DEVOLUTION IN ENGLAND
THE NATURE OF DEVOLUTION
There is no devolution to English regions in the same sense that there is devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In 2004 a referendum was held in Northeast England to gauge support for regional devolution of powers. However, this was rejected by 77% of voters.
It is assymettrical, meaning that the 3 regions haven't been granted the same powers.
Powers were devolved to a London mayor and assembly in 1999. These include powers over planning, social housing, arts subsidies, public transport, policing and emergency services.
The size of devolution grants has been calculated using the 'Barnett formula', which takes account of the fact that the three areas have greater needs than England.
Considerable powers were devolved to Manchester in 2017 - include powers over NHS spending.
Devolution is the process whereby power, but not legal sovereignty, is distributed away from central govts to regional govts (in the case of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
PROCESS UNDER LABOUR
Directly Elected Mayors (Labour, 2000) - based on American style city mayors. People can call a referendum on establishing a directly elected mayor. They are then elected by SV and take on most of the powers of the council (which becomes a scrutinising and reviewing body).
As of yet most areas haven't adopted directly elected mayors, and some have and then voted to change back. For example, the Mayor of Torbay position was abolished in 2019 after a referendum held in May 2016.
Greater London Assembly (Labour, 2000). A London wide assembly sitting outside of the various London councils and scrutinising the directly elected Mayor of London in his role (which covers cross London issues like Transport, Policing and environment). Elected by AMS.
PROCESS UNDER THE COALITION
Localism (Coalition, 2011). The Localism Act gave more powers to local councils, most significantly to do anything not prohibited by law. Also gave more power to local people to call referendums, with compulsory referendums on things like large council tax increases, and to local groups to bid to take on council buildings and services.
Police & Crime Commissioners (Coalition, 2011). Directly elected Police & Crime Commissioners were elected to replace Police Authorities in having oversight of the police (setting priorities and budget, hiring and firing the Chief Constable). They don't manage day to day policing but are supposed to provide more accountability for the overall running of the police.
PROCESS UNDER TORIES
West Lothian Question - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can vote on Westminster's issues but Westminster can't vote on theirs.
EVEL was scrapped in 2020, because it made laws take longer, and it made no real difference (no law was every stopped because of it).
English Votes for English Laws (Conservatives, 2015). A change to Parliament's rules to mean that bills only covering England need majority support from MPs only from those areas, and to be passed by Parliament overall. It was introduced to solve the West Lothian Question.
City Devolution Deals (Conservatives, 2016 and onwards). The passing down of strategic powers over housing, transport, planning and policing to large areas (mostly cities and some counties). These areas mostly consist of several councils, so the powers are exercised by a 'constituent body' with the leaders of the council working together.
Metro Mayors (Conservatives, 2017). Directly elected 'Metro Mayors' of these constituent bodies, e.g. a Mayor of the West of England combined authority, a Mayor of Greater Manchester etc.