21 11, 2023

VIDEO: The UK as seen from Wales

By |2023-11-21T16:13:39+00:00November 21st, 2023|Categories: Devolution, Federalism, Scotland, UK Constitution, Video|Tags: , , , , |

In this video the former First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, discusses with Brendan Donnelly and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones current thinking in Wales on the UK’s constitutional future. All three participants drew attention to the apparent contradiction between claims of Welsh and Scottish sovereignty on the one hand and the [...]

13 10, 2023

VIDEO: Local decisions are better decisions

By |2023-10-13T14:58:10+00:00October 13th, 2023|Categories: Devolution, Federalism, Scotland, UK, UK Constitution, Video|

In this Federal Trust video Professor Sam Whimster and Dr. Andrew Black argue in favour of a radical overhaul of the relationship between the central British government and regional/local authorities. In recent years, the UK has become a more centralised political system, not least through the financial dominance of the [...]

27 07, 2023

Releasing Sovereignty from Westminster: Towards a Confederal-federal Britain

By |2023-07-27T16:40:57+00:00July 27th, 2023|Categories: Devolution, Federalism, Scotland, UK Constitution, Views from the Federal Trust|Tags: , , , , , |

Devolution at national level acknowledges that today’s UK is a construct of formerly discrete entities whose diverse histories and identities are enduringly recognised at an institutional level. Decentralisation within England, by contrast, involves the reorganisation of power within one territory of significant population size (c. 56 million) in order better [...]

5 07, 2023

VIDEO: Can England Save the UK?

By |2023-07-05T15:08:23+00:00July 5th, 2023|Categories: Devolution, Federalism, UK Constitution, Video|Tags: , , , , |

In this Federal Trust video John Denham, Glyndwr Jones and Brendan Donnelly discuss the need for constitutional reform to preserve the UK. They conclude that reform is particularly needed in England, both to improve the governance of England itself and to distinguish between English and British political identities. Confusion between [...]

7 06, 2023

VIDEO: Can Federalism Save the United Kingdom?

By |2023-06-07T14:36:35+00:00June 7th, 2023|Categories: Devolution, Federalism, Scotland, UK Constitution, Video|Tags: , , , |

In this  video, former member of the Welsh Senedd David Melding discusses with Brendan Donnelly the advantages of a federal structure for the United Kingdom. Devolution was an honourable attempt to reform the governance of the United Kingdom. It has not however led to greater constitutional stability. Federal structures for [...]

7 06, 2023

Federalism, Union and Secession

By |2023-06-07T14:07:50+00:00June 7th, 2023|Categories: Devolution, Federalism, Scotland, UK Constitution, Views from the Federal Trust|Tags: , , , , , , |

In this new essay for the Federal Trust, our Council member and former member of the Welsh Senedd David Melding argues that federal structures are the best way of preserving the constitutional and geographical integrity of the United Kingdom. In a federal UK, powers and responsibilities would be transparently and [...]

3 03, 2023

Federalism, Confederalism and Reform of the UK Constitution

By |2023-03-03T15:57:19+00:00March 3rd, 2023|Categories: Devolution, Scotland, UK Constitution, Video|Tags: , , , , |

In this recorded session, Professor Jim Gallagher and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones explore the successes and challenges of the devolution arrangements since 1999; the need for change and reform of the UK constitutional landscape; and the opportunities presented by models of federalism and confederalism. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE or in the [...]

27 02, 2023

VIDEO: Brexit – Bad for the UK, bad for Ireland

By |2023-02-27T10:33:10+00:00February 27th, 2023|Categories: Brexit, Devolution, Europe, UK Constitution, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

In this Federal Trust video, the Trust’s Director Brendan Donnelly argues that the current negotiations about the Northern Ireland Protocol reflect many of Brexit’s underlying flaws. The problems Brexit would cause for Ireland were foreseeable and foreseen. The Protocol attempts to wrestle with some of these problems. There is however [...]

17 02, 2023

The Departure of Nicola Sturgeon

By |2023-02-20T13:16:51+00:00February 17th, 2023|Categories: Blog, Brexit, Devolution, Europe, Scotland, UK Constitution, Views from the Federal Trust|Tags: , , , , , |

There is a mystery for me in contemplating the political career of Nicola Surgeon. I first faced this during the 2015 General Election, which I spent largely in Scotland, campaigning for Unionist friends. I was hoping to see the “No” campaign victory in the 2014 referendum (in which I was [...]

18 01, 2023

WEBINAR: Regionalising Democracy in the UK

By |2023-01-31T18:16:27+00:00January 18th, 2023|Categories: 2023, Devolution, Federalism, Scotland, UK Constitution|

An Elected Upper Chamber of the Devolved Nations and English Regions 30th January 2023 WATCH THE RECORDING HERE Or in the player below Britain's sufferance of an unelected House of Lords has expired. Reforms have been promised since 1911, but now Sir Keir Starmer has declared an incoming Labour government, [...]

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