UK: Constitution

Question 1

What are devolution essay questions centred around

Answer 1

1. Success
2. Further reform
3. Democracy
4. Centralism/Sovereignty

Question 2

ETVT Devolution success overall

Answer 2

1. Policy success
   - Healthcare in Scotland
   - policy labs (e.g. Plastic bags costing 5p was later unleashed on
   rest of UK after Welsh success)
   PIVOT: uncoordinated COVID response
2. Constitutional issues (Independence)
   - Somewhat helped quell (2014 vote no?)
   PIVOT: Nicola Sturgeon threatening to hold a non-approved referendum for Scottish Independence after Brexit
   Stormont assembly, Sinn Fein refusing to work with DUP over Irish border 2017-20 Stormont disappation
   - Sewell convention during Brexit: devolved assemblies not asked
3. Representation
   - AMS means regional and national representative)
   PIVOT: West Lothian Question, EVEL, should England be more represented?

Question 3

What is the Sewell convention

Answer 3

Parliament must ask consent from devolved assemblies if they want to legislate on a policy area devolved to them. EU Withdrawal was something which would have an impact on the devolved assemblies, but Parliament simply legislation

Question 4

When did the Stormont Assembly collapse

Answer 4

2017-20

Question 5

ETVT Devolution requires further reform

Answer 5

1. Regional devolution
   - London Mayoral devolution has been very popular which shows that regional devolution is very successful.
   - Elected Mayors successful
   PIVOT: North England Parliamentary referendum 70% NO
2. West Lothian
   - Scotland already has more powers than Wales, disproportionality is inevitable
   - EVEL left this unresolved giving asymmetrical devolution
   PIVOT: there is not much demand for it
   - There are also practical issues in terms of size of England
3. Sewell convention
   - Problem that UK can make decisions which affect everyone, but without the consent of various assemblies
   - Scotland and Wales send MPs to Parliament but can easily be outvoted by government- no mechanism to ensure Scottish majority is realised in UK
   PIVOT: we have elections
   - It would be a major upheaval to the constitutional powers of Parliament

Question 6

How has devolution been addressed in England

Answer 6

• West Lothian question, the perceived imbalance on voting rights in the Commons allowing devolved powers to vote on bills which only affect England
• ## EVEL had been introduced but now is repealed