Petition · past parliament

Remove the Barnett Formula, and give true equality to the United Kingdom

Rejected 19 signatures

What the petition asks

This petition proposes the scrapping of the Barnett formula and realigning of funding throughout the regions of the UK to be devised by a body independent of political parties of the UK
The Barnett Formula was designed as a temporary one year government funding principle but has now persisted for almost 40 years. Before his death, Lord Barnett described the formula as being now, so unfair to the regions of England that he was embarrassed to have his name associated with it. This spend currently equates to the following, an extra £1,623 per head, or 19 per cent, is given to Scotland compared to England. Public spending being 19 per cent higher in Scotland than in England giving rise to for example Free Tuition Fees for Scottish students, this has inevitably resulted in the formula becoming controversial, divisive and morally unsustainable.
In 2013 Scotland received £10,152 per capita, Wales £9,709 and England £8,529

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

Timeline

29 Jun 2016 Petition opened for signatures
7 Jul 2016 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 19
Status Rejected
Rejected 7 Jul 2016

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.