Page 20 - BOSS Today Issue 51

BOSS Today #51

THINGS

FALL APART?

HAS THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED A LACK OF TRUST BETWEEN
WESTMINSTER AND THE REST OF THE UK?

n January, former Prime Minister Minister Nicola Sturgeon now demanding
IGordon Brown warned that COVID-19 a vote should the Scottish National
exposed tensions between the Whitehall Party win a majority in May’s Holyrood
government and its counterparts in Wales elections. A poll commissioned by the
and Scotland. Brown has long supported Sunday Times in Northern Ireland also
devolving more power to the nations and found that 51% of people in the province
regions and alleged that “when all should support a referendum on Irish unity in the
be pulling together and intensifying co- next five years. The number of people who
operation across the UK,” there has in fact Within his comments, Brown urged the say they do not trust the
been huge division between Westminster Prime Minister to set up a Commission Government’s handling of
and the English regions, as well as Scotland to review power sharing between
and Wales. Towards the end of 2020 the the nations. This was something the the COVID-19 pandemic has
four governments were told in no uncertain Conservatives promised in their 2019 doubled since April, from
terms by leading think tank The Institute election manifesto, a ‘Constitution,
for Government that they must better Democracy and Rights Commission’ to 28% to 57%. Half of the
co-ordinate their different approaches to look at the power balance between the people surveyed agreed
lockdown restrictions. Matters came to a government, parliament and the judiciary. that they’re angry with the
head when lack of co-ordination seemed to A Parliamentary Select Committee is
become outright hostility between central currently mapping out exactly how such a Government, compared to a
government and local authorities, not least Commission could and should work, with quarter who disagree.
in Manchester, where mayor Andy Burnham input from civil society.
challenged the region’s placement into Could the implementation of a Ipsos MORI/The Policy Institute
Tier 3. The Institute said that the situation Commission and review in fact provide at King’s College London
had not only caused confusion among the the government with a means to
public, but threatened confidence in the undermine the need for an independence
authorities’ handling of the pandemic, as referendum? It seems highly unlikely that
well as potentially affecting compliance the government would consider such
levels. a measure to be capable of placating
Brown’s comments come against a the SNP. However, if done right, and
backdrop of COVID and wider-related if it engages with the public, such a
constitutional questions which have been Commission could address deficiencies,
percolating for some time. Since the 2016 explore shifting the balance of power,
EU referendum there has been consistent recommend improvements and hopefully
discussion around another independence restore some lost public confidence and For further information contact
referendum for Scotland, with First trust. carys.davis@bpif.org.uk

20