1. Actualité et faits de société
Lecture 2 Scotland and Wales: the Process of Devolution

2. 1. The origins of the Union
How did the 4 nations of the UK become a single kingdom?
through the union of crowns and royal dynasties
through parliamentary Acts of Unions

3. 1.1. Union of Crowns
WALES: conquered gradually by English kings from the 13th century
IRELAND: colonized gradually by English families from the 12th century
both countries were therefore de facto part of England since the Middle Ages
SCOTLAND:
1603: Queen Elizabeth 1st of England dies and the next heir is her cousin James 6th, king of Scotland

4. King James 1st and 6th
King James 6th of Scotland, cousin of Queen Elizabeth 1st of England
When she dies without any heir, he also becomes King James 1st of England
Therefore, England and Scotland are now one kingdom, under one king

5. Acts of Unions = Wales
WALES, annexed as soon as 1284, but not made official until 1536 Act of Union between Wales and England English Parliament votes for the formal annexation of Wales by England  Welsh language forbidden, English law replaced Welsh law, London Parliament will decide everything for Wales

6. 1.2.2. Acts of Union: Scotland
SCOTLAND Middle Ages  Scottish people fight against English invaders 1297: Scottish army defeats English army at Stirling Bridge (William Wallace) 1314: Battle of Bannockburn, Scottish final victory (Robert the Bruce)  contrary to Wales, Scotland remains an independent country throughout the Middle Ages

7. 1.2.2. Acts of Union: Scotland
BUT…
1603: Union of the Crowns
one kingdom, but two separate countries (Scottish Parliament, Scottish Church, etc.)
1707: Act of Union between Scotland and England
Scottish Parliament votes itself out of existence: Scottish affairs will be decided in London, in a British Parliament
SCOTLAND keeps a separate church, a separate education system

8. Acts of Union: Ireland
From the 16th century onwards: colonization of Ireland by English settlers and exploitation of Irish peasants
Religious dimension: Irish people were Catholics, whereas new English settlers were Protestants
1801: Act of Union between GB and Ireland
creation of the United Kingdom of GB and Ireland
Violence between the two communities:
 1921: partition of Ireland into two parts: Northern Ireland remains British and part of the UK
Ireland becomes an independent republic and leaves the UK

9. 2. The rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales
Nationalists in both Scotland and Wales promoted SELF-GOVERNMENT (19th century)
Creation of Nationalist parties:
Scottish National Party (SNP) in 1934
Plaid Cymru in 1925, mainly to promote the use of the Welsh language
 soon, both parties campaigned for complete INDEPENDENCE from the UK

10. 2. The rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales
Mid-20th century: discovery of OIL in the North Sea
SNP campaigns: ‘It’s Scotland’s Oil!’
accuses London to take Scottish money when this money could go to solve Scottish problems

11. SNP Campaign Posters in the 1970s and 1980s

12. 2. The rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales
The LABOUR PARTY and Scottish & Welsh independence
supports DEVOLUTION because afraid of total independence
DEVOLUTION: political decentralisation in which the UK Parliament remains sovereign but “devolves” or delegates some of its power to other subordinate assemblies or parliaments
Labour would lose important votes for Parliament if Scotland and Wales went away

13. 2. The rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales
The CONSERVATIVE PARTY and Scottish and Welsh independence
against any form of devolution
in power from 1979 to 1997, thanks to English votes, which constitute the majority of the country’s votes (80% of the population)
deindustrialization, closing of coalmines, privatisation of national companies… leading to rise of unemployment in Scotland and Wales, most hit areas
very unpopular party in Scotland

14. Electoral Maps of the UK: How the Nations Vote Differently

15. 3. Devolution Acts 1997: end of Conservative Rule
Tony Blair (Labour) becomes Prime Minister
He had promised a referendum on Devolution in Scotland and Wales
‘Do you want a devolved parliament (S)/assembly (W)?’
SCOTLAND: 74.3% YES
WALES: 50.3% YES

16. 3.1. DEVOLUTION IN WALES
Welsh Assembly in Cardiff
law-making powers in certain domains
60 Assembly Members (AMs)
First Minister of Wales: Carwyn Jones, Labour
Labour majority

17. 3.2. DEVOLUTION IN SCOTLAND
Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (Holyrood)
strong law-making powers in certain domains, even taxation
129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
First Minister: Nicola Sturgeon, SNP
SNP majority

19. DEVOLVED and RESERVED MATTERS
Matters devolved to the regional parliament/assembly
education
health, social welfare
agriculture
tourism, culture
environment
transport
housing
Matters reserved to London parliament in Westminster
macroeconomics
defense
foreign policy
immigration
oil, gas, nuclear energy
benefits and social security, employment
trade and industry

20. 4. Scottish Referendum
Since 1997, nationalist party in Scotland gained more and more seats in the Scottish Parliament
2011: large majority
 Alex Salmond and David Cameron agreed to plan a referendum on Scottish Independence in Sept 2014

21. 4. Scottish Referendum
Referendum: ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’
Tick YES or NO
people from 16 who reside in Scotland can vote

22. 4. Scottish Referendum YES Campaign
BETTER TOGETHER Campaign
led by the SNP and the Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond
Celebrities’ support: Sean Connery, Ken Loach, Franz Ferdinand…
supported by Labour, the Tory Party, and the Lib-Dems: all the major parties in the UK
Celebrities’ support: David Bowie, JK Rowling, Ewan McGregor…

23. YES Campaign arguments
Scotland could be independent thanks to OIL money
Scotland doesn’t vote like rest of the UK (more to the left): end to austerity measures
Scotland could promote more social justice and save the Welfare State (health, childhood poverty, end inequalities…)

24. BETTER TOGETHER Campaign arguments
Economic interdependence for more than 300 hundred years
Scottish oil will soon run out and Scotland will need British money
Economic uncertainty: £ or €?
Historical ties with the UK cannot be broken that easily

25. The results, 19th Sept 2014 84 % TURNOUT
only 4 counties out of 32 voted for independence: area around Glasgow, the one that had been the most hit by Tory policies of deindustrialization and privatization in the 1980s
Labour, Lib-Dems and the Tories have promised to grant more powers to the Scottish Parliament

26. Scotland and Wales in the Brexit referendum, 23rd June 2016