John Campbell Lecture, jointly organised by Republic and Federal Union
Tuesday 4 November 2014
18.00 for 18:30, until 21:00
Mary Sumner House
24 Tufton Street
London SW1P 3RB
In the wake of the Scottish referendum, Professor Stephen Haseler argues for a federal constitutional settlement.
For the fourth annual John Campbell Lecture, Professor Stephen Haseler will introduce his new book, Our Broken Kingdom.
Professor Haseler will argue that the Scottish referendum has dealt a fatal blow to our antiquated constitution, giving us an opportunity to replace the failed Westminster system with a new federal settlement. He will outline what this could mean for the monarchy – among other political institutions – and explain how such fundamental constitutional change could see Britain finally breaking with its imperial past.
The lecture and discussion will be chaired by Graham Allen MP.
Registration
Tickets for this event cost £10 for members of the two host organisations, and £12 for all non-members. The ticket price includes a free wine reception after the lecture. Please register using this link to Eventbrite.
About Professor Stephen Haseler
Stephen Haseler is professor of government at London Metropolitan University and director of the Global Policy Institute in London. He has held visiting professorships at Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. His specialisms are British politics, the UK constitution, transatlantic relations and European defence and he has authored numerous books on these subjects.
Thanks for the invitation to the Broken Kingdom talk. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to make it, but I’m happy to offer a proposal for a new federal UK comprising eleven units of equal status, with England divided into 6 new regions, giving due regard to history, geography, economics and identity:
PART ONE: A LIST OF UNITS (with populations)
1. Northern Ireland (1.84m)
2. Scotland (5.3m)
3. Wales (3.1m)
4-9. New English Regions:
4. Lakeland (7m; Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire; New Cap: Manchester)
5. Northumberland (7m; Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Durham, Cleveland, Yorkshire; New Cap: Durham or York)
6. Middle England (15m; all counties not listed in 4, 5, 7, 8 & 9; New Cap: Birmingham)
7. Cornwall (0.54m)
8. Wessex (8m; Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, West Sussex; New Cap: Winchester)
9. Essex (12.4m; Greater London, Essex, Kent, East Sussex; New Cap: Westminster)
10. Isle of Man (0.09m)
11. Channel Islands (0.16m)
PART TWO: Making the Change:
1. Develop a UK Federal Capital Territory around Solway Firth near the M6, building a new M6 Junction, Airport and Parliament & Government buildings.
2. Use a constitutional convention to clarify powers devolved to all the UK’s 11 federal units.
3. Dissolve the Westminster UK parliament and abolish the House of Lords.
4. Elect a new UK Parliament to sit at Solway, including 1 MP each for the Isle of Man and Channel Islands.
5. Elect the 11 new national, provincial and regional parliaments.
6. Use existing government buildings for new parliaments and regional governments, with the new Essex region taking over the Palace of Westminster.
Ian Hackett, former AWF* UK Chair (1991-2) and Treasurer (1983-91 and 2004-8); One World Trust Director (1994-9); Head of the International School of London (2000-1); author, The Spring of Civilization (1973); Transcending Terror (2004); Succeeding Revolutions (2006), The Hackett Chronicles 1012-2012 (2013). (*Association of World Federalists, now part of Federal Union.