Devolution

Scotland's Court of Session has ruled that the UK government acted lawfully in vetoing the Scottish Parliament’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill from receiving lawful assent, after a legal challenge to the block was brought by the Scottish Ministers. It was argued for the petitioners that the p

The Scottish government will challenge the Secretary of State for Scotland’s use of Section 35 of the Scotland Act to stop the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill going forward to Royal Assent following the Scottish Parliament’s approval of the legislation in December 2022. Social

The UK government has availed itself of section 35 of the Scotland Act to stop the Scottish Parliament's Gender Recognition Reform Bill from receiving Royal Assent. Scottish secretary Alister Jack said he would use section 35 following a review of the bill by UK government lawyers. UK ministers are

A public consultation has been launched to seek views on greater fiscal devolution to Northern Ireland. The consultation, which follows the publication of a report on greater powers by the Fiscal Commission in May 2022, will run until Tuesday 29 November 2022.

Parliamentary privilege would be extended to members of the Scottish Parliament under plans set out by Liz Truss ahead of a Tory leadership hustings in Perth, Scotland this evening. At present, MSPs — like members of the devolved assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland — do not have the

The Scottish Parliament "plainly" lacks the power to hold an independence referendum, the UK government law officers have said. In October, the UK Supreme Court will determine whether MSPs can legislate for a vote without Westminster's support.

Scotland's Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain QC, has referred the provisions of the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill to the UK Supreme Court. The bill was introduced yesterday and proposes that a consultative referendum be held on 19 October 2023, Scottish Legal News reports.

A committee of the House of Lords has called for the creation of a revitalised, better-functioning and less rancorous United Kingdom in a new report. In Respect and Co-operation: Building a Stronger Union for the 21st century, published today, the Constitution Committee details a series of reforms t

There is a case for the devolution of more fiscal powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the independent Fiscal Commission for Northern Ireland has said. In its interim report, the commission said there is a case to consider the devolution of taxes including income tax, excise duties on alcohol, t

Certain provisions of bills passed by the Scottish Parliament are outside its legislative competence, the UK Supreme Court has ruled. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill (UNCRC) and the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Sc

The post-Brexit UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) risks damaging trust between the UK and devolved administrations, according to a think tank. In a new report, the Institute for Government said that the UKSPF, which will replace EU ‘structural funds' and will be launched in April 2022, could a

Michael Gove will be questioned by peers tomorrow as part of an inquiry into the future governance of the UK, exploring topics such as intergovernmental relations, promoting the Union across Government and funding arrangements. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and minister for the Cabinet Of

The UK government has threatened to go to the Supreme Court to overturn two pieces of Scottish legislation which were unanimously backed by MSPs. MSPs last week voted unanimously for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill to become law, making Scotla

A legal case arguing that the Scottish Parliament should be able to pass a law to hold an independence referendum without the consent of the UK government has failed in the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Declarator to this effect was sought by Martin James Keatings. He also argued that no amendment

Daniel Wincott, Blackwell professor of law and society at the University of Cardiff, explores the impact of Brexit on devolution across the UK. Brexit has exposed the underdeveloped and fragile aspects of devolution in the UK. Devolved governments’ relationships with London are strained. The a