – often used a way to refer to the Scottish Parliament

8. Scotland – towards total independence?
2007: The SNP became the largest party in the Scottish Parliament
2014: After a divisive referendum campaign, Scottish voters rejected independence
2015: Landslide SNP victory in the UK general election
2016: The Scotland Act devolved more powers to the Scottish government
2007: The SNP became the largest party in the Scottish Parliament, there was a big rise ion support for Scottish indepependence
2014: led finally in 2014 to a Refrendum on Scottish independence After a divisive referendum campaign, Scottish voters rejected independence but in order to secure this result, the Britisg PM David Camerin had to promise that Svotland would be given more powers
2015: Landslide SNP victory in the UK general election (> to elect MPs for Westminster)
2016: The Scotland Act was amended to devolve more powers to the Scottish government > at the same time in the Scottish election, support for the SNP fell al little
With The Brexit vote in 2016, the issue of independence is on teh agenda again

9. Scotland – towards total independence?
Brexit
> Scottish independence is on the agenda again
Scotland voted against Brexit, and many Scots are very unhappy about being forced to leave the EU.

10. Wales

11. Wales – a longer and happier union with England
: Wales joined with England under Henry VIII
1979: Devolution rejected by 80% of Welsh voters
: Similar situation to Scotland
1997: Just over 50% of Welsh voters voted for limited devolution and a National Assembly for Wales (created by the Government of Wales Act 1998)
Wales – a closer relationship with England, it doesn’t have the same history as an independent country, or the same level of support for independence
: Wales joined with England under Henry VIII > Welsh were generally happy with the union
1979: Devolution rejected by 80% of Welsh voters
: Similar situation to Scotland (little support for the Consrvatives, and growing poverty)
1997: Just over 50% of Welsh voters voted for limited devolution and a National Assembly for Wales (created by the Government of Wales Act 1998)

12. Wales – no appetite for independence (today)
1999: The Welsh Assembly sat for the first time
2006: The Government of Wales Act established the Welsh Government as a seperate body and gave the Assembly the power to pass primary legislation
Plaid Cymru remains a minority party in Wales
1999: The Welsh Assembly sat for the first time
2006: powers were increased > The Government of Wales Act established the Welsh Government as a seperate body and gave the Assembly the power to pass primary legislation
However, Plaid Cymru remains a minority party in Wales > there is no rela demand for independence.
Wales actually voted for Brexit, so nationalists cannot use it as an argument to support their cause.

13. Number of representatives Representatives are called..
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
Headed by…
Powers
Number of representatives
Representatives are called..
The Speaker is called…

14. The Scottish Parliament Headed by…
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
Headed by…
Powers
Number of representatives
Representatives are called..
The Speaker is called…

15. The Scottish Parliament Headed by… The First Minister
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
Powers
Number of representatives
Representatives are called..
The Speaker is called…

16. The Scottish Parliament Headed by… The First Minister
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Number of representatives
Representatives are called..
The Speaker is called…

17. The Scottish Parliament Headed by… The First Minister
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Number of representatives
129
Representatives are called..
The Speaker is called…

18. The Scottish Parliament Headed by… The First Minister
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Number of representatives
129
Representatives are called..
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
The Speaker is called…

19. The Scottish Parliament Headed by… The First Minister
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Number of representatives
129
Representatives are called..
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
The Speaker is called…
The Presiding Officer

20. The Scottish Parliament The National Assembly for Wales Headed by…
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
The National Assembly for Wales
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Number of representatives
129
Representatives are called..
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
The Speaker is called…
The Presiding Officer

21. The Scottish Parliament The National Assembly for Wales Headed by…
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
The National Assembly for Wales
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
(Carwyn Jones, Labour Party)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Number of representatives
129
Representatives are called..
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
The Speaker is called…
The Presiding Officer

22. The Scottish Parliament The National Assembly for Wales Headed by…
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
The National Assembly for Wales
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
(Carwyn Jones, Labour Party)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Passes legislation on devolved matters (less powers than Scotland)
Number of representatives
129
Representatives are called..
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
The Speaker is called…
The Presiding Officer

23. The Scottish Parliament The National Assembly for Wales Headed by…
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
The National Assembly for Wales
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
(Carwyn Jones, Labour Party)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Passes legislation on devolved matters (less powers than Scotland)
Number of representatives
129 60
Representatives are called..
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
The Speaker is called…
The Presiding Officer

24. The Scottish Parliament The National Assembly for Wales Headed by…
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
The National Assembly for Wales
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
(Carwyn Jones, Labour Party)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Passes legislation on devolved matters (less powers than Scotland)
Number of representatives
129 60
Representatives are called..
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
Assembly Members
The Speaker is called…
The Presiding Officer

25. The Scottish Parliament The National Assembly for Wales Headed by…
Scotland
Wales
Name of legislature
The Scottish Parliament
The National Assembly for Wales
Headed by…
The First Minister
(Nicola Sturgeon, SNP)
(Carwyn Jones, Labour Party)
Powers
Passes legislation on devolved matters (p79-80)
Passes legislation on devolved matters (less powers than Scotland)
Number of representatives
129 60
Representatives are called..
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
Assembly Members
The Speaker is called…
The Presiding Officer