Options for an English Parliament: lessons from existing decentralised states

The Constitution Unit: Research Project: Options for an English Parliament

Ever since the establishment of the devolved assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the late 1990s some have proposed that England too should have a parliament of its own. Although various individuals and groups have voiced such ideas, and a Campaign for an English Parliament was established in 1998, little detailed work has ever been done on design options for what an English Parliament might actually look like, partly because the proposal initially secured little mainstream support. In recent years, however, a growing number of senior politicians from across the party political spectrum have shown interest in an English Parliament as a possible solution to the ‘English question’.

This project hence explores the options for an English Parliament, including, among other things, the likely size, location, electoral system, powers and internal organisation of such a body, as well as the implications for Westminster and Whitehall. The purpose is not to advocate for or against an English Parliament but to provide objective evidence about the feasibility of different options and the likely challenges in constructing such a body.

The research will be based on detailed analysis of existing devolution arrangements in the UK and overseas, as well as interviews with key proponents and opponents of an English Parliament. We have also launched a consultation to seek views on the key questions that we are examining. The main output from the project will be a Constitution Unit report, due to be published in autumn 2017.

+ The project is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, and runs from autumn 2016 to autumn 2017.
+ It is led by Professor Meg Russell, with Jack Sheldon as Research Assistant.In 2016 the Constitution Unit began work on a project exploring the options for an English Parliament. As part of this research they are examining arrangements in other decentralised states, particularly those which are federal, to draw out lessons for the design of political institutions were an English Parliament to be established. Jack Sheldon and Meg Russell summarise some early findings.

ESO: Background information: The UK is now at a constitutional crossroads http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-uk-is-now-at-a-constitutional-crossroads/

Blog: UCL: The Constitution Unit, 01.09.17: The electoral system for an English Parliament: options and implications https://constitution-unit.com/2017/09/01/the-electoral-system-for-an-english-parliament-options-and-implications/

Blog: UCL: The Constitution Unit: Tag: English Parliament https://constitution-unit.com/tag/english-parliament/

---