Welcome
The Federal Trust is a research institute studying the interactions between regional, national, European and global levels of government. Founded in 1945 on the initiative of Sir William Beveridge, it has long made a powerful contribution to the study of federalism and federal systems. It has always had a particular interest in the European Union and Britain’s place in it.
The Federal Trust has no allegiance to any political party. It is registered as a charity for the purposes of education and research.
Read the Federal Trust’s Statement on Rejoining the European Union.
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FEATURED ARTICLE
Brexit and Immigration: The Arc of the Pendulum
29th January 2026 A major new report from the Federal Trust and The Constitution Society tackles the role immigration policy played in causing Brexit, and that Brexit has since played in driving UK immigration policy. In Brexit and Immigration: The Arc of the Pendulum, immigration researcher Jonathan Thomas tracks [...]
RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Brexit and Immigration: The Arc of the Pendulum
29th January 2026 A major new report from the Federal Trust and The Constitution Society tackles the role immigration policy played in causing Brexit, and that Brexit has since played in driving UK immigration [...]
PODCAST: Can PR End Reform and Brexit?
In this new podcast episode, John Stevens and Brendan Donnelly discuss the reemergence of Brexit as a topic of British political discourse. They conclude that this reemergence could be harmful to Reform's electoral prospects, but [...]
VIDEO: Can PR End Reform and Brexit?
In this new Federal Trust video, John Stevens and Brendan Donnelly discuss the reemergence of Brexit as a topic of British political discourse. They conclude that this reemergence could be harmful to Reform's electoral prospects, [...]
PODCAST: Are Labour moving against Brexit?
In this new Federal Trust podcast episode, John Stevens and Brendan Donnelly discuss the political and economic advantages for the Labour Party of a more overtly pro-European policy. They suggest that a successor to Keir [...]
VIDEO: Are Labour moving against Brexit?
In this new Federal Trust video, John Stevens and Brendan Donnelly discuss the political and economic advantages for the Labour Party of a more overtly pro-European policy. They suggest that a successor to Keir Starmer [...]
PODCAST: Post- Brexit UK must choose: America or Europe?
In this new podcast episode, Brendan Donnelly and John Stevens discuss the choice post-Brexit Britain must make between Europe and America. They predict that the UK will opt for Europe in the medium to long [...]
VIDEO: Post- Brexit UK must choose: America or Europe?
In this new video, Brendan Donnelly and John Stevens discuss the choice post-Brexit Britain must make between Europe and America. They predict that the UK will opt for Europe in the medium to long term, [...]
The Federal-Confederal Letters
by David Melding and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones July 2025 sees the release of the booklet The Federal-Confederal Letters by David Melding, member of the Federal Trust Council, and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones, which includes their correspondence [...]
PODCAST – Has Brexit Cost Us £40bn? The economic consequences of leaving the EU
In this podcast episode, John Springford asks whether the economic consequences of Brexit have been as negative as its opponents predicted. He concludes that these predictions were broadly accurate and the fiscal position of the [...]
VIDEO – Has Brexit Cost Us £40bn? The economic consequences of leaving the EU
In this Federal Trust video, John Springford asks whether the economic consequences of Brexit have been as negative as its opponents predicted. He concludes that these predictions were broadly accurate and the fiscal position of [...]
