School of Social and Political Science

Description

The Centre on Constitutional Change at the University of Edinburgh, in association with the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation, is delighted to announce a lecture by Sir Malcolm Rifkind. 

The devolution debate

This lecture will explore the history and future of devolution in the United Kingdom and look at the constitutional position of and arrangements for Scotland in the light of current debates about the Union, independence and federalism.

Sir Malcolm will argue that, whilst the continuing unity of the UK is 'crucial to the well-being not just of ourselves, but of Europe as a whole', devolution for the four nations 'needs to be modernised and reformed' in a process that would 'not just be affect Edinburgh and Cardiff, but include Westminster and its Upper House'.

The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception.

Lecture series

This is the latest event in the Edward Heath University Lecture Series, an annual series of talks around the United Kingdom on some of the key political issues of the last half century.

The lecture is also the first in a series of lectures at the University of Edinburgh on Scotland's constitutional future, which will hear reflections from distinguished speakers from across the political spectrum.

About the speaker

Sir Malcolm was a Member of Parliament for Edinburgh Pentlands from 1974 to 1997. Between 1986 and 1997, he served as Secretary of State for Scotland, Transport Secretary, Secretary of State for Defence, and Foreign Secretary. He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in May 2005 for Kensington and Chelsea, and for Kensington in May 2010, and remained in Parliament until 2015. 

An alumni of the University of Edinburgh, he has served on the University Court and was President of the Edinburgh University Development Trust. He was Visiting Professor at King’s College, London and a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).