Devolution
Government in Northern Ireland needs to be restored, but also reformed
All those involved in talks to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland should be thinking about how ministers can tackle their substantial in-tray.
A second independence referendum
Holding a second independence referendum in 2020, as the SNP has demanded, would be a mistake.
The party manifestos provide few answers about the future of devolution and the Union
Neither of the main parties appear to have a clear plan for how to address the devolution challenge.
Brexit deal: the Northern Ireland protocol
The Northern Ireland protocol aims to avoid the introduction of a hard border on the island of Ireland in the event that there is a no-deal Brexit.
A no-deal Brexit is at odds with the government’s commitment to the Union
The future of the United Kingdom will be at risk if UK leaves the EU without a Brexit deal.
No Deal Brexit and the Union
A no-deal Brexit would be highly controversial in all three devolved nations and increase risks to the Union itself.
The government's proposal for the Northern Ireland protocol
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to the European Union to set out the UK’s proposal for the Irish protocol (the so-called backstop)
Governing without ministers
How Northern Ireland has functioned since the collapse of power-sharing in 2017.
Tony Blair
Tony Blair was interviewed on 24 April 2019 for the Institute for Government's Ministers Reflect project.
Boris Johnson’s Stormont lock might not unlock a Brexit deal
Proposals to democratise the Irish backstop would give a central role to institutions which have not functioned for two and a half years.