Lead supervisor:
Prof Richard Wyn Jones 
Other supervisor(s):
- Dr Huw Pritchard
Start date: October 2024
Award: General
Subject Pathway:
Criminology and Law
Thematic Cluster:
Rights and Governance Cluster
Beyond the binary: where next for the United Kingdom’s territorial constitution?
Devolution has fundamentally altered how three of the UK’s four nations view and comprehend governance, but much has remained the same for actors at the centre. In recent times, the dispersal of power across the UK has become more contested, Brexit has shaken the core foundations of the devolution settlements whilst undeveloped intergovernmental practices have given rise to challenges over the boundaries of competences.
“Beyond the binary” refers to the state of constitutional deadlock that has characterised recent divisions. At times, these divisions have paralysed the effective operation of government all the while casting the longevity of the Union into doubt.
The overall aim of this research is to understand and contextualise the UK’s constitution and the future of the Union, considering both recent and historical tensions at the heart of its composition. It will be deeply entrenched in the legal realities of the British constitution, understanding the division of powers across the UK and the role of the courts. However, this research is an interdisciplinary pursuit, thus embracing the politics which drive, shape and influence daily life across the Union. Indeed, this research recognises that the attitudes and decisions of politicians and the electorate will ultimately determine what the future of the constitution is.