Devolution and Constitution. A constitutional continuum

The United Kingdom was a unitary state comprising England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, all of which were intrinsically linked culturally and historically in modern times through shared industrial, political and international experiences.

The author discusses whether the UK should: ‘use the repatriation of powers from the EU to establish a new federal state of equals.’

The blog comes from pamphlet Brexit, Devolution and the Changing Union: 2018 by Lord David Owen, Gwynoro Jones, Lord Elystan Morgan and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones, with an afterword by Martin Shipton. The pamphlet explored the need for a UK-wide Constitutional Convention — with involvement of all political parties and elements of British society — to discuss the future of the Union, particularly in the context of Brexit.

Background information

The Welsh Brexit blog aims to inform and encourage constructive debate and analysis on issues relating to Wales and the UK's exit of the European Union.

• Primary Source

United Kingdom: Cabinet Office: Speech, 26.02.18: [Brexit and devolved powers]: United at home, stronger abroad http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-and-devolved-powers-united-at-home-stronger-abroad/

Brexit, Devolution and the Changing Union: 2018. A pamphlet of short articles by Lord David Owen, Gwynoro Jones, Lord Elystan Morgan and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones https://drive.google.com/file/d/1beSbOf8Bx5PbSlCORXXaEaKFVjlWB0XN/view

Institute of Welsh Affairs: Article, August 2018: Confederal Federalism: A League-Union of the Isles (Part 1 and 2) http://www.iwa.wales/click/2018/08/confederal-federalism-league-union-isles-part-one/

Welsh Brexit: Blog, 02.08.18: Devolution and Constitution. Brexit and the territorial constitution: déjà vu all over again? http://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/brexit/2018/08/02/brexit-and-the-territorial-constitution-deja-vu-all-over-again/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Find more information on Wales and the EU Referendum, 23 June 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=brexit%20wales%20&searchOption=all

National Assembly for Wales: Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee: Report, February 2018: UK governance post-Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-governance-post-brexit/

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