A four-nation exit strategy

Abstract

The coronavirus crisis has required a co-ordinated response between the UK and devolved governments. The devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for key public services affected by the pandemic, including the NHS, education and public transport, and for implementing the lockdown within their territories. For these matters, a common approach cannot be imposed by UK ministers, and instead can only be achieved through agreement. In the early stages of the pandemic, there has been close co-ordination between the four administrations. There have been some differences in policy and guidance, but on the big issues, including the lockdown, the governments have been on the same page. As the UK enters its sixth week of lockdown, the four governments are beginning to think about the ‘exit strategy’ from the unprecedented restrictions on personal freedom and other temporary policies imposed to fight coronavirus. Since key powers used in the pandemic response are devolved, this could potentially lead to divergence between the four nations, with, for example, restrictions changed sooner in some places than in others. A co-ordinated exit strategy would be preferable. But co-ordination is not the same as homogeneity, and a UK strategy is not the same as a UK government strategy.