The Federal Trust

by The Federal Trust for Education and Research

The Federal Trust is a research institute studying the interactions between regional, national, European and global levels of government. Founded in 1945 on the initiative of Sir William Beveridge, it has long made a powerful contribution to the study of federalism and federal systems. It has always had a particular interest in the European Union and Britain’s place in it. The Federal Trust has no allegiance to any political ... 

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Government
Politics
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Podcast episodes

  • Brexit: a prison for young people?

    Brexit: a prison for young people?

    E11
    16:35

    The Brexit debate in the UK remains confused and confusing. In this new Federal Trust podcast, Brendan Donnelly and John Stevens discuss the irony of both Rejoiners and Brexiters discussing the recent proposals from the European Commission to help young people to travel for work and study as if they were a prelude to the restoration of Freedom of Movement. Both Rejoiners and Brexiters are wrong in this assessment.

  • Brexit: The Debate Continues

    Brexit: The Debate Continues

    E10
    19:30

    In this new Federal Trust video, Brendan Donnelly and John Stevens review some recent surprising contributions to the Brexit debate. They suggest that the debate on Brexit continues to evolve, even though leading politicians do their best to suppress it. SPEAKERS John Stevens is the Chair of the Federal Trust and an analyst and commentator on economic affairs. Brendan Donnelly is the Director of the Federal Trust and a former Conservative MEP.

  • Brexit: Can Labour bring the UK closer to the EU?

    Brexit: Can Labour bring the UK closer to the EU?

    E09
    23:00

    John Palmer and Brendan Donnelly discuss whether co-operation on defence issues can help an incoming Labour government move closer to the EU on a range of other issues as well. They expect that Labour’s European policy will evolve over its period in office. They warn however that cooperation with the EU may be limited if the Labour Party cannot overcome the traditional distrust of British politicians towards the EU’s institutions. SPEAKERS John Palmer was the European Editor of The Guardian and subsequently a Founder/Political Director of the European Policy Centre in Brussels. He is a Board Member of the Federal Trust. Brendan Donnelly is the Director of the Federal Trust and a former Conservative MEP.

  • Brexit: Will Reform UK Destroy the Conservative Party?

    Brexit: Will Reform UK Destroy the Conservative Party?

    E08
    20:00

    John Stevens and Brendan Donnelly discuss the impact of the Reform Party on British politics. They argue that its threat to the Conservative Party lies in its ability to win over those voters still committed to Brexit who think that Brexit’s failure could have been avoided by a more competent or zealous Conservative government.

  • Brexit: The American Dimension

    Brexit: The American Dimension

    E07
    18:00

    John Stevens and Brendan Donnelly discuss the crucial American component of the Brexit debate. Many of those arguing for Brexit in 2016 did so because they favoured a closer alignment between the UK and the US. John Stevens and Brendan Donnelly ask how politically and practically feasible such closer alignment might be, particularly under a Trump Presidency.