In 1973, the UK government organised the country’s first referendum, on the subject of whether or not Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK. Now, as Brexit and its potential consequences make another border poll look like an increasing possibility, David Torrance looks back on the poll, its background, and its later constitutional significance. The first constitutional … [Read more...] about Taking the border out of politics
Federalism
Can muscular unionism save the Union?
The phrase ‘muscular unionism’ is new but the concept is not. As Prime Minister, Boris Johnson called Scottish devolution ‘a disaster north of the border’. Liz Truss said while campaigning for the Conservative leadership that she would ‘ignore’ the ‘attention seeker’, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. She was true to her word, never contacting Sturgeon or Mark Drakeford, First … [Read more...] about Can muscular unionism save the Union?
Labour’s revival puts SNP on the defensive
The potential to break the Scottish political deadlock grows as the prospect of a Labour Government at Westminster looms into sight. Scottish Labour was marginalised so long as the dominant issue was a binary choice between independence and the status quo. It struggled to shift the focus away from the constitution and onto Labour’s more comfortable territory of health, welfare … [Read more...] about Labour’s revival puts SNP on the defensive
A Welsh rethink
Can the United Kingdom survive Brexit? This remains one of the great unanswered questions of our time. Politically, two major narratives have dominated. The first is that the UK is on a break-up trajectory. Brexit has revived the Scottish independence movement and destabilised Northern Irish politics. Clashes between UK and devolved governments over dealing with the COVID-19 … [Read more...] about A Welsh rethink
Holyrood needs a second, reforming chamber
It is difficult to reconcile devolution today with the early expectations and hopes invested in the new Scottish Parliament. In some respects, Scottish devolution has become the caricature of Westminster that it sought to shun. Scotland has a power hoarding executive that disdains alternative sources of authority whether that is Parliament itself or elected local councils. … [Read more...] about Holyrood needs a second, reforming chamber