Opposition todevolution in the United Kingdom has taken different forms over time. Historically anti-devolution sentiment was stronger in both major parties of the United Kingdom, theConservative Party and theLabour Party, but after 1999 with the founding of theScottish Parliament, theSenedd (Welsh Parliament), and theNorthern Ireland Assembly, support for devolution has become dominant with anti-devolution parties being relatively minor. In the 1970s, plans for devolution failed until the elections to the new legislatures 1999.^[1]

Opposition to devolution in England raised by the "West Lothian question" has lead to demands for "English votes for English laws".^[2] TheEnglish Devolution White Paper has been controversial.^[3] Opposition to metro mayors stems from concerns about democracy with critics often arguing that they are unnecessary layers of government.^[4]

Opposition to devolution succeeded with the result of the2004 North East England devolution referendum.^[5] TheYorkshire Party looks specifically at the issue of a devolved assembly forYorkshire.^[6][7]

A number of anti-devolution ConservativeEssex MPs opposed proposals for a mayor ofGreater Essex in 2024.^[8][9]

Opposition to devolution inNorthern Ireland primarily stems from concerns about power-sharing arrangements particularly among unionist parties.^[10] Complexities in the political institutions have been blamed for distrust in political parties as well as support forIrish unity.^[11][12]

The1979 Scottish devolution referendum failed to establish a devolved assembly.^[13] TheScottish Parliament was established by the1997 Scottish devolution referendum.^[14] In 2014, all the three main unionist parties support devolution.^[15]

The "It's Scotland's oil" issue lead to the decline in opposition to devolution in the 1970s.^[16][17]

The earlyScottish Labour Party founded byKeir Hardie had a firm policy ofScottish Home Rule.^[18] anti-devolution Labour MPGeorge Cunningham introduced an amendment a 40% rule for the1979 Scottish devolution referendum.^[19][20]Tam Dalyell was a prominent opponent of devolution.^[21] He warned that it would become a "motorway without exit to a separate state".^[22]Helen Liddell as Labour's Scottish general secretary refused to campaign with the SNP for devolution.^[23] Labour leaderJohn Smith described devolution as the "settled will of the Scottish people".^[24]Lord Robertson famously claimed devolution would "kill nationalism stone dead".^[25]

In March 1968, Conservative leaderEdward Heath committed the party to Scottish devolution.^[26] The Conservatives opposed devolution in the1979 Scottish devolution referendum and the1997 Scottish devolution referendum.^[27]

In 2007,Annabel Goldie, said her party was committed to making the current devolved powers work.^[28] As leaderRuth Davidson moved the p[arty to a pro-devolutionist position while keeping strongly unionist, when she proposed income tax powers in a no vote in the2014 Scottish independence referendum.^[29] In the2021 Scottish Parliament election, Conservatives pledged to make use of devolved powers.^[30] In 2023,David Frost, Baron Frost made comments on "rolling back devolution" which were criticised by Scottish Conservatives.^[31][32] Today only few Scottish Conservative politicians openly oppose devolution.^[33]

TheScottish National Party was founded in 1934 through an amalgamation of theNational Party of Scotland and theScottish Party.^[34] The party has long advocated for home rule forScotland.^[35] However some radical nationalists often argue that Scottish devolution does not go far enough in achievingScottish independence.^[36] The SNP has supported further devolution while in government.^[37]

In Wales devolution began with the creation of the Welsh Board for Education in 1907 and the disestablishment of theAnglican Church in Wales in 1920.^[38] Issues today include aproposed Welsh justice system.^[39] Opponents include deputy leader of Welsh LabourCarolyn Harris.^[40] Other concerns include aproposed Welsh independence referendum, which has been ruled out even by supportersPlaid Cymru for their first term in government if elected.^[41]

Labour opposed devolution to Wales in the 20th century primarily due to concerns about the potential for increased nationalism and the belief that it could undermine socialist principles and be divisive between speakers ofEnglish andWelshlanguages.^[42] The Labour government elected in the1945 United Kingdom general election was rigorously centralist, withAneurin Bevan who was contemptuous of any concession to Welsh nationalism.^[43] In the 1970s it became Labour policy to support devolution.^[44] One of the biggest anti-devolutionists wasNeil Kinnock who campaigned against it in the1979 Welsh devolution referendum.^[45][46] This was against theCallaghan government which was in favour of devolution in Wales.^[47]

TheBlair's government introduced Welsh devolution after1997.^[48] Today the Labour government opposes further devolution to Wales including rail.^[49] Labour members of theSenedd have been extremely critical ofKeir Starmer in regards to further devolution, includingFirst Minister of WalesEluned Morgan.^[50][51][52]Lee Waters has accusedSecretary of State for WalesJo Stevens as being the "most anti-devolution Labour Welsh secretary" in half a century.^[53] This has encouraged the strategy ofclear red water betweenUK Labour andWelsh Labour.^[54]

TheWelsh Conservatives campaigned against devolution in the1979 Welsh devolution referendum and the1997 Welsh devolution referendum.^[55] Presently the party is split between pro-devolution and anti-devolution camps.^[56] In 2025, leaderDarren Millar dismissed calls to scrap Wales' devolved parliament.^[57] The party's previous leaderAndrew RT Davies faced criticism for raising the debate on devolution at an agricultural show in 2024.^[58]

Plaid Cymru is known for campaigning forWelsh independence as well as devolution.^[59] They have seen devolution as a stepping stone towards further autonomy.^[60] SomeWelsh nationalists oppose devolution on the basis of it preventing full independence and self-governance for Wales.^[61] This is partly due to thelimited powers granted to the Senedd.^[62]

Opposition to devolution among Liberals has been a minority position. TheWelsh Liberal Party originally raised the debate of self-government in the late 19th century.^[63]David Lloyd George initially supported Welsh devolution but later opposed it due to concerns caused by theIrish Civil War.^[64] Today theWelsh Liberal Democrats are a strongly devolutionist party.^[65]

TheUK Independence Party was previously split on the issue of devolution.^[66] TheAbolish the Welsh Assembly Party are asingle-issue party who campaign to abolish devolution.^[67] TheBrexit Party in Wales fell apart over disagreements over their newly anti-devolution stance withCaroline Jones forming theIndependent Alliance for Reform.^[68] In September 2025,Reform UK ruled out including abolition of the Senedd in their upcoming manifesto, afterLaura Anne Jones, the party's soleMember of the Senedd, made comments that it cannot be ruled out.^[69][70] TheWales Green Party are a pro-independence party.^[71]

• Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party
• Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party
• Scottish Unionist Party (1986)

• Devolution in the United Kingdom
• Federalism in the United Kingdom

• Devolution in the United Kingdom

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