In many contexts, England has devolved governments during the exploration of the UK’s political structure. Devolution is considered an assignment of power from a central authority to regional or national governments. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have established their devolved governments with differing degrees of legislative authority in their states. Unlike its neighboring nations, the land of England does not have a devolved parliament or assembly to call its own. The regional authority is directly exercised by the UK Parliament at Westminster, further contributing to the asymmetry of the political system where England is both the largest nation in the UK and the only one without any devolved body.
Understanding Devolution in the UK
The devolution process was introduced in the UK as a pathway for decentralizing political power and increasing regional control over local issues. The contemporary process began with the 1997 referendums in Scotland and Wales and continued with the Northern Ireland Assembly under the Good Friday Agreement.
Each devolved institution holds delegated powers in various areas, for example, health services, education, transport, and the environment. The intention behind these changes was to ensure decisions were informed by the particular needs of each nation within the United Kingdom. Devolution is not homogenous; all nations have their respective powers and varying degrees of independence across the UK.
The Unique Nature of England
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have devolved institutions; the same could not be said for England. England is governed by the UK Parliament, to which its Members of Parliament work as both the national government and central government for England. The English Parliament is essentially the UK Parliament. The only place that matters of England are legislated is in Westminster.
Where elected members of Parliament from across the UK make decisions about matters affecting only England. This is known as the “West Lothian Question.” Members from devolved nations can vote on English matters in Westminster, and English Members of Parliament cannot vote on devolved matters in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Therefore, this is one of the unique cases in relation to the constitutional framework of the UK.
England and the Lack of Devolved Parliament
England does not have a devolved parliament like Scotland has the Scottish Parliament, Wales has the Senedd, or Northern Ireland has the Northern Ireland Assembly. Propositions for an English Parliament have been suggested many times, but it has not been achieved for political, practical, and economic reasons.
Critics maintain that setting up an English Parliament would cause the devolved institutions to fade away, as England makes up over 80% of the UK’s population. England is legislatively run by Westminster, where legislation is passed by the UK government without a separate English institution.
Regional Devolution in England
England does not have a national devolved parliament; there has been some movement surrounding regional devolution. In some instances, powers have been devolved to city regions, metropolitan mayors, and combined authorities. Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, for example, have metro mayors with significant powers in transport, housing, and local economic development. Regional devolution agreements are not equivalent to national devolution arrangements in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Regional devolution agreements are limited to regions and not national in scope and include limited devolution arrangements.
Debate About an English Parliament
Debate about an English Parliament has existed for many years in British politics. Proponents argue it would remedy the democratic deficit by organizing England in the same way as the other countries of the UK.
However, opponents caution about such a parliament undermining the unity of the UK, where the immense size and population of England could disproportionately dominate the political sphere. Others have raised concerns about costs, duplicating institutions, and its feasibility (of establishing a separate body within England). The discussion so far has shown that it is complicated and controversial, and unresolved.
The West Lothian Question and Its Conflicts
The West Lothian Question continues to be probably the most significant aspect of England’s non-devolution while being asked MPs from the respective nations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland should be entitled to vote for a law for England only when MPs from England cannot vote on devolved matters affecting Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
This has been called unfair, inconsistent, and otherwise problematic for its implications on how laws were made for England within the context of devolution processes. Alternative methods, such as EVEL or an established English Parliament, have been put forward by politicians, but nothing has quite partitioned the issue. The West Lothian Question highlights the inconsistencies of relationship and governing England as part of a devolved United Kingdom.
The Structure of Political Power in England
To fully appreciate the general structure of politics in England, we must understand how power is structured. At the national level, England is managed by the UK Parliament and central government departments. At the regional and local levels, it has councils, metro mayors, and combined authorities that manage local services like transport, housing, and planning. However, unlike Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, England does not have a separate legislature or executive body, presenting a centralized governance structure, with local differences created by limited regional devolution arrangements.
Comparison with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
One clear way to highlight England’s political situation is to compare it with the other devolved nations. Scotland has a functioning parliament with powers across many key policy areas, including health, education, and justice. Wales has the Senedd, which is gradually acquiring powers.
Northern Ireland is supposed to operate with a parliament, although its operation has been suspended due to political disagreements. England has no such body and only has Parliament at Westminster. This demonstrates the asymmetry present in the UK’s constitutional arrangement, with England being in a completely different position from the other devolved nations.
Why England Does Not Have a Devolved Government
There are several reasons as to why England has not developed its own devolved parliament. First, the large population and economic scale due to England mean that an English parliament, in effect, could dictate UK politics and overlook the other devolved nations. Second, the local populations have not been as demanding about devolution compared to Scotland or Wales, for whom cultural and national identity were critically important issues leading up to devolution.
Lastly, the political leaders of England typically have been much more focused on regional devolution within England rather than national-level devolution. Overall, these factors collectively contribute to the lack of subsequent devolution and a devolutionary mindset for England, reinforcing the existing centralisation.
Consequences of England’s Lack of Devolution
The lack of a devolved parliament in England creates practical and political consequences. On the one hand, this is also simpler governance, because Westminster acts as one for the nation and England for all matters.
Secondly, and of particular concern due to the effects of COVID-19, Westminster creates tensions with fairness regarding how laws are made or representation. Third, the lack of devolution has meant limited local responses to decision-making, with policy that may not be appropriate for regional needs in England. These consequences contribute to the ongoing discourse about reforming the governance structures in England.