Tag: Future of the Union
More devolution would benefit and improve the whole of the United Kingdom
Later this year, Scotland will vote on whether to become independent. But while the debate about the country’s future has necessarily been between the maintaining the current union as is, or full independence, what most Scots want more than either is greater and better devolution. Here, Guy Lodge and Alan Trench argue that welfare should be devolved as the […]
There is still a lot that we don’t know about the choices that an independent Scotland might make
If the Scotland votes Yes on 18 September 2014, they do not know what they will get, apart from the departure of Scottish MPs from Westminster. To borrow Donald Rumsfeld’s useful phrase the remaining terms of independence are ‘known unknowns’. The Scottish negotiators must enter discussions with several counterparties, the main ones being the European Union, NATO, […]
Will the Scottish referendum (whatever the outcome) lead to a federal constitution for the UK?
Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones has suggested the UK’s unwritten constitution is no longer able to manage the complexities of devolution, a problem that will need to be addressed regardless of the choice Scotland makes in the independence referendum. Dr Mark Elliott argues this raises important questions not only about the extent of devolution, but […]
National identity and party affiliation are set to play a key role in the Scottish referendum, whose result is more uncertain than opinion polls suggest
‘DevoMax’ will not be an option on the ballot paper in the Scottish Independence Referendum this year even though it is more popular among the electorate than independence. Arno van der Zwet and Craig McAngus explore how Scottish attitudes to the two options vary according to national and party identity. They find that perceptions of national identity polarises assessments […]
An independent Scotland may find it impossible to pursue a more liberal immigration policy
With the prospects for Scottish independence still uncertain as we edge closer to November 2014’s referendum, not much attention has been focussed on an issue which animates voters of all political persuasions: immigration. Christina Boswell argues that public opinion, and cross-border pressures from the UK and the EU may constrain the noble aspirations of the Scottish Government […]
Don’t expect meaningful fiscal devolution for Wales any time soon
The debate about the appropriate level of fiscal autonomy for Wales in the wake of the publication the Silk Commission rumbles on. But while it once looked likely that the Welsh Assembly Government would gain meaningful tax raising and spending powers, the prospects are now less bright. Adam Evans argues that a deadly concoction of political incompetence […]
The Scottish independence referendum need not include the rest of the UK, even though they are affected
Scotland’s decision in the upcoming independence referendum will have serious implications for the whole UK. It has been argued that all UK citizens outside Scotland should therefore be entitled to vote on Scottish independence, in line with the ‘all affected interests’ principle of democratic theory. Ben Saunders asks whether we should apply this principle to […]
Survey research suggests that ‘ever looser union’ is the direction of travel for the UK
The debate in the Scottish independence referendum suggests even a no vote will be followed by greater autonomy for Scotland. In Wales, too, the National Assembly has extended its powers and may continue to do so, while England is also seeing clamour for devolution. In this post Richard Wyn Jones questions whether the UK’s institutions […]
The implications of Scotland’s independence referendum – for Cornwall
The publication of the Scottish Government’s White Paper has refocused British political attention north of the border. However, there could be implications elsewhere. Cornwall, too, has always had a strong regional – and indeed national – identity, which could see demands for self-government rise should Scotland opt for the UK’s exit door, according to Peder […]
The UK Government’s recent approach to the Silk Commission has been inflexibile and unimaginative
The Silk Commission on the future of devolved Government in Wales promises to be a watershed moment in the history of Welsh government, with greater powers for the Welsh Assembly Government a necessary next step in the development of the country’s governance arrangements. Laura McAllister argues that the Government’s approach Silk has been both unimaginative […]
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