| What was the Objectives of Constitutional Reform since 2010? | -Decentralise Power from London and Central Government
-Increase Political Stability via Fixed Election Dates [LD]
-Increase MP's Accountability to Voters [LD]
-Address the 'West-Lothian' Question
-Guarantee that Britain leaves EU [After 2016 Ref] |
| What was the Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011? | -This was to make Dates of Election Time out of Control of PM
-Elections to happen every 5 Years
-Early Election can be Called if 2/3 of HoC of if Government loses a Vote of No Confidence - This has to be a Separate Motion in HoC
-It has now been Repealed at March 2022 |
| What were the Pros of the FTA? | -Act reduced the PM Powers as they can't call a Snap Election to Capitalise on a Favourable Moment. Thatcher did this after Falkland Wars Popularity
-Governments can't tie a Vote on a Ordinary Legislation to a Vote of No Confidence [Major with Maastricht Treaty] making MPs vote more with their Conscience on Important Issues
-Enact more Political Stability which was Needed during the Coalition where Lib Dems or Conservatives could've Withdrawn |
| What were the Cons of the FTA? | -Unpopular Governments may be allowed a 5 Year Term so it will not Weaken Government. Parliament Sovereignty also had led to the Repealing of such Act
-Governments can Manipulate Outcomes to suit them. They may alter Polices that make Voters have a Positive Impact before Election Time, which is Easier to do so when the Election is around the Corner
-Law hasn't prevented Snap Elections. May broke the Spirt of the Law by asking Parliament to Vote for an Election. 2019 saw a Snap Winter Election. Governing Parties to Capitalise on the Polls |
| What happened to Scotland in the Scotland Act 2016? | -More Devolved Powers for the Scottish Government n Parliament
-Focused on Welfare Provision and Payment Levels for some Benefits - Social Security
-Granted the Scots to set rates of Income Tax, and how the Revenue is Spent
-Scottish Government got Half of the Proceeds of VAT in Scotland
-The Act basically accepted that Removal of Scottish Devolution only through a Future Referendum |
| What happened to Wales in the Wales Act 2014? | -Welsh Government had Powers to raise new Forms of Tax and Control the Revenue from them
-2015 allowed the Welsh Assembly over Income Tax Revenue
-2017 allowed the Welsh Assembly to decide over Electoral System [Not General Elections]
-Welsh Assembly --> Parliament. Limited Law Functions
-Wales got Power over Public Services |
| What happened with Mayors and Regions in terms of Devolution from 2017 onwards? | -6 Cites and Regions have Elected Mayors with some Independent Power, like Over planning, Transport, Housing and Policing
-Most Prominent Region is the Greater Manchester Combined Authority [GMCA] |
| What were the Positive Impacts of Further Devolution during the Coalition Government onwards | -Increasing the Power in Scotland would Limit the need for Scottish Independence as Scotland has most Powerful Sub-National Government in Europe
-Wales has seen Devolution as Evolutionary, due to lack of support. Now, Wales has been given more Powers with More Support coming in
-Newly Elected Mayors in England meant Better Representation for Regions and Cities. Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, got Attention for lack of Consolation with Regional Authorities during Covid 19 |
| What were the Negative Impacts of Further Devolution during the Coalition Government onwards? | -Scottish Nationalists believe the Additional Powers after the Scots Referendum don't go Far Enough. Scotland controls their % Rates?
-Powers of Devolved Bodies still under Approval by Westminster. Wales wanted Policing and Justice, UK Government said No
-The Mayors have Limited Powers - October 2020 saw Greater Manchester in a Higher Tier of Lockdown than what the Mayor called for. Large Parts of England is still very Centralised - Inequality in Devolution across Britain? |
| What was the Recall of MPs Act of 2015? | -This gave Constituents the power to get there MP to face a By-Election if found Guilty of Serious Misconduct [Criminal Offense or False Expense Claims, or Suspended from House of Commons]
-Goes forward [By Election] if 10% of Registered Constituents sign a 'Recall Petition' |
| What are the Positive Aspects of the Recall of MPs Act? | -Act aimed to stop Bad Actions, and make it Difficult for MPs to speak their Mind, respecting the Electorate Views. Act is being used as it was Intended - Labour MP: Fiona Onasanya lost her Seat after the Speaker agreed to have a Recall Petition in March 2019
-An Example of Direct Democracy as the Citizens are the ones to Trigger a By Election |
| What are the Negative Aspects of the Recall of MPs Act? | -Recall Attempt doesn't equal Corruption or Wrongdoing will be Punished. Ian Paisley Jr - after Suspension from Parliament due to failing the Hospitability from Sri Lankan Government, didn't have to face a By Election as the Recall Petition didn't gather enough Signatures
-'Recalled MP' can still Stand in the Election, like how Chris Davies did in Brecon and Radnorshire By Election in 2019 August after Falsifying Expense Claims |
| What is the English Votes for English Laws [EVEL] 2015? | -New Parliamentary Procedure where MPs in Welsh, Scottish and NI Constituencies can't vote on Issues affecting only England
-This was trying to Solve the West Lothian Question - the Situation where the UK Parliament is full of English Issues and not Scottish Issues
-First seen in January 2016 when Scottish MPs barred from Voting on the Housing Bill
-Now been Scrapped in 2021 July |
| What are the Positive Aspects of EVEL? | -Proponents say it gets the Right Balance of Representation in Westminster for all UK Citizens, while Tackling the West Lothian Question |
| What are the Negative Aspects of EVEL? | -All MPs can Vote on the Final Reading of the Bill, so Non-English MPs can still Prevent a Bill from Passing. This is what SNP did with the Loosening of Sunday Trading Laws in England
-EVEL gave the Conservatives an Unfair Advantage as it got the Majority of English Seats from 2015 GE onwards. EVEL be used to Increase Dominance of Parliament |
| What was the EU Act 2020? | -This had Confirmed the British Exit from the 1st of February
-Allowed a Transition Period where Britain would be in EU Programmes until the end of 2021
-Special Provisions for Northern Ireland avoiding the Hard Border with Republic of Ireland |
| What were the Positive Aspects of the EU Act 2020? | -Law respected the Call from the Electorate in the 2016 Ref. Given more Legitimacy when the Conservatives in the 2019 GE where the Party to 'get Brexit Done'
-Issue for Northern Ireland and the Disruption to Trade with Republic of Ireland been Sorted [Ish, the Protocol has been Messy]
-Transition Period allowed Britain and the EU to make good Prepayments for Britain's Departure from EU Single Market and other Programmes like Police Cooperation. |
| -What were the Negative Aspects of the EU Act 2020? | -Passing of Act been a Victory for Leave, but didn't Unite the Nation. Brexit had Bitterly Divided the Nation and the Act had little Areas of Compromise that would Satisfy British Division
-Looks to be a Different Set of Trading Arrangements for Northern Ireland [EU Market and British Market] making Confusion. No NI MPs voted for the Law
-Act put off most of the Difficult Shots with Britain's Relationship with the EU - The Trading Relationship... |
