Building sub-national government
A more systematic approach to relations between the devolved administrations and the UK government is required
Alan Trench calls for a more systematic approach to intergovernmental relations between the devolved and UK governments. He argues that leaving matters to be handled in ad hoc, reactive, unstructured way is no longer an option. Similar PostsWestminster must choose between leaving the EU and retaining the UKWhat party competition in England will look like after […]
Between cohesion and division: reconciling the faultines of Europe’s past
Despite movement towards integration in the form of a shared currency and political institutions over the last 20 years, Europe shows signs of slipping back into populism and rancour. But do the faultlines of Europe’s past make full reconciliation impossible? Giacomo Lichtner, Mark Seymour, Maartja Abbenhuis explore this possibility, arguing that doing so is a necessity if […]
Economic considerations play only a limited role in explaining support for Catalonian independence, but could be crucial in deciding the final outcome
The Scottish independence referendum saw economic considerations prove decisive, with the Yes campaign never fully convincing the electorate that voting for independence would bring with it greater prosperity. In Catalonia, a similar debate is under way, but this time economic considerations are set to play a smaller role – though they could yet be decisive in deciding […]
The Kerslake Review has shone a light on the deeply dysfunctional nature of Birmingham local government
The former Head of the Civil Service Sir Bob Kerslake recently published a government commissioned report into the governance of Birmingham City Council, and was withering about its shortcomings. Pauline Geohegan argues that the report simply confirms what was already widely known: that the city is disfunctionally run, and that its time for a big […]
Scotland: if not independence then a federacy?
Now that the Smith Commission has reported, are we closer to the federal vision that some have conceived as an alternative to Scottish independence? Rather than a federation, Eve Hepburn writes that Scotland may come to resemble a different, lesser known ‘f-word’; a federacy, where there is considerable self-rule, but much less shared-rule than envisaged in federations. Similar PostsIf Scotland’s capacity to run its […]
Book Review: Negotiating Cohesion, Inequality and Change: Uncomfortable Positions in Local Government by Hannah Jones
Hannah Jones aims to explore how multiculturalism, inequality and belonging are understood in the day-to-day thinking and practices of local government. The rich details of this book, in which interviews and in situ accounts are integrated with a national imperative to engage with and direct the diversification of society, are compelling, and the book should be […]
If Scotland’s capacity to run its own affairs is undermined, it may fuel demand for a less dependent relationship with Westminster
The Smith Commission suggested a new basis for the relationship between Westminster and the Scottish Parliament. However, as Nicola McEwan argues, the new settlement could lead to disagreements resulting from the continuing interdependency of the two Parliament, with the potential for renewed Scottish nationalism to be inflamed by the new models inherent tensions. Similar PostsAudit 2017: […]
The ‘radical’ proponents of Scottish independence dramatically overstated its potential to transform Britain’s broken political economy
Over three months have passed since Scottish voters opted to remain within the United Kingdom at the Scottish independence referendum. Looking back, James Stafford argues that the Yes campaign erred in presenting the potential for independence to bring about a fairer society, and to move away from the structural problems which face British society and its […]
The future for Local Government in England could be bright, provided that it’s accountable
The mood inside local government is currently bleak, with worries about funding and demographic change chief amongst the sector’s concerns. Jessica Crowe of the Centre for Public Scrutiny argues that the future for local authorities can be bright, provided that its leaders are willing to take steps to create a more accountable future. If I was feeling more pessimistic, […]
The best of Democratic Audit’s 2014 coverage of local, regional, and sub-national government
This year, the Scottish independence set in motion a chain of events which may, or may not, lead to greater powers at the sub-national level for the English regions, and city areas. Here are some of the best articles that Democratic Audit has carried in 2014 which deal with local, regional, and sub-national government. Similar PostsEvolution or […]
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