The Radio 4 “In our time” archive is a goldmine and the range is astounding. In the last week or so I’ve listened to the Industrial Revolution (x 2), Typology, Pope Joan and Bacteriophages www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

The Radio 4 “In our time” archive is a goldmine and the range is astounding. In the last week or so I’ve listened to the Industrial Revolution (x 2), Typology, Pope Joan and Bacteriophages www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

I have ventured a version of the Trump Cocktail (which of course he didn’t taste). It’s essentially a whisky sour [Glenlivet 12 y.o.] + marmalade and some pecan syrup. I eschewed the marshmallow garnish affair as you see

I have ventured a version of the Trump Cocktail (which of course he didn’t taste). It’s essentially a whisky sour [Glenlivet 12 y.o.] + marmalade and some pecan syrup. I eschewed the marshmallow garnish affair as you see

A US judge just threw out Trump's case against the NYT with the most sarcastic parenthesis I've ever seen. (Trump's lawyers can try again.)

Attacks on the judiciary by opposition politicians and others are as misplaced as they are dangerous, the attorney general said last night. Lord Hermer KC made his remarks during a speech on the rule of law delivered in the hall of the Old Bailey. rozenberg.substack.com/p/attacks-on...

A new Explainer out from @aoifemod.bsky.social and me detailing the UK's ECHR commitments under the 1998 Agreement in response to recent speculation. It is short, because there is very little to say - the UK's obligations are evident on the B/GFA's plain text: caj.org.uk/wp-content/u...

I like to look out for cocktails in books I’m reading. This one is El Diablo (or Diablo Rojo), which Gabriel in “The Predicament” drinks in Guatemala. Tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, ginger beer. Very successful

I like to look out for cocktails in books I’m reading. This one is El Diablo (or Diablo Rojo), which Gabriel in “The Predicament” drinks in Guatemala. Tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, ginger beer. Very successful

I’ve been talking to Tim Owen KC and Ken Macdonald KC about immigration, the ECHR, the Good Friday Agreement and other international conventions, the scope for amending or withdrawing from them. And all that podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

I’ve been talking to Tim Owen KC and Ken Macdonald KC about immigration, the ECHR, the Good Friday Agreement and other international conventions, the scope for amending or withdrawing from them. And all that podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

It’s an auctioneer in a wig. The guy on the floor was heckling about one of the lots being a fake www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I see we’re on to the 3rd Solicitor General of this government. And the 10th in the last 5 years: Buckland, Frazer (twice), Ellis (twice), Chalk, Timpson, Tomlinson, Courts, Sackman, Rigby, Reeves. I confess I’d forgotten about some of those

Many cocktails (including some of my faves) are variants on a theme: a spirit, something fruity, citric, sweet, maybe fizz. This is one such - a fruity cobbler. Very fruity in fact

Many cocktails (including some of my faves) are variants on a theme: a spirit, something fruity, citric, sweet, maybe fizz. This is one such - a fruity cobbler. Very fruity in fact

In the Fen Country. Late summer. Spot the cathedral in the last one

In the Fen Country. Late summer. Spot the cathedral in the last one

This is a valuable contribution (& corrective) to the debate on the ECHR and immigration “Misreporting & inaccurate or incomplete information in public discourse undermines public confidence in the legal system and can lead to an erosion of trust in the rule of law” www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/defaul...

To quote a former colleague when learning of another’s misdoings and downfall - “well there but for the grace of god go … well quite a few people actually”

There has been a lot of ink spilled about the substance of the Policy Exchange paper today. I just want to write a brief thread here on a point that I haven't seen mentioned today and what I think is likely to be a key target of the paper: the upcoming Supreme Court appeal in Dillon (UKSC/2025/0013)

Full text of last week's Court of Appeal judgment on Essex asylum hotel www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...

As it’s in the news yet again - I wrote this nearly 2 years ago on the implications of leaving the ECHR. Still valid questions I think. /1 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/ECHR...

In my view it’s clear that the Good Friday Agreement requires membership of & participation in the ECHR. But even if there were valid legal arguments about that, no think tank can wish away the political & real-world consequences for NI of watering down those commitments /3

As it’s in the news yet again - I wrote this nearly 2 years ago on the implications of leaving the ECHR. Still valid questions I think. /1 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/ECHR...

