Opposition to devolution in the United Kingdom

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Labelled map of the varying levels of devolution in the United Kingdom as of 2025. Devolution in the United Kingdom map.svg
Labelled map of the varying levels of devolution in the United Kingdom as of 2025.

Opposition to devolution in the United Kingdom has taken different forms over time. Historically anti-devolution sentiment was stronger in both major parties of the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, but after 1999 with the founding of the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), and the Northern Ireland Assembly, support for devolution has become dominant with anti-devolution parties being relatively minor. In the 1970s, plans for devolution failed until the elections to the new legislatures 1999. [1]

Contents

England

Opposition to devolution in England raised by the "West Lothian question" has lead to demands for "English votes for English laws". [2] The English Devolution White Paper has been controversial. [3] Opposition to metro mayors stems from concerns about democracy with critics often arguing that they are unnecessary layers of government. [4]

North of England

Opposition to devolution succeeded with the result of the 2004 North East England devolution referendum. [5] The Yorkshire Party looks specifically at the issue of a devolved assembly for Yorkshire. [6] [7]

South of England

A number of anti-devolution Conservative Essex MPs opposed proposals for a mayor of Greater Essex in 2024. [8] [9]

Northern Ireland

Opposition to devolution in Northern Ireland primarily stems from concerns about power-sharing arrangements particularly among unionist parties. [10] Complexities in the political institutions have been blamed for distrust in political parties as well as support for Irish unity. [11] [12]

Scotland

The 1979 Scottish devolution referendum failed to establish a devolved assembly. [13] The Scottish Parliament was established by the 1997 Scottish devolution referendum. [14] In 2014, all the three main unionist parties support devolution. [15]

Scottish issues

The "It's Scotland's oil" issue lead to the decline in opposition to devolution in the 1970s. [16] [17]

Scottish Labour

The early Scottish Labour Party founded by Keir Hardie had a firm policy of Scottish Home Rule. [18] anti-devolution Labour MP George Cunningham introduced an amendment a 40% rule for the 1979 Scottish devolution referendum. [19] [20] Tam Dalyell was a prominent opponent of devolution. [21] He warned that it would become a "motorway without exit to a separate state". [22] Helen Liddell as Labour's Scottish general secretary refused to campaign with the SNP for devolution. [23] Labour leader John Smith described devolution as the "settled will of the Scottish people". [24] Lord Robertson famously claimed devolution would "kill nationalism stone dead". [25]

Scottish Conservatives

In March 1968, Conservative leader Edward Heath committed the party to Scottish devolution. [26] The Conservatives opposed devolution in the 1979 Scottish devolution referendum and the 1997 Scottish devolution referendum. [27]

In 2007, Annabel Goldie, said her party was committed to making the current devolved powers work. [28] As leader Ruth Davidson moved the p[arty to a pro-devolutionist position while keeping strongly unionist, when she proposed income tax powers in a no vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. [29] In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Conservatives pledged to make use of devolved powers. [30] In 2023, David Frost, Baron Frost made comments on "rolling back devolution" which were criticised by Scottish Conservatives. [31] [32] Today only few Scottish Conservative politicians openly oppose devolution. [33]

Scottish National Party

The Scottish National Party was founded in 1934 through an amalgamation of the National Party of Scotland and the Scottish Party. [34] The party has long advocated for home rule for Scotland. [35] However some radical nationalists often argue that Scottish devolution does not go far enough in achieving Scottish independence. [36] The SNP has supported further devolution while in government. [37]

Wales

Welsh issues

In Wales devolution began with the creation of the Welsh Board for Education in 1907 and the disestablishment of the Anglican Church in Wales in 1920. [38] Issues today include a proposed Welsh justice system. [39] Opponents include deputy leader of Welsh Labour Carolyn Harris. [40] Other concerns include a proposed Welsh independence referendum, which has been ruled out even by supporters Plaid Cymru for their first term in government if elected. [41]

Welsh Labour

Labour opposed devolution to Wales in the 20th century primarily due to concerns about the potential for increased nationalism and the belief that it could undermine socialist principles and be divisive between speakers of English and Welsh languages. [42] The Labour government elected in the 1945 United Kingdom general election was rigorously centralist, with Aneurin Bevan who was contemptuous of any concession to Welsh nationalism. [43] In the 1970s it became Labour policy to support devolution. [44] One of the biggest anti-devolutionists was Neil Kinnock who campaigned against it in the 1979 Welsh devolution referendum. [45] [46] This was against the Callaghan government which was in favour of devolution in Wales. [47]

The Blair's government introduced Welsh devolution after 1997. [48] Today the Labour government opposes further devolution to Wales including rail. [49] Labour members of the Senedd have been extremely critical of Keir Starmer in regards to further devolution, including First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan. [50] [51] [52] Lee Waters has accused Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens as being the "most anti-devolution Labour Welsh secretary" in half a century. [53] This has encouraged the strategy of clear red water between UK Labour and Welsh Labour. [54]

