Why Is The U K Government Not Making The Rules For The U K?

[ToraToraTora]

Surely it's adding to the confusion with NI, Wales and Scotland doing their own thing.

[Gromit]

It is called devolved Government.
It’s been around for years.
Any confusion is the Westminster Government’s doing.

[woofgang]

I don't think there was any confusion....they kept saying England only.

[douglas9401]

Health is a devolved matter.

[ToraToraTora]

devolved, sure but UK must have overriding powers, better than having 4 sets of rules.

[ToraToraTora]

another consequence of St Tony's folly.

[New Judge]

The confusion arises due to the ridiculous devolution arrangements put in place by the Blair administration. Devolution should not have extended beyond emptying the bins, fixing the pavements and changing the lightbulbs in the streetlamps. It is ludicrous that an issue like tackling the virus problem is subject to different approaches. The Statutory Instrument that restricts movement is effective throughout the UK. The guidance on its implementation should be likewise.

[andy-hughes]

I wonder if the virus has been advised that once it crosses borders, the rules change?

Probably not.

[Togo]

This may yet ultimately bring to a head the issue of all of the other parts of the Union having a discreet parliamentary processes of their own, except England. The sooner there is a proper devolved England the better for all concerned instead of a system that allows all the rest a separate voice/complaint/opinion and no such thing for the English. If they truly wanted full independence they would insist that the people of England were included in the polling process. They would get their "freedom" alright. Bring it on.

[douglas9401]

Be careful what you wish for. :-)

[New Judge]

There would be no need for an English Parliament if there were not the devolved assemblies. That's where the problem lies. The UK is a single sovereign nation. I personally would abolish all levels of government below the national version, from devolved assemblies down to parish councils. There's simply no need for them. But I appreciate that's a bit of a stretch for some. But there is certainly no need for "Parliaments" for the minor constituents and this problem clearly indicates why that is so.

[Togo]

//But there is certainly no need for "Parliaments" for the minor constituents and this problem clearly indicates why that is so.//

Judge. With respect....they are there now. There is no going back. Blair swapped the cow for a handful of magic beans. The only way to now counter the imbalance is for England to have it's own Parliament. It matters not whether this means the closure of Westminster as a governing body of the old Union. It no longer has the authority to do so by default. Either close it and sell the place to the Arabs and move the English Parliament to the provinces where it began or make it the new seat of an English Parliament and close down the redundant House of Lords. I would be hitting the reset button and moving along with reality as the English have always done.

[ToraToraTora]

judge " I personally would abolish all levels of government below the national version, from devolved assemblies down to parish councils. There's simply no need for them. " - bang on judge, said the same many times.

[New Judge]

Indeed Togo. The lesser of two evils.

[ToraToraTora]

togs, yes difficult to undo but it's sad we have all these snouts in the trough.

[tomus42]

NJ // It is ludicrous that an issue like tackling the virus problem is subject to different approaches.//

I agree. There is no sense to it at all. They should have organised a co-ordinated response.

[shoota]

The last thing we need is a multi-layered administration such as the Americans have saddled themselves with.
Therein lies madness.

[THECORBYLOON]

"The Statutory Instrument that restricts movement is effective throughout the UK"

NJ, if you mean The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) 2020, there are separate Statutory Instruments for each country.

[Peter Pedant]

why are there four nations and govt in the UK
something called devolution
which you must have voted for but didnt notice

devolved, sure but UK must have overriding powers, better than having 4 sets of rules.
so they can decide what they want but if it is different to London, the London - with tory MPs NONE of which are north of the border can over rule them
er yes

[jim360]

I'd tend to agree, but the counterpoint is in the Government's own document:

// Restrictions may be adjusted by the devolved administrations at a different pace in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland because the level of infection - and therefore the risk - will differ. Similarly in England, the Government may adjust restrictions in some regions before others: a greater risk in Cornwall should not lead to disproportionate restrictions in Newcastle if the risk is lower. //

[fiction-factory]

It's inevitable that when the devolved assemblies are run by parties totally opposed to the Conservatives, whom they regard as the representatives of England only, those devolved governments will want to create a distinction between their position and the UK government's position. It's similar to what happened with Brexit.

Nicola Sturgeon is canny and knows she cannot fail with her position. First it plays to the nationalists. Second if there is a spike in England she can say Scotland was right to wait. If the situation worsens in Scotland she can say how much worse it could have been if they had relaxed it like in England. If there is no second spike in England and the situation improves in Scotland she can slowly start to relax things in Scotland the time right for Scotland.
The other advantage to creating a difference in approach is that they claim the UK government's policies and guidance are inconsistent across the UK and they know it gives Labour leverage in that area
too.