Devolution in England – Strengths and Weaknesses?
Strengths:
1. Enabled local governments to tailor services to the specific needs of their
area/allows bespoke solutions to local problems
e.g in 2017 it was announced that the Government were going to scrap the
electrification of the Manchester-Leeds train line whilst simultaneously giving the
green light to Crossrail II in London. Andy Burnham and Steve Rotherham stood up to
the government and the plan was reinstated.
e.g In Liverpool the Mersey Tidal Power project was created by the Liverpool City
Region Combined Authority is helping to produce lower cost and environmental
friendly energy.
2. Increased democratic participation by giving more voice to local people
e.g In 2021 Andy Burnham won the election for the Mayor of Manchester, as he
received the support of 470,000 voters.
e.g The delayed 2021 election for the London Assembly saw 6.2 million voters turn
up to have their say.
3. Allows experimentation and innovation in law-making in smaller areas before
taking them nationwide
e.g March 2021 - Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham approved plans for Manchester
to take control of its own bus network by 2025, becoming the first area outside
London to do so. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will control local bus
services on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). The
franchise model is estimated to cost £135m and was backed by nine of the region's
10 councils
e.g May 2021 - In Tees Valley, Conservative mayor Ben Houchen has taken an airport
under public ownership, secured green jobs, and a freeport, which went down very
well with local voters.
Weaknesses:
1. West-Lothian question still exists
The West-Lothian question, whether non-English MPs should be able to vote on
solely English matters despite English MPs not being able to vote on devolved
matters, still exists
e.g In March 2016, 59 SNP MPs helped defeat plans to relax Sunday trading hours in
England, which would’ve passed without their votes
e.g 14th March 2018 8 DUP MPs voted with the Conservative Government to
remove thousands of Free School Meals in England. Their decision would not impact
their constituents in Northern Ireland, as this is a devolved issue.
2. Lack more regional assemblies
The biggest difference is that London has its own regional assembly, while no other
region does, despite it being able to advocate for the area
e.g A motion passed by the London Assembly on 7 July 2021, calling for a public
inquiry into cladding safety following Grenfell Tower fire . The motion urges the
1
, government to establish an independent panel of experts to investigate why thousands
of buildings in London still have unsafe cladding four years after the tragedy
e.g A motion passed by the London Assembly on 9 June 2021, urging the
government to extend free school meals during holidays. The motion argues that
many children in London are at risk of hunger and malnutrition due to poverty and
food insecurity
3. Lack many mayors
The creation of mayors across the UK has been patchy and inconsistent, with some
large areas like York and Cornwall lacking their own mayors, despite the benefits of
them
e.g in 2017 it was announced that the Government were going to scrap the
electrification of the Manchester-Leeds train line whilst simultaneously giving the
green light to Crossrail II in London. Andy Burnham and Steve Rotherham stood up to
the government and the plan was reinstated.
e.g May 2021 - In Tees Valley, Conservative mayor Ben Houchen has taken an airport
under public ownership, secured green jobs, and a freeport, which went down very
well with local voters.
Strengths:
1. Enabled local governments to tailor services to the specific needs of their
area/allows bespoke solutions to local problems
e.g in 2017 it was announced that the Government were going to scrap the
electrification of the Manchester-Leeds train line whilst simultaneously giving the
green light to Crossrail II in London. Andy Burnham and Steve Rotherham stood up to
the government and the plan was reinstated.
e.g In Liverpool the Mersey Tidal Power project was created by the Liverpool City
Region Combined Authority is helping to produce lower cost and environmental
friendly energy.
2. Increased democratic participation by giving more voice to local people
e.g In 2021 Andy Burnham won the election for the Mayor of Manchester, as he
received the support of 470,000 voters.
e.g The delayed 2021 election for the London Assembly saw 6.2 million voters turn
up to have their say.
3. Allows experimentation and innovation in law-making in smaller areas before
taking them nationwide
e.g March 2021 - Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham approved plans for Manchester
to take control of its own bus network by 2025, becoming the first area outside
London to do so. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will control local bus
services on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). The
franchise model is estimated to cost £135m and was backed by nine of the region's
10 councils
e.g May 2021 - In Tees Valley, Conservative mayor Ben Houchen has taken an airport
under public ownership, secured green jobs, and a freeport, which went down very
well with local voters.
Weaknesses:
1. West-Lothian question still exists
The West-Lothian question, whether non-English MPs should be able to vote on
solely English matters despite English MPs not being able to vote on devolved
matters, still exists
e.g In March 2016, 59 SNP MPs helped defeat plans to relax Sunday trading hours in
England, which would’ve passed without their votes
e.g 14th March 2018 8 DUP MPs voted with the Conservative Government to
remove thousands of Free School Meals in England. Their decision would not impact
their constituents in Northern Ireland, as this is a devolved issue.
2. Lack more regional assemblies
The biggest difference is that London has its own regional assembly, while no other
region does, despite it being able to advocate for the area
e.g A motion passed by the London Assembly on 7 July 2021, calling for a public
inquiry into cladding safety following Grenfell Tower fire . The motion urges the
1
, government to establish an independent panel of experts to investigate why thousands
of buildings in London still have unsafe cladding four years after the tragedy
e.g A motion passed by the London Assembly on 9 June 2021, urging the
government to extend free school meals during holidays. The motion argues that
many children in London are at risk of hunger and malnutrition due to poverty and
food insecurity
3. Lack many mayors
The creation of mayors across the UK has been patchy and inconsistent, with some
large areas like York and Cornwall lacking their own mayors, despite the benefits of
them
e.g in 2017 it was announced that the Government were going to scrap the
electrification of the Manchester-Leeds train line whilst simultaneously giving the
green light to Crossrail II in London. Andy Burnham and Steve Rotherham stood up to
the government and the plan was reinstated.
e.g May 2021 - In Tees Valley, Conservative mayor Ben Houchen has taken an airport
under public ownership, secured green jobs, and a freeport, which went down very
well with local voters.
