Devolution and Unity: Scotland, Wales, and England Through Different Lenses

For more than two decades, devolution has reshaped the United Kingdom. Scotland has its own Parliament, Wales its Senedd, and Northern Ireland its Assembly. England, meanwhile, is governed primarily from Westminster but has a growing network of mayors and councils with devolved powers.

This patchwork is often celebrated as a way to bring decision-making closer to people. Yet it has also become a fault line in British politics. For some, devolution is a step toward independence. For others, it is the best chance of preserving the Union.

Why Scotland Sees It One Way

In Scotland, devolution has always carried the shadow of independence. For many Scots, the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 was not the end of the story but the beginning of a journey. It gave a national identity political expression. The 2014 independence referendum showed just how deep the debate runs, and the Brexit vote intensified it. Scotland largely voted to remain in the EU, and many felt they were pulled out against their will.

For independence supporters, devolution is not enough. They see it as a halfway house that highlights the limits of Scottish self-determination. For unionists, devolution is proof that the Union can be flexible and inclusive, offering Scotland a voice while maintaining unity.

Why Wales Sees It Another Way

Wales has taken a different path. The Senedd was born with more limited powers and less initial enthusiasm. Over time, though, it has grown in authority, especially over health and education. For many Welsh people, devolution is about practicality more than identity: a chance to tailor policies to local needs, rather than a stepping stone to separation.

Still, the idea of independence has gained some ground, particularly after Brexit and during the pandemic, when Welsh leaders took distinct decisions. Yet it has never carried the same weight as in Scotland. For most, devolution is a way of balancing local control with the benefits of being part of the UK.

England’s Uneasy Place

England is the quiet giant of devolution. With no Parliament of its own, it dominates Westminster by size, population, and economy. Yet many English voters feel their regions are overlooked. Calls for more power to the North, to cities like Manchester or Liverpool, reflect frustration that decisions are made in London without regard for local needs.

For some, “English votes for English laws” was an attempt to correct this imbalance, but it never fully resolved the tension. England’s dominance creates an irony: it has the most power in the Union, yet often feels the least represented as a distinct nation.

What Holds It Together — and What Pulls It Apart

At heart, the debate about devolution is about identity and trust. Scots who feel their nation is culturally and politically distinct look to independence. Welsh voters balance pride in their identity with recognition of economic ties to the UK. English voters wrestle with the sense that their national identity is submerged in “Britishness,” even as they dominate the Union’s institutions.

Psychology tells us people want both recognition and belonging. Too little recognition, and they feel erased. Too little belonging, and they feel isolated. Devolution is Britain’s ongoing attempt to give its nations both — but it often falls short.

A Way Forward

If devolution is to strengthen the UK rather than weaken it, it must be framed not as reluctant compromise but as mutual respect. The Union survives when Scots, Welsh, English, and Northern Irish people feel both proud of their distinct identities and invested in a shared project.

That means listening seriously to independence debates without dismissing them as fringe. It means giving English regions more genuine power, not token gestures. And it means recognising that the future of the Union will not be decided in Westminster alone but in conversations held in homes, workplaces, and town halls across the country.

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🌼 At The Daisy Chain, we believe the future of Britain is not only about whether the Union holds, but about whether its nations can feel both distinct and united. Devolution is not the end of that story. It is the beginning of how we learn to live together with dignity and respect.