Welcome
The Federal Trust is a research institute studying the interactions between regional, national, European and global levels of government. Founded in 1945 on the initiative of Sir William Beveridge, it has long made a powerful contribution to the study of federalism and federal systems. It has always had a particular interest in the European Union and Britain’s place in it.
The Federal Trust has no allegiance to any political party. It is registered as a charity for the purposes of education and research.
Read the Federal Trust’s Statement on Rejoining the European Union.
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FEATURED ARTICLE
The Economic Impact of Brexit, Nine Years On: Was the Consensus Right?
A new report by John Springford, commissioned by the Constitution Society and the Federal Trust, analyses the economic impact of Brexit nine years after the UK voted to leave the EU. The Economic Impact of Brexit performs a ‘Brexit audit’, using a wide range of publications. As a starting point, [...]
RECENTLY PUBLISHED
The Economic Impact of Brexit, Nine Years On: Was the Consensus Right?
A new report by John Springford, commissioned by the Constitution Society and the Federal Trust, analyses the economic impact of Brexit nine years after the UK voted to leave the EU. The Economic Impact [...]
Why the EU must commit itself to its democracies – and why that matters for the United Kingdom
‘The EU can only thrive if its democracy thrives’, Ursula von der Leyen confidently claimed in her acceptance speech of the Charlemagne Prize in May 2025. Yet, the Commission President presents the EU in its [...]
VIDEO: Brexit Reset or Brexit Betrayal?
In this new video, Andrew Blick and Brendan Donnelly discuss the announced "reset" of relations between the UK and EU. They conclude that, given the government's self-imposed "red lines" little more could realistically have been [...]
PODCAST: Brexit Reset or Brexit Betrayal?
In this new podcast episode, Andrew Blick and Brendan Donnelly discuss the announced "reset" of relations between the UK and EU. They conclude that, given the government's self-imposed "red lines" little more could realistically have [...]
VIDEO: Brexit Doesn’t Work, Federalism Does
Andrew Blick and Brendan Donnelly discuss the need for more international cooperation in the face of the environmental and populist challenges facing the whole planet. WATCH HERE Or in the player below: SPEAKERS: Andrew Blick [...]
PODCAST: Brexit Doesn’t Work, Federalism Does
Andrew Blick and Brendan Donnelly discuss the need for more international cooperation in the face of the environmental and populist challenges facing the whole planet. LISTEN HERE Or in the player below: Brexit doesn’t work, [...]
Prospects for democracy: a new view from the past
In this article, Andrew Blick and Alex Loktionov look to the past to identify precedents, patterns, and differences against which we can assess current concerns about the global prospects for democracy. Authors: Andrew Blick is [...]
VIDEO: Can Brexit Survive Trump?
Brendan Donnelly and John Stevens discuss the disruptive nature of Donald Trump's first weeks as American President. They argue however that this disruption could have positive consequences for Europe and for the UK. WATCH HERE [...]
PODCAST: Can Brexit Survive Trump?
Brendan Donnelly and John Stevens discuss the disruptive nature of Donald Trump's first weeks as American President. They argue however that this disruption could have positive consequences for Europe and for the UK. LISTEN HERE [...]
VIDEO: Is Danger for Ukraine a Danger for Brexit too?
In this new Federal Trust video, John Stevens and Brendan Donnelly discuss the extraordinary dangers and opportunities created for the UK and the EU by the current volatility of American policy-making. WATCH HERE or in [...]
