From Union to Federation: How to Redraw the UK’s Internal Borders for a Modern Era

From Union to Federation: How to Redraw the UK’s Internal Borders for a Modern Era: A Complete Guide

Constitutional debate in the UK has reached a watershed. For generations, the centralized system of governance, whereby Westminster enjoys the lion’s share of powers, has been at once the strength and bane of UK politics. With devolution to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland at the end of the 20th century, and now, demands for regional autonomy in England, political scientists are raising an audacious question: If one wanted to federate the UK, how would he go about choosing states? This is no mere theoretical inquiry. The process of true federation necessitates breaking up England into manageable states.

Suppose you have just landed at Luton Airport Taxi in London after an international flight. You walk out into the fresh air of Bedfordshire and hire a taxi to travel to your business appointment in Dunstable. If the UK was federated, such a trip would encounter very little administrative resistance since Luton, together with its commuter hinterland, is part of one organic economic region. Nonetheless, the present regional borders of England are a relic of the Anglo-Saxon and Victorian periods. The construction of functional states requires us to abandon our counties and become geographers.

Assessing the Failure of the Current Regional Model

Prior to creating any new states, it is important to learn what went wrong with the original nine official regions of England, such as the South West, East Midlands, and North East, that prevented them from becoming loved by the citizens. These regions were formed for statistical reasons only, and they do not have any constitutional identity. In a referendum conducted in the North East in 2004, a huge majority of 78 percent voted against a proposed regional assembly. The reason for their failure was that these regions lack organic identity. There is nothing that makes the citizens of Cornwall similar to the citizens of Bristol, although both belong to the "South West" region.

The Methodology: Three Criteria for State Creation

In order to create new federal states for the UK, I suggest a three-pillar approach, consisting of Functional Economic Region, Cultural Unity, and Population Sustainability (aiming for each state to have between 1.5 to 3 million people). Let’s draw up the map based on that.

1. London and the Home Counties (The Capital Region)

London is not a city but rather a proto-city state. London has over nine million inhabitants, and its economic might equals that of entire countries. The first federal unit should thus be “Greater London” (32 boroughs + the City). Yet in order to avoid strangulation of neighboring areas, the commuting zone must become a separate “Home Counties” state. Consider the business traveler flying to Heathrow Airport in a taxi from Reading and Guildford. Such travel is totally inside the M25 orbital route. Thus, “Thames Valley & Surrey” becomes a state comprising three counties and containing 2.8 million people.

2. Mercia (The Midlands Pivot)

The Midlands frequently seem overlooked. The creation of the federal "Mercian" state, named after the historical kingdom, will involve Greater Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry, and Northamptonshire. These areas have a similar background in manufacturing, the HS2 transport line, and a combined population of 3.2 million. Remember that this division will break up the existing East and West Midlands into two separate entities.

3. Wessex and the South Coast

"Wessex" from Gloucestershire down to Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and the Isle of Wight represents an area of 2.1 million inhabitants. The state will be characterized by its ports, the New Forest, and the A303 axis. Cornwall should continue being the special case of a separate "Kernow" state of 570,000 with its linguistic rights and variable taxation, like the Faroes.

4. Pennine States (Lancashire vs. Yorkshire)

These two cities cannot exist together as one state since they are fierce competitors in their own right, and thus:

• North West: Lancashire & Merseyside (2.3 million): Comprising of Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, and Blackpool.

• North East: Yorkshire & The Humber (2.5 million): One state formed from the traditional ridings, stretching from Sheffield through York to the coast.

5. The Celtic Nations and the North

Scotland would not be limited to just being one nation-state. In the case of a federal system for the UK, Scotland might be divided into three federal states, namely: Caledonia (the Highlands & Islands along with Aberdeen); Strathclyde (Glasgow and Clyde Valley, comprising 1.7 million people); and Lothian & Borders (Edinburgh and South East region, comprising 1.2 million people). Likewise, Wales might be divided into two states – North Wales (from Gwynedd to Clwyd) and Deheubarth (South Wales, from Swansea to Cardiff).

The Constitutional Questions of Federalization

When the demarcation lines have been drawn (around 15-18 states), the heavy lifting is yet to come. Each state would have its own written constitution, a single legislative chamber, and exclusive powers in law enforcement, health care, education, and local transportation; while Westminster would be in control of defense, foreign policy, and currency. But most importantly, a federal United Kingdom would have to have an upper legislative chamber made up of state representatives.

Why This Matters for Everyday Travel

Federalism is real. It directly affects the way you travel. With the present arrangement, transportation policy is extremely centralized. If the United Kingdom was federated, each state would be responsible for issuing its own buses, trains, and taxis licenses. A “Luton Airport Taxi” would be regulated by the transport department of the “Home Counties” state, and not by a minister in London. The result would be greater regulation, cleaner vehicles, and fare charges based on cost of production, not Whitehall calculations. On the other hand, a “Taxi to Heathrow Airport” coming from the “Wessex” state would involve a seamless process, similar to crossing from New Jersey into New York.

Resolving the English Question

The most valuable contribution of federalism is providing an answer to the "West Lothian Question" concerning why members of parliament from Scotland are able to vote on healthcare legislation in England, yet not the other way around. In the suggested scenario, each state will be voting only for the issues that affect its internal functioning. English states should have identical powers to those of Scottish states.

Also read: From Dream to Reality: Top Reasons to Move to England & The Financial Truth

Conclusion: A Pragmatic Path Forward

If federalization of the United Kingdom is to be attempted, then there will be no diktat from up high for the states. Rather, there needs to be the process of citizen assemblies and travel-to-work areas considered. The 15-state proposal presented above provides the perfect map that is both historical and economic. It would change a unitary state into a federation of republics (or monarchies depending on your preference). The ride from the Luton Airport taxi stand to a taxi service that takes one from Luton to Heathrow is a small thing, yet in a federalized UK, it would become one of moving between the powerful local democracies. The issue today is not whether the UK needs to be federalized, but rather why we are waiting to do so.