A* Essay plan which helped me to achieve 28/30 on the devolution source question in Paper 2 UK Government (June 2022). Replete w/ precise evidence on both sides that drive towards a clear, nuanced argument.
Evaluate the view that devolution should be extended to England [30]
Introduction Define: Argument:
Paragraph 1: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Governance Questions over how successful we can Regional devolution implemented by the
and judge policymaking in Scotland to be: Westminster govt have arguably been
policymaking failed to meet targets across a range of piecemeal reforms without constitutional
NHS indicators for over 5 years. Scotland’s coherence/ a clear constitutional
education and health systems perform framework: devolution deals range from
worse than England’s, despite higher per election of powerful exec mayor in
capita funding. Equally, the Welsh NHS has Manchester (spearheads policymaking on
faced a string of scandals and success has transport, health, infrastructure
not materialized: the avoidable mortality employment etc) to combined authorities
rate in Wales is 16% higher than in with a new elected mayor who exercise far
England. less power (e.g. Cambridge and
English devolution, then, would seemingly Peterborough), and more modest
seemingly improve perceived inequitable/ devolution e.g. in Cornwall with a unitary
underwhelming governance and council.
policymaking. Federalism does not secure Extending these reforms would arguably
regional equality: California’s GDP is ten only further confusion/lack of clarity in w/
times larger than Alabama’s. The costs of political system and costs of regional
regional devolution would be better spent devolution would be better spent on
on government investment, particularly in coordinated government policy.
the midst of the recession from the
pandemic and war in Ukraine.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
Argument 2 fails to acknowledge that Policymaking tends to be London-centric/
individual devolution deals have preserved skewed towards the interests of London
the local identities/ autonomy/ and the South: in Nov 2021, it was
governance of regions and allowed announced that most of HS2 from
flexibility in the political system. A Birmingham to Leeds and York would be
comprehensive vision of regional scrapped. Inequitable policymaking and
devolution fails to account for this, has led to + justified calls for further
particularly as some regions have different regional devolution, which would alleviate
institutional capacities. these divides/ inequalities.
e.g. council in Cornwall has called for The government’s Covid response was also
further devolution without a mayor, London-centric: critics pointed out that
arguing that the mayor model is not when case numbers soared in the north
compatible with the vast/ rural nature of but remained low in London, the capital
Cornwall and would be opposed – enjoyed freedom whilst the North were
different characteristics to Manchester. subject to restrictions e.g. for most of the
Further devolution in this sense is thus latter half of 2020, large swathes of the
desirable. Improves policy-making (and south remained under Tier One and Two,
more targeted – see next point): Scottish while most of the North were in 3 & 4.
legislation e.g. public smoking ban in 2005 When the reverse was true, e.g. in Nov
adopted in England in 2005, and Welsh 2020, entire country was placed in
laws e.g. establishment of Children’s lockdown.
Commissioner in 2001 have also been In October 2020 Manchester’s metro
adopted. mayor, Andy Burnham, argued
that insufficient financial support was
offered to businesses forced to shutter by
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