Constitutional reform following the Scottish referendum: a short(ish) reading list

Since the result of the Scottish referendum was announced last week, there has been a great deal of discussion about both Scotland’s constitutional future within the UK and the position of England. Here is a collection of resources concerning the discussion so far:

• House of Commons Library Paper setting out the different political parties’ policies in relation to the devolution of additional powers to the Scottish Parliament
• Gordon Brown, “Union does not mean uniform”
• Joan Bakewell, Nick Pearce, Helena Kennedy, Adam Tomkins, Carwyn Jones and John Cruddas, “Britain is broken: how to remake the UK’s democracy”
• Mark Elliott, “Scotland has voted ‘no’. What next for the UK constitution?”
• Aileen McHarg, “What does the Union need to do to survive?”

On the West Lothian Question in particular, see:

• Alan Trench, “The West Lothian Question”
• Barry Winetrobe, “The West Lothian Dead End: Asking the Wrong Question after the Scottish Referendum”
• Philip Norton, “The West Lothian Question: the answer is not the solution”
• Report of the McKay Commission
• Mark Elliott, “Devolution, the West Lothian Question, and the nature of constitutional reform in the United Kingdom”
• IPPR, “England and the Union: How and why to answer the West Lothian Question”
• Vernon Bogdanor, “Why English votes for English laws is a kneejerk absurdity”
• Mark Elliott, “Bogdanor on ‘English votes for English laws’: A response”

For contrasting views on the way in which the debate should be conducted, see:

• Cormac Mac Amhlaigh, “For a Constitutional Convention for the United Kingdom“
• Carl Gardner, “Let’s avoid a huge constitutional talkfest”

Finally, for a fascinating glimpse of what might have been, try Nick Barber’s “If Scotland Had Voted Yes…” And if you’re looking for a way into this subject area, you might start with my 1,000-word guide to devolution.