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.
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