31:
390:
Cymru and the SNP currently accept the monarchy as the Head of State, recognising a
Britannic dimension to our identity as well as our own national identity." "Secondly, there might be an acceptance of sterling as the currency and a reconstituted Bank of England acting as a central bank for a confederation. Thirdly, there is scope for defence co-operation. The SNP supports an independent Scotland being part of NATO, though this is obviously complicated by the question of nuclear weapons. There is surely a pragmatic solution to enable defence co-operation.”
361:
union between
Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Price said “I would argue that by pooling their powers within both Benelux and the European Union, the three countries have enlarged and strengthened their sovereignty. By operating closely together they have obtained greater flexibility and reach in
389:
MP and member of the House of Lords advocated for a "Britannic
Confederation", "in which sovereignty of the three nations and the Province is acknowledged, but they pool their sovereignty for certain purposes—for example, the recognition of the Queen as the head of a Britannic confederation. Plaid
369:
Constitution
Committee, "Inquiry into the Future Governance of the UK", Dr Paul Anderson suggested that further research was merited for a federal or confederal UK. He noted that this may, "contrary to the current dominant opinion among pro-Union political elites, create an even looser union". He
400:
said that in reality, “sovereignty exists in four different places”. He added, “What we should do is think of a United
Kingdom in which sovereignty rests in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and then we choose voluntarily to pool that sovereignty back for certain important key shared purposes.”
235:, has produced a paper discussing his support for a confederate UK. Gallagher was the UK government's most senior adviser on devolution and constitutional matters. He worked on the number 10 policy unit under
208:
As early as 1892, the concept of a "Britannic
Confederation" has been raised which mentioned the possibility of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales entering such a confederation as separate states.
197:"What evidence is there that England and/or other parts of the UK would join in any free association or confederal arrangements with Wales which would constrain their own freedom of action?
642:
948:
339:
on his recommendations for constitutional reform of the UK. There does not seem to have been any evidence to suggest that Brown's recommendations included a confederal-type model.
162:
of each country represented in a
Confederal Assembly where matters such as freedom of movement, residence, employment in neighbouring countries would be subject to negotiation.
250:, suggested it was time to form a British Isles confederation, also replacing the House of Lords with a senate elected by the assemblies/parliaments of constituent countries.
517:
1051:
1001:
200:
If other parts of the UK were unwilling to enter into shared governance arrangements with an independent Wales, how would cross border matters be managed?"
282:. The author settles on confederal-federalism, a union of sovereign nations that stands between federalism and a confederation, with an agreed confederal
78:
with a central authority. Under the system, the central authority exists with the consensus of the constituent countries, which also maintain a right to
1026:
567:
91:
134:. However, it is arguable that the UK is instead a 'union state', and that it is more politically/nationally diverse than even some federal states.
662:
Britannic
Confederation: A Series of Papers by Admiral Sir John Colomb, Professor Edward A. Freeman, George G. Chisholm [and Others] ...
266:
produced a document "A League-Union of the Isles" discussing constitutional options for the UK with a preface by former first minister of Wales
190:
The independent
Constitution Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales identified two questions on a confederal union in the case of
434:
47:
721:
172:
The confederation is defined by an agreed treaty which includes references to e.g. internal trade, currency, defence, foreign relations.
1124:
1114:
1109:
1129:
417:
has noted that an element of a confederacy already exists between the
Republic of Ireland and UK's Northern Ireland. Following the
302:
Defence, foreign policy, internal trade, currency, large scale economics and "Isles affairs" governed by the "Council of the Isles"
104:. The UK Parliament is composed of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the UK government is led by the Prime Minister,
375:
660:
286:
between national parliaments, which jointly form a "Council of the Isles". The proposed union would include the following:
923:
318:, advocated for a "Britannic Confederation" that included Wales, and produced a booklet including this proposal in 1988.
1134:
860:
24:
973:
592:
444:
439:
305:
Each nation holds an individual seat at the UN general council, but one collective seat at the UN Security Council
279:
275:
271:
123:
20:
422:
299:
Each nation would have its own tax regimes and contribute a proportion of their GDP to the "Council of the Isles"
217:
51:
1084:
805:
169:. Each country operates their own tax systems and their own bank, but together may agree on a common currency.
702:
335:
were moving towards a confederation. Jones was reportedly a supporter of a confederal system and worked with
228:
781:
175:
Each decision made by the confederal assembly must be individually implemented in each country's government.
756:
34:
Map of the countries of the UK; England (red), Scotland (blue), Wales (green), Northern Ireland (yellow).
676:
362:
the exercise of national power, grown their economies, and enhanced their presence on the world stage.”
