Akash Paun
Programme Director
Akash's recent work
Local elections 2024: Mayor of the West Midlands
On 2 May 2024, voters in Birmingham and six neighbouring local areas elected Richard Parker as the mayor of the West Midlands.
Local elections 2024: Mayor of Greater Manchester
On 2 May 2024, Andy Burnham was elected for the third time as mayor of Greater Manchester
Local elections 2024: Mayor of West Yorkshire
On 2 May 2024, voters elected Tracy Brabin as Mayor of West Yorkshire
All work
Mark Durkan
Mark Durkan was interviewed on 23 May 2018 for the Institute for Government’s Ministers Reflect project.
Irish reunification
What is a border poll? What would happen if Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland voted in favour of reunification?
The Scottish Parliament has rejected the Brexit bill – are we heading for a second independence referendum?
The Prime Minister now faces an unpalatable choice: concede defeat or help the SNP make the case for indyref2.
Westminster is taking Edinburgh and Cardiff to court – but it faces difficulties even if it wins
The Supreme Court's decision will do little to resolve the underlying problem of poor relations between the UK and devolved governments.
Devolution after Brexit
All four governments of the UK – Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Westminster – must go back to the drawing board to redefine their relationships
Tax devolution is welcome – but the system increasingly lacks coherence
There is a strong case for a review of how devolved and local government is funded.
Tax and devolution
Why are taxes being devolved?
Scotland and Wales reject the Government’s latest Brexit offer – what next?
Negotiations between the UK and devolved governments are at risk of failure.
How the UK and devolved governments can agree on the EU Withdrawal Bill
A deal on the EU WIthdrawal Bill hinges on both the UK and devolved governments making significant concessions.
Sewel convention
How the Sewel convention works in practice and what happens when devolved consent is withheld.