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Kirsty Hughes

About Kirsty Hughes

Kirsty Hughes is director of the Scottish Centre on European Relations. A writer and commentator on European and international politics, she has worked at a number of European thinktanks including Chatham House, Friends of Europe, and the Centre for European Policy Studies.

Biden, Brexit, EU and Scotland

November 15, 2020 by Kirsty Hughes 2 Comments

‘…Scotland’s relatively normal politics and pro-European aspirations may look in many ways more in the contemporary political mainstream than Johnson’s past-its-sell-by-date Trumpism. And a more open attitude from the EU to an independent Scotland may impact to some degree on US views too. But hard realpolitik interests – whether in the US or EU – will always be there.’

Brexit, independence and transitions

October 4, 2020 by Kirsty Hughes 3 Comments

‘Across all its various dimensions, independence is about a whole range of transitions – economic, political, democratic, social and cultural. Considering how those transitions could and should be managed, and what their implications, timings and costs and benefits are, needs to become a more central part of the debate.’

Scotland’s borders and independence

August 16, 2020 by Kirsty Hughes 9 Comments

‘The potential shorter and longer-term economic transition and structural change Scotland faces as an independent state within the EU, while rUK is outside post-Brexit, needs careful economic analysis and an understanding of likely costs and benefits. What it does not need is a studied looking away from the challenging economics of a Scotland-rUK border.’

UK finally disunited?

July 13, 2019 by Kirsty Hughes 3 Comments

‘Where Scottish politics and independence goes in the face of no Brexit is one more open question. Independence, after all, would be much more straightforward to manage if the UK remains in the EU.’

Independent Scotland in EU: timing and challenges

April 28, 2019 by Kirsty Hughes 1 Comment

Independence is far from guaranteed and big issues such as currency are unresolved but Scotland’s chances of (re)joining the EU as a member state have improved.

Labour, SNP, ‘People’s Vote’ and a Brexit Deal

July 29, 2018 by Kirsty Hughes 2 Comments

‘Fudging both the timing of an independence referendum and the SNP’s position on a ‘people’s vote’ looks like getting more difficult as Brexit D-day draws nearer this autumn.’

SNP must lead Scottish call for People’s Vote

June 17, 2018 by Kirsty Hughes 3 Comments

A strong stance from the SNP on a people’s vote does not yet look likely. If Labour found its nerve on this, the SNP, it seems, would follow not lead. The big challenge on Brexit for the Scottish government is whether it can find its nerve on Brexit, as its MPs at Westminster have done, and lead not follow.

Clear water on Brexit from Corbyn…

February 26, 2018 by Kirsty Hughes 2 Comments

‘Corbyn’s speech is most important for its opening up a clear policy divide – 20 months after the Brexit vote – between Labour and Tories. That should make for an opposition starting to hold the government more to account. Whether it will result in the torpedoing of May’s Brexit strategy or even in an early election are the big questions that lie ahead.

Sturgeon’s Brexit challenge to the UK

January 16, 2018 by Kirsty Hughes 2 Comments

‘To argue for the UK to stay in the EU’s single market and customs union is to argue to stay as close to the status quo as possible while giving up vote, voice and a seat at the table. Faced with a more damaging type of Brexit, it sounds sensible – until you look at the democratic cost. Compared to being an EU member state it is surely absurd’.

October 2018: Brexit deal and #indyref2?

March 12, 2017 by Kirsty Hughes Leave a Comment

“For political parties that want a second vote – whether on the UK staying in the EU or Scotland being independent in the EU – this will be the key time.” “If the talks break down, then autumn 2018 will be a moment of crisis – one that all players should be making their plans for now, too.”

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