What is devolution and how does it work in the UK?

November 17, 2020

Updated 3 hours ago

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have met with English regional mayors to discuss “devolving power from Westminster”.

Since the late 1990s, the UK has had a devolved government that works in partnership with the Westminster Parliament.

There are different types of devolution in different countries of the United Kingdom and different regions of England.

What is decentralization?

For many years, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were governed by the British government based in Westminster in London, but there were increasing calls for some of this power to be transferred to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

Public votes on devolution took place in 1997 in Scotland and Wales, and in 1998 on both sides of the Northern Ireland border with Ireland as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

This led to the creation of three elective institutions:

Scottish Parliament
National Assembly for Wales (now the Senedd)
Northern Ireland Assembly.

A number of mayoral positions have also been introduced in England, with varying powers.

What has the new Labour government said about devolution of powers?

Ahead of the meeting with mayors, Ms Rayner said that “for too long” Westminster had “held power in the palm of its hand” and “limited the opportunities for towns, cities and villages across the UK to thrive”.

Sir Keir said the Government would allow “those who have a vested interest – those who know their communities – to make much better decisions”.

Mayors will be required to draw up local plans aimed at stimulating economic growth, one of the five “missions” of the new government.

What other powers does the UK government have?

The UK Government in Westminster remains responsible for policy that affects England only, as well as for general policy in many areas.

These include defence and national security, foreign policy, immigration, citizenship and taxation – although Scotland has its own powers to increase and reduce income tax.

Image Source, Getty photos

How does devolution work in Scotland?

The Scottish Parliament is based at Holyrood in Edinburgh. There are 129 elected Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).

Scotland already had its own legal and educational systems. After devolution it became responsible for many other areas, including:

Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Education
Environment
Health
Flats
Justice, Police and Courts
Local government
Some means of transport
Taxes including income tax, stamp duty and airline passenger tax
Some social benefits

Its powers were expanded in 2012, following the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence, and again in 2016 under the Scotland Act.

The Scottish National Party (SNP), which has formed the Scottish government at Holyrood since 2007, continues to support outright independence.

How does devolution work in Wales?

The Senedd’s duties include:

Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Education
Environment
Health and social care
Flats
Local government
Highways and transport
Secure control over income tax, stamp duty and landfill tax
Welsh language

How does devolution work in Northern Ireland?

The Northern Ireland Assembly is based at Stormont in Belfast. There are 90 elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

Devolution in Northern Ireland differs from that in Scotland and Wales because government powers are divided into three categories:

Transferred permissions controlled by the Northern Ireland Assembly
Rights reserved remain at Westminster but could be moved in the future if the Northern Ireland Executive wants them. These include prisons and civil defence
Permission exceptions cannot be moved to Stormont without special laws being passed at Westminster. These include elections and national defence

Stormont’s main powers include:

Agriculture
Education
Environment and planning
Health and social services
Local government
Justice, Police and Prisons
Control over airline passengers’ obligations
Transport
Culture, language and sports

Also crucial is a power-sharing agreement between the nationalist and unionist communities in Northern Ireland.

The First Minister and Deputy Prime Minister – one representing each of the two largest parties in power – jointly lead the government in a mandatory coalition. Despite their different job titles, they have the same powers.

Both parties returned to devolved government in January 2020, along with three smaller parties – Ulster Unionists, SDLP and Alliance.

However, in February 2022, the DUP again boycotted the executive in protest at post-Brexit trade deals.

What powers do mayors have in England?

Over the past 20 years, local and regional mayors have been given greater powers in areas such as transport and housing.

The office of Mayor of London was the first of its kind, created in conjunction with the London Assembly following the 1998 referendum.

Photo Title, Sadiq Khan has been re-elected for a second term as Mayor of London in May 2024.

The Mayor of London decides how much money to spend and sets priorities in certain key areas.

They can set bus and subway prices and set goals for the number of affordable housing units.

13 mayors who are representatives of local authorities, who usually have the same powers as local authorities, but instead of a mayor there is a chairman of the council (with some exceptions)
11 city mayors who can present plans to boost the local economy and have some powers over housing and transport

Norfolk and Suffolk are expected to appoint mayors in May 2025.

Local authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland are not covered by the legislation that introduced the different types of elected mayors in England.