I’ve got someone else to make today’s #FridayCocktail. A Ginger Stone Fence from One Aldwych. “Known in the trade as a bracer, this is a punchy libation with a kick”. (Punch AND kick, I’ll be black & blue)

I’ve got someone else to make today’s #FridayCocktail. A Ginger Stone Fence from One Aldwych. “Known in the trade as a bracer, this is a punchy libation with a kick”. (Punch AND kick, I’ll be black & blue)

Here’s a summary of the judgment (full version isn’t up yet). CA sets aside the interim injunction. “The judge’s approach to the balance of convenience was seriously flawed in principle” www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...

Considered and informative the thread on the history of parliamentary sovereignty, from Professor @robertsaunders.bsky.social

A mug’s game to predict but: I reckon CA will lift the temporary injunction on the basis of “balance of convenience”, letting the asylum seekers stay until everything (planning law, remedy) can be finally determined following a full hearing If I’m wrong I’ll send you all a virtual cocktail

The Court of Appeal will give its judgment on the injunction ordering asylum seekers to be moved out of The Bell hotel in Epping on Friday "Because of the grave urgency of this matter we will aim to give judgment at 2pm tomorrow," Lord Justice Bean says

NEW The UK constitution is even more vulnerable than the US constitution In the face of an illiberal radical assault, what has happened politically in America could easily happen in the UK By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...

My overview of some of the legal implications of Reform UK’s immigration proposals www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/refo...

My overview of some of the legal implications of Reform UK’s immigration proposals www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/refo...

"The legal position is therefore clear: yes there is provision for a state to leave the ECHR and the Refugee Convention. But doing so comes with both legal and political consequences." ✍️ @cbarnard.bsky.social explains the impact leaving the ECHR would have on the UK ukandeu.ac.uk/leaving-the-...

Illegal Migration (Mass Deportation) Bill, clause 97: “A writ of habeas corpus is not to lie in respect of a person who is subject to immigration detention authorised by the Secretary of State”

@sirjjkc.bsky.social highlights here what we can call the 'Policy Exchange fallacy': if 'common law rights and fundamental freedoms' [sic] provide equivalent protection to the ECHR ones, then what does repealing the latter achieve?

A Reform government might repeal the HRA, pull out of the ECHR and potentially other international instruments. But would it legislate to disapply common law rights and protections (eg against torture) which opponents of the ECHR are fond of saying are of an equivalent standard?

Joshua asks pertinent questions about the proposed new asylum appeal body. Either it will be a form of court/tribunal (whatever it’s called) - so what will have changed? Or if it’s an administrative body its decisions will surely be subject to review by the courts. But we will see

Golden rum, muddled blackberries, raspberries, mint and lime, bit of icing sugar, dash of sparkling water, bish bash bosh

Managed to spend a day without encountering anyone protesting about anything. There was a bit of a crowd round the morris dancers though. They can get a bit lairy I believe

Managed to spend a day without encountering anyone protesting about anything. There was a bit of a crowd round the morris dancers though. They can get a bit lairy I believe

Well yes blackberries are premature this year, but when life gives you berries … make a Berry Mojito!

Well yes blackberries are premature this year, but when life gives you berries … make a Berry Mojito!

An appeal was to be expected and is legitimate. I’m sorry though that a “senior Home Office source” felt it necessary to say …”it was a matter of "democracy" and that the judiciary should not be able to tell the government where it can and can't place asylum seekers”.

An appeal was to be expected and is legitimate. I’m sorry though that a “senior Home Office source” felt it necessary to say …”it was a matter of "democracy" and that the judiciary should not be able to tell the government where it can and can't place asylum seekers”.

Some memories of south Devon last week (including the Dawlish black swans)

As I understand it there is likely to be an appeal against the interim order, with the Home Office intervening (they were not represented in the previous hearing). I expect such an appeal will focus on whether the balance of convenience favoured an interim order

Was there really ever a time when the height of news in summer was a snake escaping from a zoo?

Was there really ever a time when the height of news in summer was a snake escaping from a zoo?

That feeling when you spend hours doing what you think of as a proper, fairly strenuous walk, and then get the train back, and the train takes 4 minutes