Contents
Foreword
Devolution is perhaps the issue that’s been the most kicked into the long grass in MHOC. The first Northern Ireland Bill appeared on the horizon 18 months ago, with a Scotland and Wales Bill following, and further calls for devolution.
The House of Commons will always be the primary chamber of MHOC. But I think we’ve reached the stage where we’re prepared to be a full British politics simulation - not just a debating chamber.
Devolution offers another way for members of our community to contribute outside of the Commons. And to offer the inter-parliamentary intrigue that has so defined British politics recently.
This report outlines a simple - and practical way to implement devolution. A reasonable expectation of activity, the role of the Assemblies, and how the MHOC framework fits together.
I hope this report helps to make the case for devolution.
/u/IndigoRolo
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Devolution - the issues so far
The interest is there for cautious devolution, and it provides inter-parliamentary intrigue which is so far missing from MHOC. The main risk involved with pushing all of these at the same time is activity.
If devolution in MHOC is ever going to be relevant and sustainable, it needs to match the devolution settlement in the United Kingdom. It’s where the knowledge and the interest is. So we should expand devolution with the introduction of a Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, and London Assembly.
To start with, these assemblies wont be able to hold their own as stand-alone simulations. So to give people an easy role to fulfill outside of the Commons these assemblies should operate on a weekend timetable. Debating all the relevant legislation and issues on a weekend and voting on that legislation during weekdays. This has been shown in Stormont to be a very reliable way of sustaining activity both for members and the speakership.
Mid-term elections should be the eventual goal for these assemblies to break up the parliamentary term. But to start off with we should use the same election system for the Commons as the one for devolution. Having simultaneous elections.
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Precedent - Stormont
It’s fair to say the introduction of a Model Stormont was controversial. After speakership stalling for over a year on the issue, it was - admittedly recklessly - set up outside of the official channels.
With community doubts culminating in editorials such as ‘The Impending Doom of Model Stormont’, and initial reluctance from the Triumvirate - you would be forgiven for thinking it would turn out a failure.
It had a rocky start, but has since exceeded even the expectations of its strongest proponents.
So far we’ve found success in the activity and kind of activity we’ve had. Since the last election there has never been an empty docket for legislation. The issues being debated are also integral to Northern Ireland ranging from education reform to public inquiries.
Therefore we know that activity is possible in a devolved assembly, but what are the risks involved? Initially Stormont did struggle with absent MLAs and an unfamiliar procedure. The best way to avoid these problems in any future devolution is to initially link MPs to devolved members where they are located, and work from there. And have a dedicated moderation team.
Strengths
Weaknesses
anecdotes
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Stormont - the key figures
8 parties contesting elections
9 MLAs
42 pieces of legislation so far
88% average turnout
Scottish Parliament
In real life the Scottish Parliament is the heart of the battle of wills between Holyrood and Westminster, with the future of the UK at stake.
MHOC so far has underrepresented the Scottish approach to UK politics, with parties such as the SNP only gaining modest success - and Scottish nationalism being a barely acknowledged opinion.
This ironically is perhaps both the reason for the difficulty in Scottish devolution, and the reason why is it so necessary. Scotland especially needs an initially cautious approach in order to guarantee success.
The solution is to make Scottish MPs simultaneously MSPs. At 8 members - which could easily be increased to a workable figure of 9 - a Parliament of this size is feasible.
At the heart of the Scottish Government is the First Minister. A full Executive and Opposition is too demanding to maintain - however a First Minister and Opposition Leader with the option of appointing Deputies gives a position to be fought over, and program for Scotland.
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Scottish Parliament
The First Minister similar to real life would be chosen by runoff voting - with a majority of Parliament required to be nominated. The Opposition Leader could be nominated by the largest coalition not supportive of the Government.
The Executive would be held to account in fortnightly First Minister’s Questions, with MSPs and the public being able to ask questions.
Also available for question sessions would be the Secretary of State for Scotland, and the Presiding Officer of Parliament.
Holyrood is the beating heart of Scottish democracy. The will is there to debate and legislate on a majority of Scottish issues - /u/mg9500
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National Assembly for Wales
MHOC is lucky enough to have a large number of Welsh members as part of the community. We’ve seen the likes of Plaid Cymru twice, Plaid Werdd, and Forward Wales. So while at first glance Wales may not seem the most viable next step for devolution, arguably it’s the one with the most viable activity.
Despite the influence of Welsh members, Wales only has 5 seats in Westminster, and this is the most it has ever had. Unlike Scotland, we can’t simply make each AM an MP, however the electoral system does give us a solution.
For Westminster elections there are currently 3 top-up seats. We can extend that for the simultaneous Senedd election by adding another 4 top-up seats. This has the double advantage of giving unelected members a role to do with Welsh politics outside of the Commons, and having a reasonably sized Assembly to work with.
Like Scotland, there shall be an elected First Minister and Opposition Leader. With fortnightly FMQs with the SoS and Presiding Officer giving sessions too.
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Greater London Authority
London has a unique place in the UK as a truly global city and capital. It also has a unique opportunity in MHOC to provide a different dynamic to other devolved assemblies. And could prove very sustainable.
London is exciting and easy because the central point of devolution is the Mayor of London. Therefore all a sustainable mayorship needs is a few committed individuals ready to stand for election as Mayor. Like real life, this will be done by run-off voting.
The London Assembly in real life is not as active as its counterparts, and perhaps this is a good thing for MHOC. The role of the Assembly in MHOC can be to assess important issues, and hold the Mayor to account.
London also have enough MPs to have MPs serve in a dual role as AMs, again with the same election system.
The Assembly can then question the Mayor at Mayor’s Question Time twice a week.
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Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly has worked well, especially over so far in this 2nd term. There is room for improvement however.
We’ve found that despite unionists forming a full third of the Assembly, they repeatedly get sidelined in legislation and the general direction of the Assembly. To sort this we need to reform the Petition of Concern to be more similar to real life.
Activity is also at the level where it’s possible to expand the Assembly. To keep a reasonable odd number of MLAs there should be an increase of 2 members, with a by-election scheduled soon.
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Moderation
Stormont has done well by having a close-knit team of Deputy Speakers, but there has to be someone overseeing the whole project of devolution for when things go wrong. Someone has to be ultimately responsible.
Easiest solution, make a new Triumvir responsible for devolution. A ‘Devolved Speaker’. This could also further improve the Triumvirate by readdressing the balance and power within the Triumvirate.
The Deputy Speakers in Stormont have shown fully up to the task of helping with the running of a community. Therefore it makes sense to make the teams of Deputy Speakers / Deputy Presiding Officers part of the MHOC Speakership team.
Finally, precedence has shown that individual Discord servers for each devolved institution are sustainable. And help contribute to a unique identity. If devolution is to work - they cannot just be simple MHOC colonies. Much like the diversity of the UK, they need their own character.
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