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The Senedd's Rise to Prominence in the COVID-19 Crisis

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the United Kingdom's unwritten constitution continues to be tested by the COVID-19 crisis, the Senedd, Wales' devolved parliament, has gained fresh prominence across all four nations. With powers in healthcare, transport, and education, the Senedd's role in decision-making has made the British state feel increasingly irrelevant, particularly in hospital treatment decisions. The crisis has also highlighted the challenge for Prime Minister Boris Johnson in articulating whether his government speaks for the entire UK, England, or England and Wales.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senedd's powers in healthcare, transport, and education have made the British state feel increasingly irrelevant to the lives of Welsh citizens, particularly in hospital treatment decisions.
  • More than 27m Britons, almost half the total, tuned into Prime Minister Boris Johnson's televised address, but his words were irrelevant to the 10m Britons who live outside of England.
  • The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the misunderstanding and imbalance in the UK's constitution, with the Welsh government's different approach to lockdown measures posing a challenge for Westminster.
  • The crisis has reignited the debate about a federal UK and an English parliament, with some experts suggesting that a failure to address the issue could lead to more successful independence movements.
  • The British prime minister's struggle to articulate his government's role in the UK's response to the crisis has been highlighted, with First Ministers in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland expressing frustration with London's approach.
  • The Senedd's decision to continue with its own lockdown measures has highlighted the practical problems of having different approaches in neighboring nations, with over 130m road journeys taking place across the Wales-England border every year.
  • A former government adviser notes that Whitehall has avoided accepting that it is not governing for the whole of the UK, instead creating a two-tier system of ministers and MPs.

Statistics:

  • 27 million Britons (nearly half the total population) tuned into Prime Minister Boris Johnson's televised address on lockdown measures.
  • 10 million Britons live outside of England, making the Prime Minister's words irrelevant to their daily lives.
  • 130 million road journeys take place across the Wales-England border every year, highlighting the practical problems of having different approaches.
  • The Senedd has powers in healthcare, transport, and education, making the British state feel increasingly irrelevant in hospital treatment decisions.

Sources:

  • Sebastian Payne, "Senedd Cymru's Fresh Prominence in COVID-19 Crisis", The Financial Times.
  • Tony Blair, former Prime Minister, cited on devolution and the UK's constitution.
  • Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, cited on Twitter, expressing frustration with London's approach to lockdown measures.
  • Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales, cited, agreeing with Nicola Sturgeon's stance.
  • Arlene Foster, First Minister of Northern Ireland, cited, expressing similar frustration with London's approach.
  • Daniel Kawczynski, MP, cited, expressing anger at the Welsh government's different approach to lockdown measures.
  • Tam Dalyell, cited, raising the West Lothian question in 1977.

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