Suppressing Difference: The United Kingdom Internal Market Act and Devolution.

This article examines the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (UKIMA) and its impact on devolution, focusing primarily on the regulation of intra-UK trade in goods and services through the Act’s market access principles (MAPs) of mutual recognition and non-discrimination. The UKIMA, enacted without the consent of devolved governments, centralizes regulatory control with UK ministers and restricts devolved legislatures’ ability to apply or respond to regulations affecting goods and services from other UK territories, as illustrated by challenges faced by Scotland and Wales in environmental policies. The Act’s operational effects include a "chilling effect" on devolved policymaking and a shift toward increased intergovernmental coordination, which may limit parliamentary scrutiny within devolved institutions. Looking ahead, the article highlights opportunities and challenges for reform under the new UK Government, emphasizing the need for co-designed solutions involving all UK governments and parliaments to ensure stable governance of the UK internal market post-Brexit.