Actualité et faits de société Lecture 2 Scotland and Wales: the Process of Devolution

1. The origins of the Union How did the 4 nations of the UK become a single kingdom? through the union of crowns and royal dynasties through parliamentary Acts of Unions

1.1. Union of Crowns WALES: conquered gradually by English kings from the 13th century IRELAND: colonized gradually by English families from the 12th century  both countries were therefore de facto part of England since the Middle Ages SCOTLAND: 1603: Queen Elizabeth 1st of England dies and the next heir is her cousin James 6th, king of Scotland

King James 1st and 6th King James 6th of Scotland, cousin of Queen Elizabeth 1st of England When she dies, he also becomes King James 1st of England Therefore, England and Scotland are now one kingdom, under one king

Acts of Unions = Wales WALES, annexed as soon as 1284, but not made official until 1543 Act of Union between Wales and England English Parliament votes for the formal annexation of Wales by England  Welsh language forbidden, English law replaced Welsh law, London Parliament will decide everything for Wales

Acts of Union: Scotland SCOTLAND Middle Ages  Scottish people fight against English invaders 1297: Scottish army defeats English army at Stirling Bridge (William Wallace) 1314: Battle of Bannockburn, Scottish final victory (Robert the Bruce)  contrary to Wales, Scotland remains an independent country throughout the Middle Ages

Acts of Union: Scotland SCOTLAND BUT… 1603: Union of the Crowns  one kingdom, but two separate countries (Scottish Parliament, Scottish Church, etc.) 1707: Act of Union between Scotland and England Scottish Parliament votes itself out of existence: Scottish affairs will be decided in London, in a British Parliament SCOTLAND keeps a separate church, a separate education system

Acts of Union: Ireland From the 16th century onwards: colonization of Ireland by English settlers and exploitation of Irish peasants Religious dimension: Irish people were Catholics, whereas new English settlers were Protestants 1801: Act of Union between GB and Ireland  creation of the United Kingdom of GB and Ireland Violence between the two communities:  1921: partition of Ireland into two parts: Northern Ireland remains British and part of the UK Ireland becomes an independent republic and leaves the UK

2. The rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales Nationalists in both Scotland and Wales promoted SELF-GOVERNMENT (19th century) Creation of Nationalist parties: Scottish National Party (SNP) in 1934 Plaid Cymru in 1925, mainly to promote the use of the Welsh language  soon, both parties campaigned for complete INDEPENDENCE from the UK

2. The rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales Mid-20th century: discovery of OIL in the North Sea SNP campaigns: ‘It’s Scotland’s Oil!’  accuses London to take Scottish money when this money could go to solve Scottish problems

SNP Campaign Posters in the 1970s and 1980s

2. The rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales The LABOUR PARTY and Scottish & Welsh independence  supports DEVOLUTION because afraid of total independence DEVOLUTION: political decentralisation in which the UK Parliament remains sovereign but “devolves” or delegates some of its power to other subordinate assemblies or parliaments  Labour would lose important votes for Parliament if Scotland and Wales went away

2. The rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales The CONSERVATIVE PARTY and Scottish and Welsh independence  against any form of devolution  in power from 1979 to 1997, thanks to English votes, which constitute the majority of the country’s votes (80% of the population)  deindustrialization, closing of coalmines, privatisation of national companies… leading to rise of unemployment in Scotland and Wales, most hit areas

Electoral Maps of the UK: How the Nations Vote Differently

3. Devolution Acts 1997: end of Conservative Rule  Tony Blair (Labour) becomes Prime Minister He had promised a referendum on Devolution in Scotland and Wales ‘Do you want a devolved parliament (S)/assembly (W)?’ SCOTLAND: 74.3% YES WALES: 50.3% YES

3.1. DEVOLUTION IN WALES Welsh Assembly in Cardiff at first, weak powers, but since 2011 and a new referendum, law-making powers in certain domains 60 Assembly Members (AMs) First Minister of Wales: Carwyn Jones, Labour Labour majority

3.2. DEVOLUTION IN SCOTLAND Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (Holyrood) strong law-making powers in certain domains, even taxation 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) First Minister: Nicola Sturgeon, SNP SNP majority

DEVOLVED and RESERVED MATTERS Matters devolved to the regional parliament/assembly education health, social welfare agriculture tourism, culture environment transport housing Matters reserved to London parliament in Westminster macroeconomics defense foreign policy immigration oil, gas, nuclear energy benefits and social security, employment trade and industry

4. Scottish Referendum Since 1997, nationalist party in Scotland gained more and more seats in the Scottish Parliament 2011: large majority  Alex Salmond and David Cameron agreed to plan a referendum on Scottish Independence in Sept 2014

4. Scottish Referendum Referendum: ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ Tick YES or NO people from 16 who reside in Scotland can vote

4. Scottish Referendum YES Campaign led by the SNP and the Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond Celebrities’ support: Sean Connery, Ken Loach, Franz Ferdinand… BETTER TOGETHER Campaign supported by Labour, the Tory Party, and the Lib-Dems: all the major parties in the UK Celebrities’ support: David Bowie, JK Rowling, Ewan McGregor…

YES Campaign arguments Scotland could be independent thanks to OIL money Scotland doesn’t vote like rest of the UK (more to the left): end to austerity measures Scotland could promote more social justice and save the Welfare State (health, childhood poverty, end inequalities…)

BETTER TOGETHER Campaign arguments Economic interdependence for more than 300 hundred years Scottish oil will soon run out and Scotland will need British money Economic uncertainty: £ or €? Historical ties with the UK cannot be broken that easily

The results, 19th Sept % TURNOUT only 4 counties out of 32 voted for independence: area around Glasgow, the one that had been the most hit by Tory policies of deindustrialization and privatization in the 1980s Labour, Lib-Dems and the Tories have promised to grant more powers to the Scottish Parliament

Scotland and Wales in the Brexit referendum, 23rd June 2016