Equality and Devolution in the United Kingdom: A Story in Three Acts and a Sequel

Paula Devine,Grace Kelly,Martina Mcauley

doi:10.1017/s1474746421000191

Abstract

Within the United Kingdom (UK), many of the arguments driving devolution and Brexit focused on equality. This article assesses how notions of equality have been shaped over the past two decades. Using a chronology of theoretical, political and public interpretations of equality between 1998 and 2018, the article highlights the shifting positions of Northern Ireland (NI) and the rest of the UK. NI once led the way in relation to equality legislation, and equality was the cornerstone of the Good Friday/Belfast peace agreement. However, the Equality Act 2010 in Great Britain meant that NI was left behind. The nature of future UK/EU relationships and how these might influence the direction and extent of the equality debate in the UK is unclear. While this article focuses on the UK, the questions that it raises have global application, due to the international influences on equality discourse and legislation.

Highlights

January 2020 marked a pivotal point for the United Kingdom (UK) as it left the European Union (EU) – known as Brexit
Devolution was fully restored in Northern Ireland (NI), with the reinstatement of the NI Assembly and Executive after a threeyear suspension
Other analyses contradicted the focus on group differences, arguing that pro-Brexit views were more likely to be affected by individual attitudes and personality, with those disliking moral and ethnic diversity being more inclined to support ‘leave’ and those inclined towards openness and cultural equality being more likely to back ‘remain’ (Kaufmann, 2016)

Summary

Introduction

January 2020 marked a pivotal point for the United Kingdom (UK) as it left the European Union (EU) – known as Brexit. Chaney (2011: 432) argues that devolution has effectively ‘constitutionalized’ the promotion of equality in relation to a range of social policy functions For those in support of Brexit, the vote to leave is said to be a vote for equality in relation to self-determination (GormleyHeenan and Aughey, 2017), or a protest vote as a result of discontent at social, economic and educational inequality, intensified by lack of opportunity (Goodwin and Heath, 2016). The article highlights the shifting positions of NI and Great Britain (GB) in regards to equality legislation This is set against a backdrop of uncertainties surrounding future UK/EU relationships and how these might influence the future direction and extent of the equality debate. While this article focuses on the UK, the questions that it brings forth have global application, not least because of the international influences – and from the EU in particular – on equality discourse and legislation

What is equality?

Situation of Northern Ireland

Findings

Calls for a single equality act