-
Recent Posts
UK Archive
-
What if the government wanted to stay in the EU?
Posted on 30/10/2016 | No CommentsThe referendum on 23 June was only advisory. A majority of those who voted may have voted to Leave, but that result was not binding. Had the vote in the electoral reform referendum been in favour of AV, by contrast, the legislation that created the […] -
Parliament still matters
Posted on 30/10/2016 | No CommentsIn parallel with the court case on whether parliament is required to authorise the departure of the UK from the European Union (read about it here and here), there has been an equivalent case in Northern Ireland. The High Court in Belfast has been asked […] -
A circular argument
Posted on 27/10/2016 | No CommentsThe high court bench has retired now to consider its judgment in the case of whether parliament has a say in triggering article 50. If not, the government can take the UK out of the European Union without a parliamentary vote. Andrew Blick makes the […] -
Europe gives Scotland another chance
Posted on 20/10/2016 | No CommentsInteresting that the EU referendum on 23 June gives a new lease of life to the case for Scottish independence. It was Europe that was the cause of its failure two years ago. As the argument for Scottish independence developed in recent decades, it slowly […] -
Can MPs vote against article 50?
Posted on 20/10/2016 | No CommentsBeing played out in court at the moment is a case regarding the powers of parliament. Does the government have the constitutional right to trigger British departure from the EU on the strength of an explicitly non-binding referendum without parliamentary assent? For the record, the […] -
No more trivial tinkering
Posted on 11/05/2015 | No CommentsAfter Scotland’s SNP landslide in the 2015 UK general election, the idea of saving the union by the introduction of a federal constitution is gaining traction, but a 4-unit federation of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would not solve the problem as the UK […] -
The British Constitution after the General Election (8 April 2015)
Posted on 25/03/2015 | No CommentsJoint event with the Federal Trust The referendum result in Scotland last September clearly has not settled anything. The future of Scotland in the Union remains in doubt, thanks to the last-minute promises made of UK constitutional reform and a surge in support for the […] -
Our Broken Kingdom (4 November 2014)
Posted on 13/10/2014 | 1 CommentJohn 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. […] -
The United Kingdom: All Change after the Scottish Referendum? (21 October 2014)
Posted on 13/10/2014 | No Comments17.00 for 17.30 until 19.00, followed by a reception Room MG1-02 London Metropolitan University 84 Moorgate London EC2M 6SQ Map “The Vow” to devolve more powers to Scotland, made by the leaders of the three main political parties in Westminster at the end of the […] -
The Daily Telegraph should make its mind up
Posted on 15/01/2014 | 6 CommentsThere is a marvellous article by Allister Heath in the Daily Telegraph today, outlining an alternative to Scottish independence. For Scotland to vote to leave the United Kingdom would cause a great deal of uncertainty for business and be very bad for the economy and […]