The article is devoted to the analysis of the United Kingdom’s foreign policy after its withdrawal from the European Union, which finally took place on February 1, 2020. Brexit made it necessary to redefine British foreign policy, including modification of the strategy aimed not only at maintaining but even strengthening the global position of the United Kingdom. A key element of this new strategy seems to be the strengthening of the US-British alliance, traditionally referred to as the Special Relationship. The author tries to prove the thesis that for the British government, reinforcing the cooperation with the United States is one of the most important ways to counteract the negative effects of Brexit. The experience so far shows, however, that it is not so easy, because after leaving the European Union, the United Kingdom has become for the United States, for many reasons, an increasingly less attractive partner.

In the 2014 referendum Scottish voters were asked whether Scotland should be an independent country. Several years and one Brexit referendum later Nicola Sturgeon, the then popular and charismatic leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland, was making a convincing case for another independence referendum. She even proposed October 2023 as its date. But the United Kingdom government and successive Conservative prime ministers have consistently said “no”. This article analyses that constitutional and political ‘tug-of-war’ in the context of devolution settlement, pro-independence aspirations of Scottish people, consequences of Brexit, and growing tensions between Edinburgh and London. The most fundamental constitutional question within that frame of reference is what Scotland’s viable path to independence should be and in other words, under what circumstances the independence vision could be implemented.

English question (West Lothian question) as a consequence of the UK’s „asymmetric” devolution

The article discusses one of the current political problems of the United Kingdom, expressed in the term: West Lothian question. It follows the introduction of „asymmetric” devolution arrangements in the UK and asks whether members of parliament from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales sitting in the House of Commons should vote on matters relating to England, while MPs from England cannot vote on matters which were passed on to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Parliament. The study explains the causes and essence of the „English question” and its political consequences. Moreover, the authors analyzed and assessed proposals to solve the analyzed dilemma and tried to indicate the most optimal solution.