Devolution and a coalition government

We have been told – and indeed it seems self-evident – that the policy battleground for this election is around austerity, spending plans and the NHS. Unless of course you live in Scotland. Then that D word looms large (devolution that is). You have to get to page 62 of the Labour manifesto for any mention of it. The Tories manifesto regurgitates the promise of English MPs, a veto over matters that only affect England, although extending this policy to financial matters – including the possibility of an English income tax rate if the matter has been devolved elsewhere.  

However  it is not beyond the realms of possibility that devolution could become a huge political football in the days and weeks after the General Election. All the polling suggests a coalition government, the only uncertainty is who will be getting into bed with who.

One scenario is that Labour will form a minority government, reliant on the support of the SNP to function effectively. And as we know from 2010, there will be some horse trading that goes with this – along the lines of the Lib Dem’s sacrificing tuition fees pledges for the AV referendum.

It has already been reported that the SNP would demand an extra £180bn of state spending as the price of supporting a minority Labour government and a relaxation on austerity measures. But beyond that lies interesting possibilities including support for constitutional reform in England that has alluded us for so long. This has to exceed what so far has been promised in any of the published party manifestos so far.  It must have real clout for those parts of the country that feel totally alienated from the London-centric bubble we live in. 

Of course there is more than one scenario. If the Conservatives have the largest number of seats without an overall majority, they will have to find a willing bedfellow. The Lib Dem’s may well fill that role – BUT Clegg as self-appointed kingmaker has to retain his seat, leaving much speculation around UKIP and the Ulster Unionists. Whatever happens if the Tories do form the next government they are on course to come to blows with the SNP over English Votes for English Laws. Nicola Sturgeon  has been unequivocal that SNP MPs would vote on English matters, bringing the whole devolution debate centre stage.

The fact that Labour has put House of Lords reform back on the table is to be welcomed. Let’s use what support  we can including the SNP to move quickly to get an elected second Chamber with proper regional representation. Most importantly, let’s be prepared. Worryingly there is still no consensus in the North about the form, shape and type of devolution. In two regions, there are at least three separate campaigns for devolved bodies. Even within the Labour Party, support is patchy for the super LEPs model proposed by Lord Adonis.

If there is an opportunity for a genuine constitutional settlement for England that includes meaningful devolution (and NOT an English parliament since that is essentially more of the same), then it’s likely to happen in those heady few months of a new coalition government. No government gives power away easily, least of all to those of us in England. Maybe this will be our time.

Jane Thomas @janekeighley

2 thoughts on “Devolution and a coalition government

  1. The House of Lords debate back on the agenda again, god help how many more times does it have to be debated, we are not bloody stupid for god sake.

    The rest of iot I think labour will do a deal with nobody except the right of center Tories, telling us it the only way of dealing with the crises formation of a crises party.

    Blair will be saying good well done we have done the deal to have a right wing labour party in bed with the right wing Tories that should fix us all up for five years of austerity.

    I think your looking in the wrong direction for coalitions.

  2. in a workshop attended 50 years ago at the oxford playhouse it was stated that the love shown in congreve’s “way of the world” centred on material advantages rather than real empathy and mutual passion.
    a bad coalition prospect for the key protagonists

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