Brexit's constitutional impact
Brexit's constitutional impact - sentence stems
6 point and counter pairs, one per theme. The opening lines that lock a balanced paragraph.
How to use these. Each pair is the opening line for a balanced paragraph - a Point and a Counter on the same theme. Read both halves aloud, then cover one side and recall it. Every body paragraph should carry both before its interim judgement.
Sovereignty restored
Point - the case for
EU referendum (2016) supports this: The vote to reclaim pooled sovereignty - political sovereignty exercised by the electorate.
Counter - the case against
But Windsor Framework (2023) cuts the other way: EU law still applies to goods in Northern Ireland - sovereignty shared at the edge.
Executive empowered
Point - the case for
Internal Market Act (2020) supports this: New UK government spending and regulatory reach in devolved areas.
Counter - the case against
But EU referendum (2016) cuts the other way: The result bound governments for four years - the people, not ministers, set the policy.
Parliament strengthened
Point - the case for
Miller 1 (2017) supports this: Parliament's legislative role protected - the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 followed.
Counter - the case against
But Windsor Framework (2023) cuts the other way: Presented largely settled, with one Commons vote on the Stormont brake.
Devolution strained
Point - the case for
Miller 1 (2017) supports this: Sewel confirmed politically binding only - devolved consent has no legal teeth.
Counter - the case against
But Windsor Framework (2023) cuts the other way: Eased the strain - the Stormont brake gave the NI institutions a voice.
Courts drawn in
Point - the case for
Miller 2 / Cherry (2019) supports this: The first ruling on the personal prerogative - the courts' deepest step in.
Counter - the case against
But Internal Market Act (2020) cuts the other way: A political fight more than a judicial one.
Settled the issue
Point - the case for
Windsor Framework (2023) supports this: The nearest the era has come to a settled arrangement.
Counter - the case against
But EU referendum (2016) cuts the other way: Answered membership; started every other argument of the era.