Inter-Parliamentary Relations: Missing Links?

Tuesday 22nd September 2020 | 1200 – 1345

Zoom online webinar  

The Institute of Welsh Affairs’ new “Missing Links” report highlights the ad hoc and informal nature of inter-parliamentary working between the four legislatures of the UK.

Academics, politicians, and officials working the parliaments have long agreed that this is an area in need of reform. The IWA argues that the constitutional implications of the UK’s EU exit has given this a new urgency, particularly around scrutiny of inter-governmental decision making in the devolved UK.

The four nations now face a new set of constitutional challenges as the UK works through the practical, political, and philosophical questions raised by the end of our EU membership. The fierce debate around the Internal Market Bill is just the latest example of a complex reform with implications for devolution, where effective inter-parliamentary working to build consensus on the way forward would be invaluable.

Whether you are a unionist, federalist or support some form of independence, our shared geography and history will always bind the nations of the UK together. So our governments and parliaments should be working together in the common interest. The question now is how to drive that change.

This event will invite politicians and constitutional experts to explore how we could devise new ideas and models to improve inter-parliamentary relations in the future.

Panellists:

• Sir Paul Silk KCB, Member, Steering Committee of the Constitution Reform Group (Chair)
• Liz Saville Roberts MP, Group Leader, Plaid Cymru
• Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, Chairman of the Liaison Committee, Conservative Party
• Prof. Deirdre Heenan, School of Applied Social and Policy Science, Ulster University
• Peter Wishart MP, Chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee, Scottish National Party
• Mick Antoniw MS, Chair of Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Welsh Labour

Tickets for this online event are free but limited. To confirm your attendance, please make sure to book your ticket.

We would like to thank Hansard Society and Stratagem NI for their support of this event.