Abstract
The United Kingdom, created by Acts of Parliament, is a union composed by four nations: Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England. Until the 1960s, the United Kingdom (UK) was labeled as a "unitary state". All the powers were delivered by a sovereign Parliament at Westminster. The apparition of territorial-based national identities led leaders to recognize the necessity to give more autonomy to individual regions. As a consequence of the regional demands and increasing nationalist's tensions, the 1997 manifesto led to the introduction of a devolved form of government in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. Devolution was defined by Bogdanor as: "the transfer of functions to a subordinate elected body (on a geographic basis) that is presently exercised by the ministers and Parliament". Since the 19th century several attempts to provide Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales with legislative autonomy have existed. Devolution is different from federalism, which is the division of powers between Westminster and regional parliaments.