Welsh Conservatives

The Welsh Conservatives campaigned against devolution in the 1979 Welsh devolution referendum and the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum. [55] Presently the party is split between pro-devolution and anti-devolution camps. [56] In 2025, leader Darren Millar dismissed calls to scrap Wales' devolved parliament. [57] The party's previous leader Andrew RT Davies faced criticism for raising the debate on devolution at an agricultural show in 2024. [58]

Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru is known for campaigning for Welsh independence as well as devolution. [59] They have seen devolution as a stepping stone towards further autonomy. [60] Some Welsh nationalists oppose devolution on the basis of it preventing full independence and self-governance for Wales. [61] This is partly due to the limited powers granted to the Senedd. [62]

Welsh Liberals/Liberal Democrats

Opposition to devolution among Liberals has been a minority position. The Welsh Liberal Party originally raised the debate of self-government in the late 19th century. [63] David Lloyd George initially supported Welsh devolution but later opposed it due to concerns caused by the Irish Civil War. [64] Today the Welsh Liberal Democrats are a strongly devolutionist party. [65]

Other parties in Wales

The UK Independence Party was previously split on the issue of devolution. [66] The Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party are a single-issue party who campaign to abolish devolution. [67] The Brexit Party in Wales fell apart over disagreements over their newly anti-devolution stance with Caroline Jones forming the Independent Alliance for Reform. [68] In September 2025, Reform UK ruled out including abolition of the Senedd in their upcoming manifesto, after Laura Anne Jones, the party's sole Member of the Senedd, made comments that it cannot be ruled out. [69] [70] The Wales Green Party are a pro-independence party. [71]

