The Future of the United Kingdom's Territorial Constitution: Can the Union Survive?

22 Pages Posted: 29 Apr 2016 Last revised: 26 May 2016

Date Written: March 31, 2016

Abstract

The 2014 Scottish independence referendum has failed to settle the question of Scotland’s constitutional future, notwithstanding that a clear majority voted to remain part of the United Kingdom (UK). Since the referendum, the UK Parliament has legislated to fulfill the promise made to the people of Scotland that substantial additional powers would be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and its status as a permanent part of the UK constitution guaranteed. Nevertheless, a growing body of opinion argues that more comprehensive reform to the UK’s territorial constitution is required to ensure the long-term survival of the Union. This chapter outlines the nature of the UK’s current territorial constitution, arguing that, while it is formally unitary, constitutional practice suggests that it is better viewed as a union state. However, as currently constituted, the territorial constitution fails to either to adequately recognise the territorial diversity of the UK or to provide sufficient territorial cohesion to maintain the legitimacy of the UK state. An adequate programme of territorial reform therefore needs to go beyond further devolution of powers to Scotland to address problems of lack of security for the autonomy of the UK’s constituent parts, lack of attention to institutions of shared rules, and lack of constitutional reciprocity. Nevertheless, the chapter also identifies major obstacles to the achievement of comprehensive reform of the territorial constitution. It concludes that the territorial constitution is more likely to continue to develop through continued piecemeal and evolutionary change, and that, in the current climate of territorially-polarised politics, this represents an ongoing threat to the survival of the Union.

Keywords: Scotland, devolution, federalism, independence

Suggested Citation

McHarg, Aileen, The Future of the United Kingdom's Territorial Constitution: Can the Union Survive? (March 31, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2771614 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2771614

Aileen McHarg (Contact Author)

University of Durham ( email )

Durham
United Kingdom
DH1 3LE (Fax)

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