Devolution or divergence? Third Sector policy across the UK since 2000

Abstract

Since the end of the last century the United Kingdom has been a less united country than it was. In 1999 a separate Scottish Executive (from 2007 the Scottish Government) and Welsh Assembly Government were established, followed later by a new Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, based on a power sharing agreement known from its date in 1998 as the ‘Good Friday Agreement’. A number of key policy making powers were devolved from Westminster to these new administrations; these include policy on and support for third sector activity in the different countries. Since 2000 therefore there have in effect been four separate policy regimes within the UK focused on the activity and organisation of third sector organisations, although, compared to the greater levels of regional devolution existing in many other developed industrial nations, the UK remains a largely centralised state in both political and policy terms. This paper explores some of the key implications of this recent devolution and examines the extent to which it has led to a divergence in policy development and delivery – asking the question, to what extent has devolution led to a divergence in third sector policy regimes across the UK?