News and opinion

Richard Parry discusses the media presentation of opinion poll findings as we await evidence of the impact of the Brexit Party withdrawal from Conservative seats.

In 2019, we have seen two Spanish general elections, one April and another in November. Robert Liñeira, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, follows up his blog from April and analyses the November election. Arguing that the election verdict is similar to six months ago, however, this is the most polarised parliament in left and national terms since the transition to democracy.

Can we generalise the fortunes of towns in the UK? Ben Goodair and Michael Kenny from the Bennett Institute for Public Policy argue that the patterns and policy challenges are very different in Scotland, and debates over the prosperity of towns in Scotland is likely to surface in the upcoming election campaign.

When the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by Theresa May was debated in the House of Commons many Conservative MPs argued that they could not vote for an arrangement that would treat Northern Ireland differently from Great Britain. The revised deal negotiated by Boris Johnson envisages far greater divergence within the UK, yet is far more popular among Conservatives. Jack Sheldon and Michael Kenny explain how this u-turn has come about.

Eve Hepburn examines Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s proposals for a new Australian-style points-based immigration system, and its implications for regional differentiation for Scotland.

In his contribution to devolution at twenty, Malcolm Harvey reflects on the changing Scottish party system.

Michael Kenny and Jack Sheldon of Cambridge University reflect on Boris Johnson's trip to Aberdeen, arguing that it represents a form of 'unionist activism', using the central state to make the case for the Union.

Richard Parry discusses the Commons vote and the relationship between passing the new Brexit law and calling a General Election.

The publication of the annual GERS report has sparked the usual ill-tempered debate, but what can we reasonably take from GERS? David Eiser of the Fraser of Allander Institute reflects on the report and its implications on Scotland's constitutional debates.