The Comparative Angle: The year ahead for intergovernmental relations
By Dewi Knight
A new comparative angle
Welcome to the first edition of The Comparative Angle. A new and regular blog from PolicyWISE which looks at issues from a cross-nation and comparative perspective.
It complements our monthly newsletter, Wise in 5 briefings, and ongoing research, providing a Comparative Angle on topical issues.
In each blog, we will look at a particular policy issue or challenge and provide short sharp commentary on it from a genuine pan-UK and Ireland perspective.
We will compare the state of play across the nations, function as a reminder that there is a policy world beyond Westminster and highlight new and relevant comparative research.
Our day-to-day work is with policymakers and academic researchers. We support them to develop relationships, respect and comparative knowledge. Through this blog, we hope to inform a wider audience about policy developments and comparisons.
To kick-off the series, we have identified our PolicyWISE watchlist for inter-governmental relations developments in 2025.
Brothers in Arms
For many, 2025 will be the year of brotherly love.
July and August will mark the official ceasefire in the Oasis sibling cold war, with their first tour in 16 years.
Even the closest of bands struggle to let the water run under the bridge. And even national unions, federations and bands of brothers have their own history of hits, misses and break-ups.
The United Kingdom – in its various guises – has had plenty of political and policy “musical differences.” The Scottish referendum, Brexit and the Covid pandemic are three recent significant stress tests for harmonious fraternal relations.
Clean and Jerk
And just last week, we learnt that Rhodri Morgan’s turn of the century vision of “clear red water” between Welsh and English policy was considered “dreadful nonsense” by Tony Blair.
This, perhaps, was Mr Blair’s diplomatic version of Garfunkel calling Simon a “jerk” for wanting to do things differently…
At PolicyWISE, we work to bring people and research together to find solutions to cross-nation issues facing policymakers.
Those recent stress-tests have encouraged policymakers across administrations to seek more comparative policy research, to want to learn from each other, and to have more evidence-informed context for inter-governmental working.
So, what do we anticipate for the year ahead?
Five for 2025 - intergovernmental relations
· Council Constitutional Construction
We expect to see the Council of the Nations and Regions evolve as a strong part of our inter-governmental architecture. We hope and anticipate that it will move forward with key issues, and processes, for policy co-operation and learning. We intend to provide some analysis in due course to support this development.
· Mission Possible
The challenge for the UK Government – as a UK-wide convener, as a “UK” policy actor in limited domestic fields, and as the (de-facto) government for England – to establish a shared endeavour across administrations on its missions. Not impossible, but it will require political and policy nous to navigate different and divergent roles, priorities, and responsibilities. We’re taking a keen interest in efforts to end violence against women and girls – a priority shared by all governments, which would benefit from more knowledge-exchange.
· Mind the Gap
How will parliaments work together to increase and improve pan-UK scrutiny, particularly on issues which cross reserved/devolved policy spaces? Take the VAT on private school fees for example – a reserved tax but implemented in a devolved area. Parliamentary committees and knowledge exchange units must continue to collaborate on such matters to ensure that accountability, scrutiny, and policy learning doesn’t fall down the gap between administrations.
· Think Big
The challenges of recent years, and immediately in front of us, show that perhaps the UK hasn’t been great in thinking or acting strategically. Now is surely the time to collectively identify and plan for the big opportunities and challenges – across security, trade, skills, technology, and energy – and how inter-governmental working should be an advantage rather than a hinderance.
· New Year – Same Old Faces…
2024 was the year of elections and changes in leadership across our islands. Each UK and Irish administration saw (at least) one change in head of government. With elections to the Dail closing the year, and current coalition negotiations expected to give a similar arrangement, we can be hopeful in 2025 of some stability in leadership across governments. The personal element, and interests, are essential to positive inter-governmental working – we expect to see a year where the Prime Minister’s recent UK-efforts to build relations will help soothe any difficulties.
That is our top five to watch in intergovernmental relations for the year ahead. Future blogs will focus more on specific policy issues – but always from a comparative and cross-nation perspective.
We are always keen to hear feedback – get in touch here, post a comment or send an email.
The Comparative Angle is a new, free, and regular blog from PolicyWISE which looks at issues from a cross-nation and comparative perspective.
It complements our monthly newsletter, Wise in 5 briefings, and ongoing research, providing a Comparative Angle on topical issues.
In each edition, we will look at a particular policy issue or challenge and provide short sharp commentary on it from a genuine pan-UK and Ireland perspective.
You can subscribe to The Comparative Angle on LinkedIn.