The Contested Boundaries of Devolved Competence: Securing Principled and Effective Devolution Settlements

In recent years, the boundaries of devolved legislative competence have become increasingly contested, both in the political arena and in the courts, with adverse consequences for the autonomy and effectiveness of devolved law-making. This talk will explore the reasons for increasing controversy and suggest ways, within the current constitutional order, in which more principled and satisfactory boundaries might be achieved. 

About the Speaker:

Prof. Aileen McHarg has been Professor of Public Law and Human Rights at Durham Law School since September 2019. Prior to joining Durham she held a Chair in Public Law at Strathclyde University, and before that posts at Glasgow and Bristol Universities.

Her main teaching and research interests lie in UK and Scottish constitutional and administrative law. She publishes widely in these fields, but has particular expertise in devolution and the UK's territorial constitution. Along with Prof Roger Masterman, she is joint general editor of Public Law.