ABSTRACT
Viewed from a wider European perspective, the Constitution of the United Kingdom is unique. Even from a global standpoint, it is a rare specimen, ranking alongside Israel and New Zealand as one of the only three uncodified constitutions currently in existence. Not surprisingly, its idiosyncratic nature has always inspired a wealth of doctrinal discussion. For instance, although the codification debate is not at present high on the agenda of the British Government, it is a perennial issue within legal and academic circles. Equally, commentators have found other features of the Constitution to be most enticing subjects for exploration. For example, there has been a plethora of academic papers on the nature and future of the monarchy, not to mention the hotly contested character of parliamentary supremacy. More recently, the Constitution has become increasingly decentralised from a territorial point of view. Since 1998 many of the powers previously in the hands of Westminster have been transferred to the Scottish and Welsh nations, as well as the Northern Irish province. Furthermore, a prominent dialogue is currently taking place about the future of the English nation, and regionalisation within England is still on the radar of the present Conservative Government.
