Akash Paun
Programme Director
Akash's recent work
Local elections 2024: Mayor of Greater Manchester
On 2 May 2024, Andy Burnham was elected for the third time as mayor of Greater Manchester
Local elections 2024: Mayor of West Yorkshire
On 2 May 2024, voters elected Tracy Brabin as Mayor of West Yorkshire
Local elections 2024: Mayor of South Yorkshire
On 2 May 202, voters in South Yorkshire elected their metro mayor.
All work
Welsh independence
Does the Welsh public support independence?
Voting in the 2021 elections
On 6 May 2021, voters across Great Britain will go to the polls for devolved and local elections.
Scottish independence: EU membership and the Anglo–Scottish border
What EU membership would mean for Scotland and its relationship with the rest of the UK.
Funding devolution
Since March 2020 an extra £19 billion has been sent from the UK Treasury to the three devolved nations to tackle Covid.
Failure to prepare is not a reason for governments to postpone elections
Akash Paun says ministers explore all possible ways to organise the elections safely before putting democracy on hold
Legislating by consent: how to revive the Sewel convention
The future of the Union could be put at risk without reforms to the principle of legislative consent.
Devolved legislatures: how are they working in the coronavirus lockdown?
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and Northern Ireland assembly have all adapted their practices and procedures.
A failure to explain difference in plans will undermine the four-nation response to coronavirus
As the four nation lockdown exit strategy runs into difficulties, unmanaged divergence in approaches to easing the lockdown could lead to problems
A four-nation exit strategy
The UK’s four-nation lockdown exit strategy could create confusion amongst the public and lead to non-compliance of guidance and rules.
Criminal justice and devolution
The UK has three separate criminal justice systems: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.