by David Melding and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones

July 2025 sees the release of the booklet The Federal-Confederal Letters by David Melding, member of the Federal Trust Council, and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones, which includes their correspondence spanning October 2023 to March 2025, a period encompassing the UK General Election of July 2024 and the beginnings of the second US Trump presidency.

The letters explore issues of constitutional history and development both in the UK and internationally, making the case for much needed reform of the UK’s governing framework through sharing views and experiences on models of devolution, federalism and confederalism.

In recommendation, the booklet includes a foreword by the Guardian columnist Will Hayward who states:

‘Whatever your political outlook, inherent biases, or where you live in the UK, it is obvious that the current constitutional framework we have in this country doesn’t work. It clearly doesn’t work for Wales or Scotland, but I think you can make a pretty strong argument that people in parts of England may be the worst served by it. ‘

‘For those who are interested in how one of the oldest democratic systems in the world can run better this is a fascinating exchange. I have been lucky enough to interview both men as a journalist.’

‘As someone immersed in politics every day it was great to stretch my brain to understand concepts, rather than try and uncover the hidden agenda of the people involved. I sincerely hope that many of our elected representatives and decision-makers in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh take the time to read these letters. Not only for the content, but for the manner in which they were conducted.’

The Federal-Confederal Letters highlight the fact that the establishment of a new written framework for these isles, with the support of the parliaments, would prove invaluable across the political spectrum. Some will find reassurance in attempting to articulate the more distinctive elements of the UK’s practices in a codified federal constitution, whilst others will seek to cement the sovereignty position of the four nations individually in relation to a common confederal British structure.

What is important is that the debate is had, and had publicly.

 

The Federal-Confederal Letters is available as an e-book and as a printable pdf file (8 MB).

 

About the authors

David Melding CBE was the Welsh Conservative Party’s Director of Policy from 2000 to 2011. David served in the Senedd as one of the list members for South Wales Central from 1999 until retiring in 2021. He was Deputy Presiding Officer between 2011 and 2016, and he chaired several committees during his parliamentary career including the Health and Social Care, and the Legislation and Constitutional Affairs committees. He is the author of Will Britain Survive Beyond 2020? (2009) and The Reformed Union: The UK as a Federation (2013) is currently working on his third book- Wales in an Age of Disunion. David is a member of the Federal Trust Council.

Glyndwr Cennydd Jones is a writer on constitutional matters. He released joint publications with Lord David Owen and Lord Elystan Morgan in 2017 and 2018 respectively. In March 2022, he published a booklet of constitutional reflections titled A League-Union of the Isles, which includes a preface by Lord Carwyn Jones, former First Minister of Wales, and an afterword by Lord David Owen. He is currently writing the book Confederal-Federalism. Glyndwr works as the Director of a UK-wide industry body in the education and arts sectors, a position he has held since 2012.

Will Hayward is a leading journalist. He is a regular columnist at The Guardian as well as contributing to Times Radio, the BBC, Sky News and LBC. Will was previously Welsh affairs editor at WalesOnline and the Western Mail.