What has been the experience of devolution in the UK so far, and what can be said for the future of devolution and the Union?
As the final part of the Constitution Unit’s 25th anniversary celebrations, we look at devolution and the Union. Devolution had a deceptively easy start in the UK, thanks to Labour-controlled governments in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff, the breakthrough of the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast, and lack of interest in England. But with the election of governments of different persuasions tensions have grown, and been hugely exacerbated by the rupture of Brexit. To chart this increasingly bumpy ride, and discuss whether the Union can survive, four academic experts, one from each part of the UK, joined the conversation.
Speakers:
Chair:
Professor Robert Hazell, former Director of the Constitution Unit.
Read about 25 years of the Constitution Unit: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/about-us/about-us/constitution-units-20th-anniversary/constitution-unit-25
Read the interim report by the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island (referenced by Cathy Gormley-Heenan) here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/research/elections-and-referendums/working-group-unification-referendums-island-ireland