The Review of Intergovernmental Relations: a “significant constitutional step forward”?

Summary:

Now that the United Kingdom (UK) has left the European Union (EU), it’s widely recognised that the UK and devolved governments have to work together more closely, particularly on:

• managing policy divergence between different parts of the UK outside the EU single market; and
• the negotiation and implementation of international obligations.

In 2018, the UK and devolved governments commissioned a review of intergovernmental relations to “ensure they are fit for purpose in light of the UK’s exit from the EU”. In January 2022, the governments reached agreement.

In March 2022, the Welsh Government’s Counsel General told the Senedd’s Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee that the agreement on the review was a “significant constitutional step forward”, describing the new dispute resolution process as “groundbreaking”. However, he said that agreement depended on “all four Governments working in the spirit of making it work”.