The Impact of Devolution

Has devolution been a success? 

The British Constitution has changed from a unitary framework to one that has been termed ‘quasi- federal’. This means that it combines elements of both a unitary state and a federal state. The UK remains unitary since ultimate sovereignty still lies with Westminster — in theory, the UK parliament could repeal all the devolution Acts and abolish the regional assemblies.  However, the UK does have characteristics  of a federal state, since policy in many key domestic areas is now decided in the devolved bodies outside of Westminster, unless it concerns England.

Case study The Gender Recognition Bill and Devolution 

 Also, it would be very difficult and unlikely for the parliamentary Acts enabling devolution to be repealed. Parliamentary sovereignty, of the Westminster variety at least, has been significantly reduced outside England. The Scotland Act 2016 established that Westminster cannot legislate in devolved matters without consent, therefore effectively acknowledging that the devolved institutions are permanent not temporary political fixtures.

Laboratories of policy: Devolution has led to policy variation, which inevitably means inequality, across the UK. It has considerably reduced the control Westminster has on domestic policy beyond England. University tuition fees, hospital car parking, parental use of corporal punishment (banned in Scotland in October 2019) or income tax rates, there are now considerable differences  across the UK. A significant example of variations within the four constituent parts of the UK can be seen in how the four parts of the UK handled lockdown during the COVID-19 crisis 

Devolution and the Pandemic 

Local policies are made closer to those affected by them. One of the aims of devolution was to allow non-Westminster local governments to pursue popular and relevant policies. In particular, local metro mayors can shape legislation. Policies and priorities to better support and develop their communities. 

The Mayor of London's budget for 2024 to 2025 included extending the Mayor's Universal free School Meals programme for all state primary school children for a further academic year until at least July 2025. 

In 2024, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham sought a third term of office with key pledges on improving housing and healthcare in the city. One of the most significant recent developments has been the devolution deals to empower England's metro mayors, who chair combined authorities made up of constituent local authorities, from six in 2007 to 12.  I

Regional legislation supports national distinctiveness. In the 25 years between 2000 and when the Scottish Parliament began passing legislation, numerous acts have been passed, averaging 15 acts a year and peaking at 22 in 2016. Around 350 unique pieces of legislation have developed the region in distinctive ways and had a substantial impact on many aspects of life.

 For example. The Agriculture and Rural Communities Act Scotland 2024, which focuses on support for Scottish agricultural practices and protects  animal welfare in Scotland. The Visitor Levy Scotland Act 2024, which gave councils power to introduce a visitor levy, sometimes known as a tourism tax, to generate funds to invest in local facilities and services. 

The National Assembly for Wales has been able to pass primary legislation since 2008, averaging 5 per year. Recently, the Environmental Air Quality and Soundscapes Wales Act 2024, which made provisions for improving air quality.

The Infrastructure Wales Act 2024, which reformed the law governing the development of significant infrastructure in Wales and the Welsh marine area.

Devolution has preserved the Union. Critics of devolution suggested that it would lead to the break up the United Kingdom. However, the Union has remained intact and functioning efficiently. The balance between unity and autonomy has strengthened the Union by addressing demands for self-governance, promoting cooperation. and mitigating Nationalist pressures.

Minor Parties - Problems facing the SNP

Referendums and how they are used, The Scottish independence referendum 

 As a result, devolution has proved vital in maintaining the cohesion of the United Kingdom. Examples of this include the COVID-19 pandemic risk, where the nations of the UK adopted a broadly coordinated approach to managing the health crisis. 

Cross-border trade and Economic Cooperation has been maintained. Northern Ireland Protocol. Settling some of the disputes which resulted from Brexit. All the nations of the UK have cooperated in their support for refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan. And in 2021, the COP 26 climate summit held in Glasgow brought together representatives from across the UK to present a unified stance on global climate action.

Devolution meant that alternative voting systems besides FPTP are now used in the UK. This has usually resulted in minority or coalition governments. This means  more stalemate as well as greater cross-party cooperation.  What cannot be disputed is the impact it has had on the balance of power in the devolved assemblies — multiparty governance is now the norm not the exception in the regions.

Different Voting Systems used in the UK 

Devolution has had consequences for how and where pressure groups operate, for example when the Scottish Parliament debated and subsequently passed the law banning the smacking of children north of the border. The consultation document was sent out to 12 charities, seven equality organisations, 12 police, legal and human rights bodies, and 20 medical and care profession organisations. Most of these responded and contributed their views. Children’s charities such as Children 1st (previously known as the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) were particularly involved in lobbying for the passing of the law. Pressure groups will focus their energies on where policy is made, and so they increasingly lobby the devolved bodies and not just Westminster.

Are pressure groups becoming more significant? 

Devolution has created economic inequality. One of its key failures has been the persistent economic inequalities between UK's constituent nations. Despite having devolved powers over areas like economic development, taxation and infrastructure, the economic growth in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland lags behind that of England. For example, in 2024, reports showed that Scotland's economic performance had weakened, with high unemployment rates in certain areas and slower recovery from the pandemic. The lack of consistent investment and varying economic strategies between the devolved administrations has meant that opportunities are unevenly distributed, failing to narrow the regional economic divide. Devolution was designed to address such imbalances, yet it is only deepened regional inequalities.

The West Lothian Question 

Devolution has been characterised by political instability and lack of consensus. Another significant issue is the frequent political instability that has arisen due to differing priorities among the devolved governments. In recent years, particularly in 2024, this has been seen with tensions between Westminster and the devolved administrations, for example. In Northern Ireland, the power sharing agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin has repeatedly broken down. The Welsh Government faced ongoing challenges in areas such as healthcare funding and infrastructure investment, which were compounded by disputes with the UK Government over the budget allocations and decision making powers. For example, disagreements between the Welsh First Minister and the UK government regarding the allocation of financial resources this led to delays in key projects and strained relations. These recurring conflicts highlight the inability of devolution to deliver coherent, stable policy outcomes, as power struggles and competing interests hinder effective cooperation between Wales and the rest of the UK, leading to political deadlock.

 For example, in 2024, tensions between Wales and the UK government came to the forefront with the resignation of Vaughan Gething. The Labour leader of Wales. Getting's brief tenure as first minister was marred by internal party conflict, accusations of misconduct and his handling of donations from a controversial source, which led to a vote of no confidence. 

Another example is the Welsh Government's push to implement a 20 mile per hour speed limit, which sparked debates over devolved powers, with critics in Westminster arguing it was an example of overreach. These disagreements underline the broader issues of balancing local autonomy with the wider interests of the UK, which creates frequent clashes between Wales and the rest of the UK.