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The Centre for Brexit Studies (CBS) will discuss their research into why people voted the way they did in the EU referendum at an online event.

Building awareness听

takes place on Wednesday 28 October and will be hosted by the Director of CBS, Professor Alex De Ruyter.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e really looking to do is build awareness, both of the research and the issues at play,鈥� Alex explains.

鈥淲e鈥檇 also love the opportunity to connect with communities in the areas we鈥檙e studying, whether that confirms our results or leads to contradictory findings.

鈥淯ltimately, we hope to build up a nuanced picture of identity and what drives the perception of being 鈥渓eft behind鈥� (including those who do not feel that way).鈥�

The event also features an array of guest speakers, including:

• Professor Geoff Whittam - Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University
• Arantza Gomez Arana - Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Northumbria University and Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Brexit Studies
• Professor Calvin Jones - Deputy Dean for Public Value and External Relations at Cardiff Business School

Investigating regional disparities

The event is based upon extensive research conducted by Alex and Professor Whittam, who both discussed the research in a .

They investigated selected areas within the West Midlands and Scotland, aiming to explore whether people in these regions feel they have a show in how their local areas are run.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been working on the field of regional disparities in the UK for some time,鈥� Alex says. 听鈥淎 lot of research around Brexit suggests that this may have been important. It was clear that a lot of people felt alienated not just from Brussels but from Westminster.鈥�

Alex says that they found a notable difference between Scottish and English participants.

鈥淚n particular, devolution (of the level and scale enjoyed by Scotland) seemed to make a real difference,鈥� he explains. 鈥淭here was still alienation from Westminster but a perception that Holyrood provided a bulwark against this.

鈥淚n contrast, the West Midlands is crying out for more responsive governance. This appears to be even more important than the economic issues.

鈥淭he other interesting insight was the extent to which the seat of power became associated with the party in office.

鈥淪o for many nationalist Scots, Westminster was seen as a Tory seat of power 鈥� there was a perception of never-ending Conservative governments that they could do nothing about.鈥�

Enhancing public understanding

Alex hopes the research will enhance understanding of the interplay between regional issues and public discontent.

鈥淯ltimately, if we want to empower people to truly 鈥渢ake back control鈥� of their lives and political affairs, greater devolution appears necessary,鈥� he says.

鈥淗opefully, this research will help underpin some of that agenda. In light of the recent standoff between Greater Manchester and the London government, this is becoming even more urgent.

鈥淭he most profound consequence of Brexit might not be leaving the EU but instead a new constitutional settlement for the UK 鈥� including England and its regions.鈥�

Blogs, podcasts and further academic insight can be found at .