Petition · past parliament

Reassess the Barnett Formula to equalise spending across the U.K.

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Discuss reducing or abolishing the Barnett Formula which sees a disproportionate level of taxpayers money transferred to Scotland enabling the Scottish government to increase wages and benefits at English taxpayers expense while castigating England and pushing for independence. Harmonise payments.
The Barnett Formula is antiquated and was meant as a temporary measure. Successive governments have failed to reduce the inequality and now it leaves English taxpayers receiving only 76% in terms of public spending compared to what Scottish citizens receive.
It is egregious that Scotland continues to derive so much benefit whilst the Scottish Government constantly harangues Parliament for more powers and presses for independence.
Absolving Barnett funding would be fair to English taxpayers.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action.

We understand that you are concerned about how the devolved administrations are funded, and inequalities in public spending across the UK, but we're not sure exactly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.

The Barnett formula calculates the annual changes in the block grants to the devolved administrations, but the formula is not responsible for the block grants meaning greater public funding per head for devolved matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Equally, the disparity in public spending per head in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland covers spending by both the UK Government and devolved administrations.

We could accept a petition calling for changes to, or a review of, funding arrangements for the devolved administrations, which could include the Barnett formula, but it would need to be clear what changes you wanted.

Timeline

30 Apr 2021 Petition opened for signatures
7 May 2021 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 7 May 2021

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