Legislation

Last week, following a historic vote in Parliament, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (or the Assisted Dying Bill, as it has come to be known) passed its Second Reading in the House of Commons. By a majority of 55, MPs voted in favour, … [Read more...] about The Constitutional Question of the Assisted Dying Bill

The state opening of Parliament typically begins with a speech given by the Monarch, where the Government outlines its upcoming political and legislative priorities. The first speech following a general election sets the tone for the new … [Read more...] about The Government’s New Legislative Agenda 

I began writing this blogpost weeks before the widespread violence and disorder which engulfed the streets of the UK in early August. My task was to review how the new public order legislation, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 … [Read more...] about Riots, Prison and Proportion: Public Order in 2024

Introduction:  During the recent state opening of parliament, the new Labour Government confirmed their intention to enact primary legislation imposing a statutory duty of candour on all public servants and authorities. Although public authorities … [Read more...] about A Duty of Candour? The Government’s new Proposals Examined

In the King’s Speech the new Labour government introduced 40 bills that will form the core of Westminster’s legislative business for the next year. In the House of Commons, the government possesses a 174-seat majority, all but guaranteeing the … [Read more...] about What is the Salisbury-Addison Convention?

Last month I wrote a blog discussing the constitutional implications of the Post Office Bill (now the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024). In that blog, I argued that primary legislation was the most appropriate and … [Read more...] about Legislative Wash-Up: The Passage of the Post Office Act 2024

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) is a division of government lawyers who specialise in drafting legislation and assist with its passage through the legislative process. The OPC is responsible for drafting all government bills, advising … [Read more...] about The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel: Functions, Comparisons, Criticisms 

The current state of government contracting to the private sector may appear on the surface to be a niche concern. However, its significance should not be understated, with a recent HM Treasury report calculating gross spending by the Government on … [Read more...] about Will it simplify or obfuscate? The Procurement Act 2023

The High Court in Northern Ireland was recently asked in Dillon and Ors v Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to consider whether the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Legacy Act) was compatible with human rights … [Read more...] about The Sunlit Uplands of Rights Protection in Northern Ireland

On 27 October 2023 the controversial Online Safety Bill received Royal Assent and was enacted into law. The Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA), which the Government claims will make the UK the ‘safest place in the world to be online’, … [Read more...] about The Online Safety Act: scrutiny, safeguards and civil liberties 

Introduction In Part 1 of this piece I summarised the role of Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) and some trends that it had flagged during the last parliamentary session. Broadly speaking, these included: (1) a … [Read more...] about Spotlight on the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee – Part 2

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