324:, Welsh political reporter said in 2014 that the constitutional ideas proposed by former Prime Minister
165:
Joint budgetary funds raised annually and contributed by each member country as an agreed proportion of
414:
263:
148:
454:
357:
also advocated for a "Britannic Confederation between Wales, Scotland and England", similarly to the
127:
949:"Plaid leader calls for 'Benelux' model of cooperation between nations of Britain post-independence"
1002:"Wales' indy movement not 'anything like Scotland' says member of Labour constitutional commission"
232:
131:
1119:
394:
371:
329:
270:. The author presents multiple potential constitutional options for the UK/UK nations including:
97:
987:
885:
617:
489:
293:
Each nation would have its own legal jurisdiction in addition to a "Supreme Court of the Isles"
568:"Wales and Scotland not nations and independence should be made 'impossible' says Lord Frost"
418:
116:
30:
247:
221:
101:
8:
835:
410:
347:
346:
adapted the party's constitutional stance back to the traditional party position of an
191:
1059:
905:
731:
425:(of the island of Ireland) was established which is responsible for 12 policy areas.
643:"Interim report by The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales"
1052:"UK could break up unless it is rebuilt as 'solidarity union', says Mark Drakeford"
897:
109:
67:
974:"Benelux Treaty of Economic Union - Belgium-Luxembourg-Netherlands [1958]"
220:, also outlined his support for a confederal UK in an article for the think tank
130:. The "UK is a unitary state, not a federation or a confederation." according to
71:
469:
459:
397:
366:
1103:
1063:
909:
735:
382:
315:
259:
183:
119:
75:
886:"Three Welsh Leaders in Search of a Constitutional Future for their Country"
155:
The individual sovereignty of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
901:
336:
332:
325:
290:
Rights of movement, residence and employment in any nation within the union
267:
243:
236:
179:
105:
449:
386:
343:
321:
813:
542:
354:
159:
861:"A Labour landslide could be bad news for devolution | Martin Shipton"
278:, confederalism, confederal-federalism, sovereignty within the EU and
726:
79:
16:
Proposed constitutional reform of a confederation of sovereign states
342:
Following the 2015 UK general election, then leader of Plaid Cymru,
59:
464:
358:
55:
283:
231:, of the Institute of Legal and Constitutional Research at the
126:
operating under authority delegated by the UK Parliament, but
63:
722:"Times Letters: Independence, nationalism and confederation"
151:, the concept of a confederal UK may include the following:
166:
593:"Four options for configuring the British constitution"
216:
Gerald Holtham, Hodge Professor of Regional Economy at
1092:. The Constitution Unit School of Public Policy (UCL).
757:"A League-Union of the Isles - Book Recommendation"
296:
A common currency and a central "Bank of the Isles"
246:, Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology,
122:, where Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have
92:Intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom
1101:
924:"There'll still be a Britain, says Plaid leader"
1086:The British-Irish Agreement: Power-Sharing Plus
988:"Dr Paul Anderson – written evidence (FGU0011)"
253:
128:supreme authority is held by the UK parliament
203:
1082:
435:Constitutional reform in the United Kingdom
142:
137:
85:
48:constitutional reform of the United Kingdom
374:'s campaign for independence prior to the
378:included "hallmarks" of a confederal UK.
74:that pool certain key resources within a
29:
1049:
858:
1102:
883:
833:
782:"Challenge facing Plaid's new leader"
779:
754:
700:
677:"The British Confederation of States"
658:
665:G. Philip & Son. pp. 50–51.
512:
510:
543:"King Charles III, the new monarch"
524:. European Committee of the Regions
404:
13:
714:
635:
597:British Politics and Policy at LSE
46:has been proposed as a concept of
14:
1146:
704:Could there be a "Confederal" UK?
507:
309:
25:Confederation of British Industry
1125:Federalism in the United Kingdom
1115:Governance in the United Kingdom
1110:Devolution in the United Kingdom
445:Devolution in the United Kingdom
440:Federalism in the United Kingdom
21:Federalism in the United Kingdom
1130:Proposals in the United Kingdom
1076:
1050:Carrell, Severin (2023-05-29).
1043:
1019:
994:
980:
966:
941:
916:
877:
852:
827:
798:
773:
748:
694:
423:North/South Ministerial Council
218:Cardiff Metropolitan University
211:
52:countries of the United Kingdom
859:Shipton, Martin (2022-10-23).
669:
652:
610:
585:
560:
535:
482:
1:
806:"Gwynfor Evans - gwynfor.net"
755:Trust, Federal (2022-03-28).
475:
178:Each country has independent
659:White, Arthur Silva (1892).
