Today the Centre for Public Policy publishes the report Scotland and the Constitution: Agreeing a way forward. Co-authored by Prof. Kezia Dugdale, Associate Director and Stephen Noon, Research Associate, this timely report marks both the 10th Anniversary of the Independence Referendum and 25th Anniversary of the Scottish Parliament.

In 2014, Kezia and Stephen were on opposite sides of the referendum campaign. Ten years on, through evidence and dialogue this paper represents their shared view on Scotland’s constitutional journey.

The paper charts the past ten years of political events, polling on the constitutional question and the experiences of other countries with comparable conversations. It offers a fresh set of ideas on the route to a legal second independence referendum and calls for a new Scottish Constitutional Commission to review the current devolved settlement, with a particular focus on the impact of Brexit, how the fiscal framework works in practice and identifying some of the other barriers to preventative public policy and public service reform.

The report is part of a series of CPP outputs from our Devolution @ 25 work, which has included policy labs, blogs and engagement with key stakeholders. In keeping with the values and purpose of the CPP, it offers research-informed reflections and constructive ways forward on constitutional and policy issues that are complex, tricky and often polarising.

The report can be read on the Centre of Public Policy webpage.

First published: 25 September 2024

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