King Charles’s decision to visit all four corners of the UK in the first week of his reign has highlighted the fact that question marks hang over the future of the union.
The argument about the Northern Ireland Protocol reflects, in part, concern within both the UK government and the unionist community that the introduction of checks on goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland (and the absence of any such checks between the North and the Republic) will weaken the links between them.
Meanwhile, with polls in Scotland suggesting almost 50% support for leaving the UK, the Scottish government is pushing for a second referendum on independence.
