A new era for devolution?

The country has finally gotten a new government after all of the events that happened before the last general election. It means a big shift in the way this country is governed and a very different way forward. The country went from a one-party Conservative Government to a six-party coalition government, in which four parties have no electoral roots in England. The involvement of those four parties means something that we’ve never seen before in this country, the closest thing we’ve had was the agreement between the Conservatives and DUP back when Theresa May was leader.

The involvement of the Alliance Party, the SDLP, Alba and Plaid Cymru means that four parties who are only rooted in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, are suddenly responsible for policies to improve the entire United Kingdom and not only focus on their respective devolved nation. Their involvement means that for the first time devolved parties are a part of the national government, but more importantly three parties that ran on a policy of independence of the United Kingdom are now responsible for running the country and running England-only departments.

The importance of devolved parties

The importance of the involvement of devolved parties is clear and lined out by all party leaders. The Leader of Alba, zakian3000, mentioned that “It’s only with getting Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish voices into government that we can ensure the direction of the UK government is in the best interests of those respective areas.” The Leader of Alliance, model-ben, the Secretary of State for Devolved Affairs, outlined that “It is very important that devolved nations have a voice in Government via their own parties.”

The inclusion of two Northern Ireland parties means that both seats in Northern Ireland are represented in the new government. The inclusion of the SDLP will no doubt mean a closer relationship with the Republic of Ireland. “It also means that we have a voice that can push back against any measures which would increase tensions and sectarianism. Which at times can be needed,” says the Leader of the SDLP, Lady_Aya.

The influence of the devolved parties is abundantly clear in the King’s Speech: the revision of the devolved funding formula, HS2 consequentials for Wales, the devolution of justice, policing and broadcasting to Wales, the Northern Irish Bill of Rights, the reforms to the Northern Ireland Executive, all policies that are important to these four parties. The first bill being read in the House of Commons is a passion for the SDLP Leader, having minimum wages devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. This only shows the influence of a devolved party in this new Government.

Independence?

The three parties who support independence from the United Kingdom: SDLP, Plaid Cymru and Alba, are now responsible for running departments that are primarily responsible for England, namely EFRA, Health and Culture respectively. The Leader of Alba and the SDLP were firm in that this wouldn’t be an issue, while the Leader of Plaid Cymru said that “ultimately Plaid Cymru supports policies we believe will benefit Wales.”

The difference was also present in their goals for independence of their respective nations. The support for independence is differing in the three devolved nations, where there was substantial support for independence in Scotland and Northern Ireland in the past, this has been less present in Wales. The adamant continuing support for independence from within government is therefore a surprising one.

The Leader of Alba stands firm in their wish for independence for Scotland, but looks at it from a realistic point of view, “independence isn’t going to happen this term, both because unionist parties did win more votes than nationalist ones in the Scottish region in the election.”

“Plaid Cymru will never betray our values and foundational policy of securing independence for Wales,” says the Leader of Plaid Cymru, having a more hardline approach to the independence question from within Government. The nationalist voice of Northern Ireland in Government, the Leader of the SDLP was also clear that they are “a Nationalist and that has not ended. Everyone in the Government is also aware of it. There is no reason why I would backslide on reunification at all.”

Model-Ben, Leader of Alliance made a completely different call on this issue, saying that “I don’t believe independence or too strong nationalism is on the table.” The Alliance Party takes a different view, which is understandable considering their position as an Other-party in Northern Ireland.

The future

The four devolved parties in this Government are certainly divided on the issues of independence and the pursuit of this from within Government, but the majority of unionist and neutral parties will not go through with that. But the importance of the devolved parties in this government is clear, their fingerprints are all over the King’s Speech, only the future will tell the real importance of their involvement in this government and how the voice for independence will be a silent volcano for this government.