Final judgment in the Bell Hotel Epping/asylum accommodation case. No injunction or declaration granted. Open to parties to pursue normal planning routes involving the local planning authority www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...

NEW A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak By me: emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack) (Non-Substack link to follow.)

Joshua refers to the BBC having a “choice between saying sorry and paying $1 billion”. There is also the option of doing neither and defending any claim, wherever it’s brought

Joshua refers to the BBC having a “choice between saying sorry and paying $1 billion”. There is also the option of doing neither and defending any claim, wherever it’s brought

We are proud to have added our voice to this urgent call on those in power to stop scapegoating human rights. “Now is the time for a full-throated defence of the European Convention on Human Rights and Human Rights Act.” www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

You’ll be ready for this week’s #FridayCocktail. Behold an Orange Gin Martini. Gin, white vermouth, Cointreau, orange bitters Ice cold, strict, citric and fruity

You’ll be ready for this week’s #FridayCocktail. Behold an Orange Gin Martini. Gin, white vermouth, Cointreau, orange bitters Ice cold, strict, citric and fruity

New post Prompted by an excellent conference at @biicl.bsky.social marking the ECHR's 75th anniversary, I reflect in this piece on key themes about the likely trajectory of the UK's human rights debate, given the current (and developing) political climate. publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/11/07/t...

Congratulations to the 6 KCs appointed to the new panel to support First Treasury Counsel on major civil/public law work. In a sense it’s welcome back to Jonathan Crow. (Btw I think “First Treasury Solicitor Counsel” is a mistake!) www.gov.uk/government/n...

What’s the significance of it being a “migrant”? Wouldn’t accidental release of any sex offender be just as bad?

“has been pleased”

Autumn, St James’s Park

Imagine doing ANYTHING AT ALL and constantly interrupting it every two minutes to ask everyone around you “do you like me? Is this ok? Please like me! Should I do something completely different so you like me more? I will ask you again next week shall I?” That’s what government by focus group is.

This week’s #FridayCocktail is a ginger gold rush. Bourbon, ginger liqueur, lemon juice. Some receipts call for syrup but I have eschewed it, relishing the spicy and the tart

This week’s #FridayCocktail is a ginger gold rush. Bourbon, ginger liqueur, lemon juice. Some receipts call for syrup but I have eschewed it, relishing the spicy and the tart

What is the relationship between government, parliament and the monarchy? Our latest explainer takes a closer look at the monarch's powers and role in relation to parliament and the legislative process, and whether parliament can remove royal titles www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/mo...

A House of Dynamite. Another of those films with a POTUS who is conscientious, thoughtful, humane, seeks advice … Pure fantasy

Some thoughts on the Kruger press conference on reforming government, and Reform in government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/dann...

Autumn in the Fen country

Autumn in the Fen country

Well yes he’s the nominal defendant but it’s not as if he’s being sued (or suing) in his personal capacity. Legal actions against the government do survive changes of administration. (David Davis sued the government in opposition then became a minister)

Your (my) #FridayCocktail is a fruity highball. Calvados, peach liqueur, lemon juice, syrup, soda. Essentially a health cordial, 3 of your 5-a-day* [*not binding health or legal advice]

Ely Cathedral from the Almonry in autumn sun

Your (my) #FridayCocktail is a fruity highball. Calvados, peach liqueur, lemon juice, syrup, soda. Essentially a health cordial, 3 of your 5-a-day* [*not binding health or legal advice]

Full explanation of the CPS reasoning for the dropping of the case.

Ely Cathedral from the Almonry in autumn sun

Sorry to learn of the death of Sir James Nursaw, former Treasury Solicitor & Home Office Legal Adviser. He was TSol when I joined government in 1989 and was still quite strict with me (quite rightly) when I used to see him at Middle Temple not that long ago. It means I’m now the only living ex-TSol

Well worth a listen. (I was privileged to chair it)

NEW BLOG: The Ethics and Integrity Commission: a good start, but more is needed Peter Riddell and Robert Hazell welcome the creation of the new body, but say that it will need stronger membership, more staff and resources, and a statutory foundation.

The government should be legislating for as many constitutional guardrails as possible

The government should be legislating for as many constitutional guardrails as possible

There is talk of the need for stronger constitutional “guardrails”. In our constitution the strongest guardrail is primary legislation. Even that of course can be repealed in future. But that at least requires a conscious, overt political act, normally takes time & involves a measure of debate /1

I did wonder about this. I used to be a member of the Honours Forfeiture Committee, which could & did recommend the withdrawal of honours (including knighthoods) on grounds of “bringing the honours system into disrepute”. Legislation wasn’t needed Letter from today’s Times

I’ve gone for a Manhattan again for this week’s #FridayCocktail. Autumnal and profound (ok pseuds-corner me)

Rereading Wuthering Heights I’m reminded how unutterably dismal it all it, and how repellent most of the characters are. Quite why Nelly Dean hung around is a mystery

I’ve gone for a Manhattan again for this week’s #FridayCocktail. Autumnal and profound (ok pseuds-corner me)

Rereading Wuthering Heights I’m reminded how unutterably dismal it all it, and how repellent most of the characters are. Quite why Nelly Dean hung around is a mystery

The British government has lost its attempt to stop Palestine Action fighting against the decision to ban it as a terrorist organisation by way of a full High Court judicial review The Court of Appeal also granted permission for Palestine Action to bring its challenge on wider legal grounds

I was v grateful to talk at @laws.ucl.ac.uk about 'Bureaucracy and Distrust: the civil service in the constitution' yesterday. One highlight: getting the inigo montoya treatment from @sirjjkc.bsky.social ...

Ely Cathedral, October, dusk

Ely Cathedral, October, dusk

I agree with this. There are good reasons why the Supreme Court would now hold that the Attorney General’s public interest functions are no longer “categorically immune” from judicial review

The government’s progress on ethical standards remains underwhelming. Any tightening is to be welcomed, but the idea that ministers “are expected”to repay severance if they break the rules simply underlines the absence of an enforceable legal duty

We have an updated ministerial code! The new code makes clear that ministers "are expected" to pay back any severance payment if they quickly get a new ministerial job or are found to have broken the rules on post-government jobs www.gov.uk/government/p...

Today’s #FridayCocktail is a ginger and lemongrass mojito (containing a syrup made with those 2 ingredients)

Today’s #FridayCocktail is a ginger and lemongrass mojito (containing a syrup made with those 2 ingredients)

I’m quoted here. I’m perhaps more sceptical now about the idea of affecting the interpretation of the ECHR by domestic law alone. The detail will matter. But it’s preferable to leaving. And will be quicker than trying to amend the Convention itself www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I’m quoted here. I’m perhaps more sceptical now about the idea of affecting the interpretation of the ECHR by domestic law alone. The detail will matter. But it’s preferable to leaving. And will be quicker than trying to amend the Convention itself www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Well misprints and typos do happen. A former colleague of mine once made an announcement congratulating the Pubic Sector Lawyer of the Year

Good piece as usual. “… it is open to the government today to say that it considers that China was a threat to national security in 2021–23”. If not, it’s difficult to see how the CPS could begin or continue ANY prosecution for such an offence occurring before the current government took power