Union at the Centre

Abstract

The devolution settlement of 1999 introduced radical changes at the periphery but changed almost nothing at the centre. England remained subject directly to the Westminster Parliament and UK Government, so the system is asymmetrical. Intergovernmental relations are weakly institutionalized. While UK Governments have not systematically intervened in devolved matters, Whitehall departments are often insensitive to the effects of their decisions on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England is not represented in the constitutional settlement but an English level of politics and administration has emerged by subtraction of the devolved territories. An inchoate sense of dissatisfaction has crystalized around the issues of ‘English votes for English laws’ and the supposedly favourable treatment for Scotland I public expenditure. As long as the English Question is poorly specified, a more complete answer to it remains elusive.