News and opinion
Gordon Brown’s long-run themes pose challenges for Labour
The report of Labour’s Commission for the UK’s Future relaunches themes on devolution and constitutional reform that its former Prime Minister tried to pursue in government. Richard Parry discusses how it might impact on Keir Starmer’s ultra-cautious pursuit of power
Guest Blog – A New Britain
The Labour Party’s Commission on the Future of the UK has published it report, ‘A New Britain: Renewing Our Democracy and Rebuilding our Economy'. In this guest blog, Jim Gallagher, adviser to Commission, sets out the transformative effect that it could have for the UK’s territorial constitution.
Unhelpful Clarifications
The Supreme Court judgment on the legality of a Scottish independence referendum can be broken down into three elements. Two are unsurprising but the third is very problematic.
Supreme Court doubles down on the UK referendum position
In rapid Court verdict on legislative competence, the justices assert that even referendums that do not directly change the law have political legitimacy. Richard Parry discusses the political implications and the balance of victory and defeat for both sides
Scottish Independence And The UK Government’s Unreasonable Refusal To Negotiate
In October 2022, the UK Supreme Court heard arguments on the legal viability of a second Scottish independence referendum, in a reference brought by the Lord Advocate. The purpose of this exploratory blog is not to rerun the argument of this case, but to raise additional points against the UK Government’s conduct in refusing to negotiate with Scotland on independence.
The SNP’s Currency Proposals
On 17th October, Nicola Sturgeon presented the SNP’s economic proposals for an independent Scotland, including on the currency. Albeit with slightly less fanfare, on the same day I published a report, Twenty-First Century Central Banking and an Independent Scotland’s Currency Choice.
Truss and Sturgeon wait for the Supreme Court
After the Supreme Court oral hearings, Richard Parry assesses the submissions of both sides on an independence referendum and the way the case might be decided
New currency best option for Scotland, says report by expert on political economy
A new currency would be better for an independent Scotland than an informal currency union with the UK, according to a new report on developments in central banking by the Centre on Constitutional Change.
A fork in the road
Following his recent interview with Kenny Farquharson in The Times, Stephen Noon, former chief strategist at Yes Scotland and now a research scholar at the University of Edinburgh, explores more fully his thoughts on how to move beyond polarised constitutional debate in Scotland.
