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Devolution Max: United but Apart? Part 3

This article delves into the debate over the extent of power the Scottish Parliament should have and how it should be exercised. It explores public opinion on decision-making for Scotland, covering topics such as taxation, government spending, benefits, and autonomy. The text presents statistics and viewpoints on whether the Scottish Parliament or the UK government should have authority over various policy areas, highlighting shifts in public sentiment towards greater autonomy while also revealing some reluctance in areas like income tax and pensions.

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Devolution Max: United but Apart? Part 3

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  1. Devolution Max: United but Apart?

  2. Part 3 • How much more power should Holyrood have? • How should that power be exercised?

  3. Who make key decisions for Scotland about?

  4. A More Specific Approach

  5. Some Comparisons

  6. Asking about Decisions • Which of the statements on this card comes closest to your view about who should make government decisions for Scotland? • The Scottish Parliament should make all the decisions for Scotland • The UK government should make decisions about defence and foreign affairs; the Scottish Parliament should decide everything else • The UK government should make decisions about taxes, benefits and defence and foreign affairs; the Scottish Parliament should decide the rest • The UK government should make all decisions for Scotland

  7. Increased Demand for Autonomy

  8. Meanings have shifted? • 76% of those in favour of independence want all decisions made by SP (2010: 66%) • Amongst supporters of devolution: • 28% now want all decisions made by SP, up from 17% • 37% now want all bar foreign & defence, up from 20%

  9. Who wants more autonomy?

  10. Specifically on Tax and Spend • Which of the following comes closest to your view about who should decide the level of taxation and government spending in Scotland? • The Scottish Parliament alone should decide… • The Scottish Parliament and the UK Government should both have the power… • The UK Government alone should decide…

  11. Again More Demand for Autonomy

  12. Doesn’t frighten the horses quite so much

  13. Accepting the implications? • Thinking about the level of benefits for unemployed people, do you think these should be … • ...the same everywhere in the UK, • or, should the Scottish Parliament be allowed to increase or decrease these in Scotland?

  14. Apparently Not

  15. A Muddled Question? • One possible answer says only that ‘things should be the same everywhere in the UK’ without indicating who makes the decision • The other possible answer – ‘the Scottish Parliament should be allowed to increase/decrease’ mixes the two • Better to keep them separate?

  16. An alternative • Thinking about the tuition fees that university students might be asked to pay, should these… • …always be the same in Scotland as they are in England, or • …is it OK for them to be different in Scotland – either higher or lower – than they are in England? • Country order can be swopped around • Can be systematically analysed against new who should make decisions questions

  17. Seems to make a difference

  18. However, on Tax and Pensions

  19. No matter how you ask it

  20. Could Holyrood Please Pay English Pensions

  21. And some reluctance for Holyrood to introduce different income tax…

  22. …and tuition fees

  23. Conclusion • People are willing for Holyrood to make decisions about income tax and pensions • Indeed demand for autonomy greater than 12 months ago, such that ‘independence’ more popular than ‘devo max’ (but still supported by less than half) • But a degree of reluctance to accept idea that income tax and pensions might be different than in England

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