376:2014 independence referendum
353:In 2019, Plaid Cymru leader
117:asymmetrically decentralised
7:
1027:"Constitutional Commission"
884:Osmond, John (2015-11-01).
428:
350:within a UK confederation.
254:A League-Union of the Isles
108:, and the head of state is
10:
1151:
840:Institute of Welsh Affairs
786:Institute of Welsh Affairs
622:Institute of Welsh Affairs
494:Institute of Welsh Affairs
415:London School of Economics
314:Former Plaid Cymru leader
264:Institute of Welsh affairs
204:UK confederation proposals
149:Institute of Welsh Affairs
89:
18:
1135:Proposed political unions
1083:O'Leary, Brendan (1998).
618:"A new model for the UK?"
490:"A new model for the UK?"
370:also suggested that the
233:University of St Andrews
143:UK confederation concept
138:Concept of confederation
96:The United Kingdom is a
86:Current status of the UK
19:Not to be confused with
395:First Minister of Wales
330:First Minister of Wales
102:parliamentary democracy
98:constitutional monarchy
902:10.3366/scot.2015.0097
35:
455:British–Irish Council
419:Good Friday Agreement
40:British confederation
33:
953:South Wales Guardian
834:admin (2014-03-13).
780:admin (2012-03-16).
522:portal.cor.europa.eu
248:University of Oxford
124:devolved governments
180:legal jurisdictions
160:national parliament
836:"Acts of disunion"
192:Welsh independence
36:
761:The Federal Trust
348:independent Wales
147:According to the
76:confederal system
1142:
1094:
1093:
1091:
1080:
1074:
1073:
1071:
1070:
1047:
1041:
1040:
1038:
1037:
1023:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1013:
998:
992:
991:
984:
978:
977:
970:
964:
963:
961:
960:
945:
939:
938:
936:
935:
920:
914:
913:
890:Scottish Affairs
881:
875:
874:
872:
871:
856:
850:
849:
847:
846:
831:
825:
824:
822:
821:
812:. Archived from
802:
796:
795:
793:
792:
777:
771:
770:
768:
767:
752:
746:
745:
743:
742:
718:
712:
711:
709:
701:Gallagher, Jim.
698:
692:
691:
689:
688:
673:
667:
666:
656:
650:
649:
647:
639:
633:
632:
630:
629:
614:
608:
607:
605:
604:
589:
583:
582:
580:
579:
564:
558:
557:
555:
554:
539:
533:
532:
530:
529:
518:"CoR - UK intro"
514:
505:
504:
502:
501:
486:
405:Northern Ireland
132:Lord David Frost
110:King Charles III
82:, if they wish.
72:sovereign states
70:become separate
68:Northern Ireland
1150:
1149:
1145:
1144:
1143:
1141:
1140:
1139:
1100:
1099:
1098:
1097:
1089:
1081:
1077:
1068:
1066:
1048:
1044:
1035:
1033:
1025:
1024:
1020:
1011:
1009:
1000:
999:
995:
986:
985:
981:
972:
971:
967:
958:
956:
947:
946:
942:
933:
931:
922:
921:
917:
882:
878:
869:
867:
857:
853:
844:
842:
832:
828:
819:
817:
810:www.gwynfor.net
804:
803:
799:
790:
788:
778:
774:
765:
763:
753:
749:
740:
738:
720:
719:
715:
707:
699:
695:
686:
684:
675:
674:
670:
657:
653:
645:
641:
640:
636:
627:
625:
616:
615:
611:
602:
600:
591:
590:
586:
577:
575:
566:
565:
561:
552:
550:
541:
540:
536:
527:
525:
516:
515:
508:
499:
497:
488:
487:
483:
478:
431:
411:Brendan O'Leary
407:
312:
258:In March 2022,
256:
214:
206:
145:
140:
94:
88:
50:, in which the
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1148:
1138:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1120:Confederations
1117:
1112:
1096:
1095:
1075:
1042:
1018:
993:
979:
965:
955:. 27 June 2019
940:
915:
896:(4): 463–475.
