Meeting of the Parliament 29 November 2022
A federalism debate would be the process debate to finish all process debates—I hope including the process debate about independence that seems never, ever to go away.
Bringing the four nations’ powers together when necessary enabled the making of joint decisions throughout the pandemic, and flexing that approach for each part of the country allowed a diverse approach to be taken when that suited the circumstances.
We need a constitution that clearly recognises the shared sovereignty of all four constituent parts of the union and which can find a way to ensure that the UK Government, the Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the various parts of England can work together. That is what the public expects of politicians in these difficult times.
Governments should be compelled to co-operate and agree where their work overlaps, backed by common frameworks and a new dispute resolution process, so that differences can be resolved maturely between Administrations. I can hear SNP members getting riled by my exciting proposition to share power and deliver better governance across the whole UK, in accordance with the principles of federalism.
That is surely how we should progress, in this country. That would bring us together, rather than divide us, and it would make us work in partnership to resolve our common problems. That is something that the whole Parliament should get behind.
I move amendment S6M-06984.3, to insert at end:
“; believes that there are clear opportunities available to each of the UK and Scottish governments to build stronger relationships with European neighbours, and considers that both governments should be compelled to cooperate and agree where their work overlaps, backed by common frameworks and a new dispute resolution process so that differences can be resolved maturely between administrations, to share power and to deliver better governance across the whole of the UK in accordance with the principles of federalism.”
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
- S6M-06984.3 EU Retained Law Motion