Bridging divides: lessons in cross-nation collaboration from the PolicyWISE roundtables.

In a time of shifting power dynamics, widening regional disparities, and voting volatility, how can the nations of the UK and Ireland collaborate more effectively without losing the richness of their distinct identities?

This question sat at the heart of a unique series of PolicyWISE roundtables held across Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Manchester throughout 2024 and 2025. These discussions brought together over 100 policymakers, academics, and civil society leaders to explore how we might work with governments to improve intergovernmental relations and devise smarter, more collaborative policymaking.

While each nation has its own context, culture, and constitutional story, common ground emerged.

The case for comparative learning

Too often, policy development happens in silos, bounded by geography, political cycles, or assumptions about what works “here” versus “there”. The roundtables challenged this thinking by inviting participants to reflect on how policy innovation, when understood and shared in a comparative context can create better outcomes for all.

From organ donation legislation, minimum alcohol unit pricing to addressing skills development in a post-conflict society and strengthening devolution knowledge at the heart of power we explored how sharing knowledge about policies in one nation can support others.

Our roundtable series aimed to inform how:

·    Policy learning and development works across nations and administrations.

·    Comparative policy research and researchers can contribute to evidence informed approaches to challenges.

·    Better use of existing, and new, networks, structures and communities for cross-nation policy learning and development.

·    Policymakers and researchers understand and use data, within a comparative context.

·    Identify common challenges and issues across nations, whilst supporting nation-specific responses.

Take aways from each roundtable

Scotland

·     Importance of data comparability but need to recognise difference.

·     Governments need to move from being “devolution-aware” to being “devolution-able”.

·     Multi-lateral learning; avoiding both “Anglophobia” and England as the default.

Wales

·       Inter-governmental relations should emphasise collaboration and learning, not competition.

·       Inter-Parliamentary co-operation is essential for policy learning and comparative analysis.

·       The need for multi-lateral learning – avoiding England as the “norm” and recognising that some “competition” can be positive.

Northern Ireland

·     Scrutiny is essential to good policy development and requires constructive engagement and input from all sides and sectors, supporting a strong legislature and good government.

·     Cross-administration learning and co-operation, east-west and north-south, will help build an understanding of gaps and the necessary policy and data interventions in Northern Ireland.

·     Northern Ireland’s devolution story is unique, other administrations and policymakers should consider (and learn from this) in their engagement, comparisons, and relationships.

England

·     The unfinished map of governing England is a significant barrier to genuine policy learning which could deliver for citizens.

·     Lots can be learnt from the successful Greater Manchester model, particularly its approach to partnership, but it will take work to replicate in areas with different historical approaches.

·     Devolution capacity and capability, at national and regional levels, should be embedded in policymaking. Current gaps lead to significant missed potential.

Recommendations

1. Transition to devolution-able. Equip institutions and leaders with the knowledge, capacity, and confidence to implement devolved solutions.

2. Promote multi-lateral learning. Create space for shared reflection across jurisdictions, resisting the urge to default to a single national lens.

3. Emphasise collaboration over competition. Shift the tone of intergovernmental relations toward shared learning and joint problem-solving.

4. Strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation Connect legislatures across nations to support robust scrutiny and deeper understanding of policy impact.

5. Champion cross-administration learning: Encourage cross-administration learning and cooperation, both east-west and north-south.

6. Leverage unique devolution experiences: Use the unique devolution experiences of different nations and regions as a valuable point of learning and engagement.

The PolicyWISE roundtables, alongside our work on the Council of Nations and Regions, make a clear case: improving intergovernmental relations is not a constitutional side project but is fundamental to building smarter, more responsive policy across the UK and Ireland.

As we look ahead, the challenge is not only to share ideas, but to act on them. We must build the structures, skills, and mindsets that enable nations to learn from one another, not just in moments of crisis, but as a matter of everyday practice.

Stay involved. Join the PolicyWISE community, follow our work, and help shape a more connected and capable policy landscape.

Written by Catherine May