Introduction Speaking at a recent literary festival, the former President of the Supreme Court, Lady Hale, expressed regret over the way in which her spider brooch had been sensationalised following Miller 2.[i] The case … [Read more...] about Courts, Power, and the Limits of the Executive
On 23 March 2020, during a televised broadcast to the nation, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s intention to impose an immediate ‘stay at home’ order on the entirety of the UK. During the broadcast it was made clear that these new … [Read more...] about The Dangers of Governance by Guidance
A lot can happen in a short space of time. The Truss administration lasted just forty-four days. Time enough though to crash the economy and end up sacking yourself. In my recent book The Trials of Charles I (Bloomsbury, 2022), I have … [Read more...] about The trials of King Charles I
When an updated version of the Ministerial Code was published last month, most of the headlines focused on the idea that the under-pressure Prime Minister had watered down the Code in order to save his own skin. As constitutional observers were quick … [Read more...] about Upholding standards in public life: the presidential and ‘pragmatic populist’ challenges
In times of crisis we know no law, save for that of necessity.[1] So thought William Gladstone in 1850, echoing the conventional wisdom of his day on emergency actions and martial law. In the years since, it seems that wisdom has changed little. … [Read more...] about Emergency powers in the United Kingdom
On Friday 22 April, The Constitution Society held a conference looking at the power of the UK executive within the political system. Speakers at the conference considered the nature the government’s power and its relationship with the institutions … [Read more...] about Executive power and the constitution: is the UK government getting more powerful?
On Friday 22 April, The Constitution Society held a conference that looked at the power of the executive within the UK political system. Speakers at the conference considered the nature the government’s power and its relationship with the … [Read more...] about Conference: Executive power and the UK constitution
Is the political constitution a concept worth protecting? The Constitution Society has published a new report examining the idea of the political constitution in the United Kingdom, in which I answer this question with a qualified ‘yes’. It argues … [Read more...] about The political constitution: an idea worth understanding
Concerns about the prospects for UK democracy are widespread. Many in the past have raised similar concerns. A major deterioration or shift towards authoritarianism has not previously occurred in the UK. But we should not conclude that previous … [Read more...] about Should we be worried about democracy in the United Kingdom?
Amidst the clamour of the Commons following the publication of Sue Gray’s interim report into ‘partygate’, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he would be creating an ‘Office of the Prime Minister’ to deal with “fragmented and complicated” … [Read more...] about A Prime Minister’s department: redefining the centre of British government?
Introduction We live in constitutionally interesting times. Over the last seven years a series of events have tested the strength of the British constitution. The Union has found itself under increasing strain, with the 2014 Scottish … [Read more...] about The political constitution: an idea worth protecting?
The experience of COVID is this: The British system was unable to control and prevent the spread of the virus (see Britain is not a well governed country).It was later able to treat and manage the pandemic, through the NHS and the rollout of the … [Read more...] about How Parliament would take control
