The Sovereignty Conundrum
There are two ways of understanding the UK constitution. The classic Diceyean view is that sovereignty lies with the monarch-in-parliament alone. This is a fact, which requires no historical or normative justification. The other interpretation is that there are multiple sources of legitimate authority, including those embedded in the original union settlements, conventions, European Union law (before Brexit), European human rights law, normative principles and the devolution settlements. According to the first interpretation, devolution means that Westminster has lent power to the devolved institutions but can take it back at any time. According to the second, devolution is a constitutional measure, introducing federal principles into the union. In ordinary times, these conflicting interpretations can coexist but at times of crisis they come into the open.