The constitutional settlement of the UK has been thrown into flux – an overarching polity is urgently needed

The Brexit result has revealed the weaknesses of the liberal outlook and highlighted the endurance of identity politics, a pattern that has been seen across the globe in recent years. But Sean Swan writes that while global issues are important, we need to focus on the local and recognise the UK state is no longer fit for purpose. He argues that a new constitutional settlement lies in new forms of sovereignty which allow for layered identities.