A Federal Kingdom

A Federal Kingdom is the best way forward.

During the 19th and most of the 20th centuries it was an axiom of British politics that UK constitution was perfect sacred and immutable. This axiom was a major factor in the defeat of Gladstone’s Home Rule Bill.

In the late 20th century in the Blair administration it was accepted that UK constitution was in need of reform. Of these reforms what is pertinent to N Ireland is the devolution of administrations to Scotland Wales and N Ireland. But this constitutional reform calls into question in what way is the United Kingdom still united? It is canvassed in current constitutional literature that UK constitution needs further reform as a federation because it is in that direction that the Kingdom is now heading. The Liberals advocate a federal United Kingdom with a written constitution reducing the powers of the monarch but a federal United Kingdom is a contradiction in terms because a federal Kingdom is no longer united. Scotland is central to the federalist case. Alex Salmond has stated that he wants an independent Scotland with the Crown as head of state. This demand will need a Federal Kingdom with Scotland having its own written constitution.

Since this is the direction the Kingdom is now headed the federal Kingdom call should be taken up in N Ireland and a case for a Federal Kingdom (not a federal united Kingdom) made with the ultimate goal of a united Ireland with a reformed Crown as Head of State in Ireland giving Ireland its own unique written constitution expressed in The National Government of Ireland Act. A suggested Act can be found at www.authorhouse.co.uk.

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Michael Gillespie Derry