The Impact of Devolution on the UK Government (AQA A-Level Politics): Revision Notes
The Impact of Devolution on the UK Government
Devolution has transformed how the United Kingdom is governed. Beyond demands for its extension to England, devolution has fundamentally reshaped multiple aspects of UK government and politics.
The British Constitution
Devolution has fundamentally changed the British Constitution. The UK has shifted from a unitary framework to what political scientists term a quasi-federal system. This means the UK now blends characteristics from both unitary and federal states.
Understanding Quasi-Federal Systems
Quasi-federal refers to a constitutional arrangement that combines elements of both a unitary state and a federal state. The UK maintains its unitary character because ultimate sovereignty still rests with Westminster. In theory, the UK Parliament could repeal all devolution Acts and abolish the regional assemblies. However, the UK simultaneously exhibits strong federal characteristics, with policy in many key domestic areas now decided by devolved bodies outside Westminster, except when it concerns England.
The practical reality is that repealing parliamentary Acts enabling devolution would be extremely difficult and politically unlikely. Parliamentary sovereignty of the Westminster variety has been significantly reduced outside England. The Scotland Act 2016 established a crucial principle: Westminster cannot legislate in devolved matters without consent.
The Permanence of Devolution
The Scotland Act 2016 effectively acknowledges that devolved institutions are permanent, not temporary, political fixtures. This represents a fundamental constitutional shift in how power is distributed across the United Kingdom.
Policy variation
Devolution has created significant policy variation across the UK. Some commentators describe this as inequality. Westminster's control over domestic policy beyond England has been considerably limited.
The differences are substantial and affect everyday life. Consider these examples:
- University tuition fees vary considerably between regions
- Hospital car parking charges differ
- Corporal punishment by parents was banned in Scotland in October 2019, but not elsewhere in the UK
- Income tax rates can differ between regions
These variations demonstrate that devolution has real, tangible impacts on citizens' lives depending on where they live in the UK.
Case study: COVID-19 pandemic response
Case Study: COVID-19 Lockdown Variations Across the UK
The COVID-19 pandemic provided a stark example of policy variation across the four nations. At the end of May 2020, the guidelines and regulations around loosening the first lockdown varied considerably between regions:
| Lockdown measure | England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How many people can meet up? | 6 (can be from different households) | 8 (from two different households) | Unlimited (from two households) | 4-6 (can be from different households) |
| Can they meet in gardens and outdoors? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Social distancing requirement | 2 metres | 2 metres | 2 metres | 2 metres |
| How far can you travel from home? | Unlimited | 5 miles | 5 miles | Unlimited |
| R (rate of infection) number | 0.7-0.9 | 0.7-1 | 0.7-1 | 0.8-1 |
| Can you enter other homes? | Yes (to use toilet or reach garden) | No | No | No |
| Unlimited outdoor exercise and socialising? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Are more shops opening? | All non-essential from 15 June | No date yet (eventually reopened end of June) | No date yet (eventually reopened 22 June) | More non-essential from 15 June |
| Are schools reopening? | Primary schools from 1 June for selected year groups | From 31 August | No date yet (eventually September) | September |
Real-world consequences: People in England and Northern Ireland could travel long distances for beach visits or countryside walks, but could not drive into Wales or Scotland to do the same. Shops and schools reopened earlier in England and Northern Ireland than in the other two regions.
The crucial point is that decisions were made regionally. Even as prime minister, Boris Johnson could not determine the scale or pace of lifting lockdown beyond England. Even the initial lockdown required close collaboration with leaders of the three devolved regions.
Practical Limits on Westminster's Authority
This demonstrates the practical limits on Westminster's authority in devolved matters. The Prime Minister's powers do not extend to determining policy in devolved areas outside England, even during a national emergency.
Alternative voting systems
Devolution has introduced alternative voting systems besides First Past The Post (FPTP) to parts of the UK. These proportional representation systems have typically resulted in minority or coalition governments in the devolved assemblies.
Whether this is positive or negative remains debated. Does it lead to more stalemate in decision-making? Or does it encourage greater cross-party cooperation and more representative government?
Impact on Governance Styles
What cannot be disputed is the impact on the balance of power in devolved assemblies. Multiparty governance is now the norm rather than the exception in the regions. The devolved bodies rarely see single-party majority governments. The SNP managed to win an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament at the 2011 election, but this was exceptional rather than typical.
This contrasts sharply with Westminster, where FPTP typically produces single-party majority governments. Devolution has therefore created two different styles of government within the UK.
Pressure groups
Devolution has inevitable consequences for how and where pressure groups operate. Pressure groups focus their energies on where policy is actually made. They increasingly lobby devolved bodies rather than just Westminster.
The Scottish Parliament's debate and subsequent passing of legislation banning the smacking of children demonstrates this shift. The consultation process involved:
- 12 charities
- 7 equality organisations
- 12 police, legal and human rights bodies
- 20 medical and care profession organisations
Most of these organisations responded and contributed their views. Children's charities such as Children 1st (previously the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) were particularly involved in lobbying for the law's passage.
Strategic Shift in Lobbying
This case study illustrates a broader trend. Pressure groups recognise that devolved bodies now control many policy areas. They adapt their strategies accordingly, targeting Holyrood, Cardiff Bay or Stormont depending on the issue. This represents a fundamental shift in how interest groups engage with the political system.
Key Points to Remember:
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Quasi-federal system: Devolution has transformed the UK from a unitary to a quasi-federal system, combining elements of both centralised and federal governance. Westminster retains ultimate sovereignty but devolved bodies exercise significant domestic policy powers.
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Policy variation: Devolution creates substantial differences in laws and policies across UK regions, affecting university fees, healthcare, taxation, parental rights and more. The COVID-19 pandemic response highlighted how different regions can pursue distinct approaches to the same challenge.
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Alternative voting and coalition governance: Proportional representation systems in devolved assemblies have made multiparty coalition or minority governments the norm in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, contrasting with Westminster's typical single-party majorities.
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Pressure group strategies: Interest groups increasingly target devolved bodies where policy is made, such as children's charities lobbying the Scottish Parliament rather than Westminster on issues within devolved competence.
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Permanence of devolution: The Scotland Act 2016 established that Westminster cannot legislate in devolved matters without consent, effectively recognising devolved institutions as permanent fixtures in the UK's constitutional landscape.