Clik here to view.
Mckay Commission points way to confederal UK
By far the most interesting aspect of yesterday’s report from the Mckay Commission on the consequences of devolution for the future of the House of Commons (here) is its outright rejection of a federal...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Elis-Thomas sparks debate on Welsh future
In a wide-ranging speech at Westminster last week (reported here) former Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas illustrated once more why he is at odds with many in present day Plaid Cymru....
View ArticleClik here to view.
We need to forge a new UK union
In succeeding against the odds to forge a union, the assembly of American politicians who met at Philadelphia in 1787 received the supreme accolade Founding Fathers. Their Constitutional Convention...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Scottish referendum no ordinary political moment
The people of Scotland will determine their own constitutional future and that of the whole British people on 18 September 2014. This constitutes a fiduciary duty of the highest order. While there is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Carwyn thinks we’re moving towards federalism
The Boxing Day edition of The Independent carried a fascinating interview with Carwyn Jones, the First Minister of Wales. In it, he said: Whatever happens after the referendum in Scotland there will...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dealing with devolution’s doublethink
Whether the United Kingdom should adopt a written constitution is a question that is impossible to answer in the abstract, the content of a constitution being at least as important—indeed, far more...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The future of the UK – Part IV of Constitutional Convention plans
The fourth and fifth stages of our Crowd Sourced Constitutional Convention will focus on the future of the UK and ask ‘What is Wales for?’. Just as we are ‘crowd sourcing’ the funding to try and help...
View ArticleTo Fed? Or not to Fed?
Devolution has dramatically changed the rules of the game for the UK constitution. With the crisis of a Scottish independence referendum, and a somewhat untidy structure of 3 different devolution...
View ArticleDoubting a stable, federal Britain
Given the magnitude of the Scottish Referendum it is inevitable that some of its more significant consequences have been somewhat overlooked in the ensuing debates. It was predictable that the focus...
View ArticleIs federalism the only way forward?
As part of the IWA constitutional convention we are asking ‘What is the future of the UK?’ Jess Blair is joined by Mick Antoniw, AM for Pontypridd, and David Melding, AM for South Wales Central, to...
View ArticleTowards federalism and beyond
Wales has a proud tradition at the cutting edge of political change when the economic and social circumstances of the time demand it. However, inertia created by the lack of true challenge and debate...
View ArticleAn Isle of enduring nations
The establishment of a federal UK with England, as one unit, alongside Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland presents opportunities and challenges in terms of a proposed constitutional settlement for...
View ArticleA Constitutional Convention to discuss future arrangements for the UK
The extent of disunity within today’s United Kingdom is particularly highlighted by the differentiated politics across the four nations, vigorous debates regarding the EU leaving negotiations, recent...
View ArticleA Federation or League of the Isles?
The United Kingdom (UK) is governed as a unitary state comprising England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, all of which are intrinsically linked culturally and historically in modern times...
View ArticlePreparing the ground for constitutional reform
The below article includes Martin’s Shipton’s preface to “Towards Federalism and Beyond” There are those who would have us believe that the discussion of constitutional questions represents little more...
View ArticleBrexit, Wales Act 2017 and the Changing Union
Opening, Lord Elystan Morgan states: ‘Despite the devolution of the last two decades, the UK today remains one of the most concentrated systems of parliamentary government in the democratic world....
View ArticleA Union for the 21st Century?
In September 2017, the booklet Towards Federalism and Beyond was launched by Lord David Owen, Gwynoro Jones, Lord Elystan Morgan and me. It was released to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the...
View ArticleConfederal Federalism: A League-Union of the Isles (part one)
Since 1999 there have been two broad phases of devolution in Wales: Executive devolution with secondary law-making powers (1999-2007) and enhanced secondary powers (2007-2011) Legislative devolution...
View ArticleConfederal Federalism: A League-Union of the Isles (part two)
What might such a governance model look like in the context of today’s UK? A League or Union of the Isles could be established as a confederation of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales with...
View ArticleA Constitutional Convention to discuss future arrangements for the UK
The extent of disunity within today’s United Kingdom is particularly highlighted by the differentiated politics across the four nations, vigorous debates regarding the EU leaving negotiations, recent...
View Article
