The Labour Party's Policy of Asymmetrical Devolution to Gain Scottish Electoral Support An Answer to Why Labour Devolved Differing Levels of Institutional Power to Wales and Scotland in 1999
Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Tegtmeyer-Pak, Katherine
Keywords
Devolution, United Kingdom, British Politics, Scotland, Wales
Area of Concentration
Public Policy
Abstract
In 1999, the Labour Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland established regional parliamentary bodies in Wales and Scotland that differ greatly from each other in terms of power. The Welsh Assembly does not possess the power to introduce primary legislation or to raise taxes. The Scottish Parliament, on the other hand, possesses the power to introduce primary legislation on social, economic, and home affairs, and the power to raise up to three pence on the basic rate of income tax. This thesis asks why two distinct parliamentary institutions with varying degrees of power were established in Wales and Scotland. Two explanations are considered: the historical approach, referred to as the national difference theory (NDT), and an analysis that considers the Labour Party's attempts to attract Scottish electoral votes in key general elections. The national difference theory is ultimately inadequate in answering this question, as it fails to consider the political power Wales and Scotland held during key general elections. This thesis demonstrates that the Labour Party advocated legislative devolution to Scotland, and not to Wales, to gain essential Scottish electoral votes in general elections, most significantly in the 1979 and 1997 elections.
Recommended Citation
Roberts, Tina Marie, "The Labour Party's Policy of Asymmetrical Devolution to Gain Scottish Electoral Support An Answer to Why Labour Devolved Differing Levels of Institutional Power to Wales and Scotland in 1999" (2003). Theses & ETDs. 3299.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3299
Rights
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