876:
851:
826:
797:
772:
747:
713:
693:
668:
651:
634:
609:
584:
559:
534:
506:
480:
479:
477:
474:
473:
472:
470:Nordic Council
467:
462:
460:European Union
457:
452:
447:
442:
437:
430:
427:
406:
403:
398:Mark Drakeford
367:House of Lords
365:In 2021, in a
311:
310:By politicians
308:
307:
306:
303:
300:
297:
294:
291:
255:
252:
213:
210:
205:
202:
188:
187:
176:
173:
170:
163:
156:
144:
141:
139:
136:
87:
84:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1147:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1116:
1113:
1111:
1108:
1107:
1105:
1088:
1087:
1079:
1065:
1061:
1057:
1053:
1046:
1032:
1031:UK Parliament
1028:
1022:
1007:
1003:
997:
989:
983:
975:
969:
954:
950:
944:
929:
925:
919:
911:
907:
903:
899:
895:
891:
887:
880:
866:
862:
855:
841:
837:
830:
816:on 2023-01-30
815:
811:
807:
801:
787:
783:
776:
762:
758:
751:
737:
733:
729:
728:
723:
717:
706:
705:
697:
682:
678:
672:
664:
663:
655:
644:
638:
623:
619:
613:
598:
594:
588:
573:
569:
563:
548:
544:
538:
523:
519:
513:
511:
495:
491:
485:
481:
471:
468:
466:
463:
461:
458:
456:
453:
451:
448:
446:
443:
441:
438:
436:
433:
432:
426:
424:
421:of 1998, the
420:
416:
412:
402:
399:
396:
391:
388:
384:
383:Dafydd Wigley
379:
377:
373:
368:
363:
360:
356:
351:
349:
345:
340:
338:
334:
331:
327:
323:
319:
317:
316:Gwynfor Evans
304:
301:
298:
295:
292:
289:
288:
287:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
260:Glyndwr Jones
251:
249:
245:
240:
238:
234:
230:
229:Jim Gallagher
225:
223:
219:
209:
201:
198:
195:
193:
185:
184:supreme court
181:
177:
174:
171:
168:
164:
161:
157:
154:
153:
152:
150:
135:
133:
129:
125:
121:
120:unitary state
118:
115:The UK is an
113:
111:
107:
103:
99:
93:
83:
81:
77:
73:
69:
66:, as well as
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
44:confederal UK
41:
32:
26:
22:
1085:
1078:
1067:. Retrieved
1056:The Guardian
1055:
1045:
1034:. Retrieved
1030:
1021:
1010:. Retrieved
1008:. 2022-06-10
1006:Nation.Cymru
1005:
996:
982:
968:
957:. Retrieved
952:
943:
932:. Retrieved
930:. 2012-06-29
927:
918:
893:
889:
879:
868:. Retrieved
864:
854:
843:. Retrieved
839:
829:
818:. Retrieved
814:the original
809:
800:
789:. Retrieved
785:
775:
764:. Retrieved
760:
750:
739:. Retrieved
725:
716:
703:
696:
685:. Retrieved
683:. 2021-02-01
680:
671:
661:
654:
637:
626:. Retrieved
624:. 2019-10-11
621:
612:
601:. Retrieved
599:. 2015-02-10
596:
587:
576:. Retrieved
574:. 2022-08-19
572:Nation.Cymru
571:
562:
551:. Retrieved
549:. 2022-09-18
546:
537:
526:. Retrieved
521:
498:. Retrieved
496:. 2019-10-11
493:
484:
408:
392:
380:
364:
352:
341:
337:Gordon Brown
333:Carwyn Jones
326:Gordon Brown
320:
313:
280:independence
268:Carwyn Jones
257:
244:Nigel Biggar
241:
237:Gordon Brown
226:
215:
212:By academics
207:
199:
196:
189:
146:
114:
106:Kier Stramer
95:
43:
39:
37:
865:WalesOnline
450:Union State
387:Plaid Cymru
344:Leanne Wood
328:and former
322:John Osmond
1104:Categories
1069:2023-05-29
1036:2022-10-13
1012:2022-10-11
959:2022-10-11
934:2022-10-12
870:2022-10-27
845:2022-10-11
820:2022-10-12
791:2022-10-11
766:2022-04-14
741:2022-04-09
687:2022-04-08
628:2022-04-08
603:2022-10-23
578:2022-10-12
553:2022-10-12
528:2022-10-12
500:2022-04-08
476:References
409:Professor
355:Adam Price
276:federalism
272:devolution
90:See also:
1064:0261-3077
910:0966-0356
736:0140-0460
727:The Times
393:In 2023,
385:, former
381:In 2022,
242:In 2019,
80:secession
928:ITV News
547:BBC News
429:See also
60:Scotland
681:Compass
465:Benelux
413:of the
359:Benelux
262:of the
222:Compass
56:England
1062:
908:
734:
284:treaty
182:and a
100:and a
1090:(PDF)
708:(PDF)
646:(PDF)
227:Prof
64:Wales
42:or a
1060:ISSN
906:ISSN
732:ISSN
158:The
898:doi
372:SNP
167:GDP
23:or
1106::
1058:.
1054:.
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1004:.
951:.
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904:.
894:24
892:.
888:.
863:.
838:.
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759:.
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679:.
620:.
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570:.
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27:.
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