Constitution Unit seminar: Devolution and the Union

The Constitution Unit conducts timely, rigorous, independent research into constitutional change and its consequences. Our research has significant real-world impact, informing policy-makers engaged in constitutional reform both in the United Kingdom and around the world.Our seminars cover all areas of the constitution and open debate on a range of issues. We try to keep the programme topical and interesting and generate well informed and lively discussion between the speaker and our audience. We have broad discussions with high profile speakers as well as exploring more technical issues. We aim to keep the seminars accessible to all and film them for debate beyond the room.The seminars are completely free and open to all. Since it is common for ticket holders to drop out on the day for whatever reason, we oversubscribe our events to ensure a good turn out and a lively discussion. Registration therefore, does not guarantee you entry and we advise that you arrive in good time in order to ensure you are admitted to the event.The presentations and Q&A are filmed, however if you do not wish your question to be included in the event video, please let the chair know before asking your question. Our audience is wide-ranging, from official, academics and practitioners to students and interested members of the public. We aim to give you the opportunity to debate with those in the know.To view all videos please visit our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh_CIMLYiiw3uK10yJUDTNAThese seminars are funded by her family in memory of Barbara Farbey, late of UCL, who greatly enjoyed them and who died in 2009.

The Constitution Unit

How will devolution and the Union change post-Brexit? 

<p>As the final part of the Constitution Unit’s 25th anniversary celebrations, we look at devolution and the Union. Devolution had a deceptively easy start in the UK, thanks to Labour-controlled governments in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff, the breakthrough of the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast, and lack of interest in England.  But with the election of governments of different persuasions tensions have grown, and been hugely exacerbated by the rupture of Brexit. To chart this increasingly bumpy ride, and discuss whether the Union can survive, we have four academic experts, one from each part of the UK: </p><ul><li>Professor John Denham is Director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Southampton and Director of the Southern Policy Centre. He is a former Labour MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee.</li><li>Cathy Gormley-Heenan is Professor of Politics and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Ulster University. She is an expert on Northern Irish politics and the politics of peace processes and divided societies, and has published a notable range of articles and reports on Northern Ireland’s peace walls. She is also a member of the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/research/elections-and-referendums/working-group-unification-referendums-island-ireland" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland</a></li><li>Michael Keating is Professor of Politics at the University of Aberdeen, and Director of the <a href="https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Centre on Constitutional Change</a>. He is the author or editor of over thirty books on Scottish politics, European politics, nationalism and regionalism.</li><li>Laura McAllister is Professor of Public Policy and the Governance of Wales at the Wales Governance Centre. Her research centres on Welsh politics, devolution, electoral reform, and gender. She works closely with the National Assembly for Wales on constitutional and political matters, most recently as Chair of the Expert Panel on Assembly Reform.</li></ul><p>The event will be chaired by Professor Robert Hazell, Professor of Government and the Constitution and former Director of the Constitution Unit.</p>

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Constitution Unit seminar: Devolution and the Union

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