Center-regional relations in the UK on the example of interaction between the national and Northern Irish political elites

In July 2022, the political crisis in the UK reached its peak, resulting in the resignation of Prime Minister B. Johnson. The unethical behavior of politicians, their violation of the restrictions imposed during the lockdown, the energy crisis, and the unresolved issue of the borders of the Republic of Ireland and the UK were the main problems that caused the difficult situation in the country. The article examines the process of delegating some powers of central authority to regional party-political systems and their strengthening against this background, using the example of Northern Ireland. The aim is to identify the positions of all stakeholders in the crisis situation; to assess the effectiveness of consociative institutions, on the basis of which the political center delegates its powers to the region; to determine how the consociative organization affects the relationship between the regional and national elite political class. The conclusion is that the significant strengthening of the position of local political forces in the UK is due to the process of devolution, which allowed them to legally and peacefully oppose the decisions of the center, not causing support in the regions.