Anti-devolution parties

References

  1. ↑ Wintour, Patrick (2014-09-10). "Scottish independence: how the Tories became pariahs". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  2. ↑ Gover, Daniel; Kenny, Michael (17 February 2018). "Answering the West Lothian Question? A Critical Assessment of 'English Votes for English Laws' in the UK Parliament".
  3. ↑ "Nine things we learned from the English devolution white paper". Institute for Government. 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  4. ↑ "British Academy study reveals scepticism and confusion over newly-elected metro mayors". The British Academy. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  5. ↑ "North East votes 'no' to assembly". BBC News . 2004-11-05. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  6. ↑ Drury, Colin (3 November 2020). "An independent north? What an England severed in two might look like". The Independent.
  7. ↑ Shaw, Keith; Robinson, Fred; Blackie, Jonathan (13 June 2014). "Borderlands: Rescaling economic development in Northern England in the context of greater Scottish autonomy" . Local Economy. 29 (4–5): 412–428. doi:10.1177/0269094214537959. S2CID   154321008.
  8. ↑ Dedman, Simon; Walker, Peter (18 October 2023). "Greater Essex deal: Mark Francois MP criticises 'white elephant'". BBC News. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Meyler, Piers (14 February 2024). "Essex 'will get devolution deal despite pause due to MPs' concerns". Essex Live. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Northern Ireland: The Peace Process, Ongoing Challenges, and U.S. Interests". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  11. ↑ "Devolution: the pathway ahead for Northern Ireland". BBC News. 2014-11-02. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  12. ↑ Leahy, Pat. "Support for Irish unification growing in Northern Ireland, poll finds". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  13. ↑ "Scottish independence: The story of the 1979 devolution debate". BBC News. 2014-09-17. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  14. ↑ "Scottish devolution referendum: The birth of a parliament". BBC News. 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  15. ↑ Simonjohnson, Simon Johnson (2014-09-09). "Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats agree Scottish devolution timetable". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  16. ↑ "The truth behind Scotland's oil and the McCrone Report". The National. 2025-02-27. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  17. ↑ "What actually happened to Scotland's trillions in North Sea oil boom?". The Herald. 2021-11-14. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  18. ↑ "BBC News | Talking Politics | The history of Scottish devolution". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  19. ↑ "Scotland Back in the Day: 1979's 40 rule cooked the books against devolution". The National. 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  20. ↑ "Scotland's 1979 devolution plans: 40 years on from the 'Yes' vote that wasn't". Edinburgh News. 2019-03-01. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  21. ↑ Unit, The Constitution (2019-05-06). "The narrative of devolution twenty years on". The Constitution Unit Blog. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  22. ↑ "The evolution of devolution: 25 years of the Scottish Parliament". BBC News. 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  23. ↑ "40 years on: Never forget how Scotland was cheated out of devolution". The National. 2019-03-01. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  24. ↑ "BBC News | Talking Politics | The history of Scottish devolution". BBC News . Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  25. ↑ "The evolution of devolution: 25 years of the Scottish Parliament". BBC News. 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  26. ↑ "The Tories and their rocky relationship with devolution". BBC News. 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  27. ↑ "Scottish independence: The story of the 1979 devolution debate". BBC News. 2014-09-17. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  28. ↑ "The Tories and their rocky relationship with devolution". BBC News. 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  29. ↑ Ross, Jamie (2014-06-02). "The Tories and their rocky relationship with devolution". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  30. ↑ "Scottish election 2021: Scottish Conservative policies explained". 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  31. ↑ "Where do Tories stand in post-Sturgeon Scotland?". BBC News. 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  32. ↑ "Tory peer's suggestion of rolling back devolution condemned by party colleagues". The Independent. 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  33. ↑ Eardley, Nick (2020-11-17). "Why the PM's devolution 'disaster' comments matter". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  34. ↑ "Scottish Referendums". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  35. ↑ "Scottish Referendums". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  36. ↑ Unit, The Constitution (2019-05-06). "The narrative of devolution twenty years on". The Constitution Unit Blog. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  37. ↑ "How is the 'killing the SNP stone dead' project going?". BBC News. 2015-02-04. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  38. ↑ "History of Devolution". senedd.wales. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  39. ↑ Mansfield, Mark (2025-07-14). "Full devolution of justice to Wales 'not on the agenda'". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  40. ↑ NationCymru (2022-12-14). "Welsh Labour deputy leader opposition to justice powers shows party still 'anti-devolution' says Plaid MP". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  41. ↑ "Plaid Cymru rules out Welsh independence vote in first term". www.bbc.com. 2025-05-08. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  42. ↑ "The Welsh devolution referendum, 1 March 1979". Martin Johnes. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  43. ↑ "BBC Wales - History - Themes - Chapter 22: A new nation". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  44. ↑ "BBC Wales - History - Themes - Welsh language: Devolution". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  45. ↑ Mansfield, Mark (2024-03-10). "How the 1984 miners' strike paved the way for devolution in Wales". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  46. ↑ "BBC Wales - History - Themes - Neil Kinnock". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  47. ↑ Mansfield, Mark (2024-02-15). "Neil Kinnock, Labour's most prominent anti-devolutionist, backs Vaughan Gething for First Minister". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  48. ↑ "How Welsh devolution has evolved over two decades". BBC News. 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  49. ↑ Bright, Kyle (2026-01-23). "Labour MPs 'not convinced' over devolution of rail to Wales". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  50. ↑ "Welsh Labour MSs accuse Sir Keir Starmer of rolling back devolution". BBC News. 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  51. ↑ Woodward, Hannah (22 January 2026). "Welsh first minister accuses Westminster of treating Wales unfairly". Sky News . Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  52. ↑ "Sir Keir Starmer needs to act to stop separatists running Wales, Eluned Morgan says". BBC News. 2026-01-22. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  53. ↑ Davies, Cemlyn (2 January 2026). "Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens is anti-devolution, former minister claims". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  54. ↑ "Welsh Labour is set apart from UK party - Eluned Morgan". BBC News . 2025-09-14. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  55. ↑ "A new path: How have the Welsh Tories navigated their devolution journey". The National. 2021-03-21. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  56. ↑ "The devolution debate dividing the Welsh Tories". BBC News. 2025-05-13. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  57. ↑ "Welsh Conservatives: scrapping Senedd for the birds - Millar". BBC News. 2025-05-15. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  58. ↑ "Tory peer criticises Welsh leader's abolish Senedd poll". BBC News. 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  59. ↑ Casciani, Dominic (2024-06-13). "Plaid Cymru manifesto: 11 key policies analysed". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  60. ↑ "What does Plaid Cymru stand for?". The Independent. 2025-10-24. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  61. ↑ "Is backing Welsh independence the same as being a nationalist? Not necessarily – Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data" . Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  62. ↑ "Welsh independence". Institute for Government. 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  63. ↑ "BBC Wales - History - Themes - Welsh language: Devolution". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  64. ↑ "Lloyd George at 150". Institute of Welsh Affairs. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  65. ↑ "Call for full devolution of rail powers to Wales". Cambrian News. 2026-01-19. Archived from the original on 2026-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  66. ↑ "UKIP MEP John Bufton's Welsh anti-devolution party idea". BBC News. 2013-07-07. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  67. ↑ "Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party: 'Difficult to see the benefit of devolution'". BBC News. 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  68. ↑ "Brexit Party politician quits Senedd group". BBC News. 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  69. ↑ "Is abolition of the Senedd Reform party policy or not?". BBC News. 2025-09-06. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  70. ↑ "Reform not ruling out scrapping Senedd, politician says". BBC News. 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  71. ↑ Gosley, Ellie (2026-01-22). "People in Wales are not treated fairly compared to those in England, claims FM". Wales Online. Retrieved 2026-01-26.

See also

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