High Court judgment finding that the requirement for police officers to declare their current or past membership of Freemasons is not unlawful and does not breach officers' human rights: www.judiciary.uk/judgments/un...

Legislation designed to strengthen the electoral system against foreign interference contains exploitable loopholes, the Electoral Commission has warned Vijay Rangarajan tells @theobserveruk.bsky.social that the bill as drafted lacks “protection against oligarchs" observer.co.uk/news/politic...

This is the consequence of thoughtless policy decisions from government. The councils who requested delays are by the government's own criteria those with capacity concerns. Yet they now have to put together elections in much more difficult circumstances. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Decision to postpone local elections reversed “in the light of recent legal advice”. What’s going on? The government will certainly have had legal advice all along. We may never know the details since legal advice is generally confidential /1

Earlier the government reversed its decision to delay elections in 30 areas across England. This is a welcome decision. At the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk we've previously argued elections should only be delayed in exceptional circumstances.

The manner and timing of government announcements - for instance announcing decisions on the last day before Christmas 'take out the trash' day - have also been poor and fallen short of the level of respect needed for decision making about elections

Government has already laid before Parliament the SI cancelling the 30 local elections. It takes effect from 27 Feb & will need to be annulled when Parliament comes back from recess next week. Was laid 5 Feb, after 20 Jan hearing in Reform's JR. www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/96...

This is a slightly curious way to frame, 'Millions of people are currently not exercising their right to vote, and this is disproportionately an issue in poorer and urban areas.'

Changes are coming to UK elections.... theconversation.com/voting-in-su...

📝 What a lovely way to end the week: The Journal of Environmental Law has now published my article entitled "The devolution of the Crown Estate in Wales: an environmental law perspective". You can read the article (Open Access) here: academic.oup.com/jel/advance-...

I’ve moved! I’ve set up a bigger space in the Scottish Design Exchange in Buchanan Galleries More Glasgow illustrated maps, more architecture prints and more tea towels. I’ll be restocking more regularly so this is the place to shop if you’re looking for any of my artwork.

Supreme Court Canada nullifies Liberal MP's election win by a single vote in Montreal-area riding. #scc #cdnpoli www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

It's a small part of the issue, but that the Palestine Action vote was combined with the proscription of two other organisations harmed parliamentary scrutiny of the SI. One lesson from this should adopting the Bingham Centre recommendation for one-org-per-order.

The new Representation of the People Bill coming in with a cool 194 pages, consisting of 81 sections and 11 Schedules, pretty much all of it amending existing legislation. Electoral law is such a mess. If ever there was a case for consolidation, this is it. publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...

Today in Scottish Parliament, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice set out Scottish Government's response to our independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission report and recommendations, published Friday. 🔗 to watch her 7 min statement on our Commission: www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/mini...

Today the UK government has published the Representation of the People Bill. We welcome some measures in the bill and would like others to be improved. Read our press release: electoralcommission.org.uk/media-centre...

The Electoral Commission's verdict is frank: "These provisions would not reduce the risk of foreign money entering British politics through companies." From - www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/defaul...

This Elections Bill is progress. But we cannot restore trust in politics while crypto donations - direct or indirect - remain legal. I’m optimistic ministers will act to ban crypto-political donations after the Ryecroft Review. But we’re readying amendments to help make the case….

The Representation of the People Bill: publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...

🚨📽️🧵 1/ Today, the Govt launches its Representation of the People Bill (previous working title: The Elections Bill). One of the core aims of the Bill is to prevent foreign interference in UK democracy. Earlier this week, our Chair @philbrickellmp.bsky.social said we need to ban crypto donations...

There's some welcome news in this, but government hugely overstates it in claiming plans will end ability for foreign actors to use money to interfere in our elections. They will still be able to; in some cases they'll need a willing UK accomplice... www.gov.uk/government/n...

New details for the elections bill coming today - - Bans on foreign shell companies giving donations - MPs banned from accepting gifts or hospitality worth more than £2000 from foreign companies - Likely crypto restrictions to come But no auto registration or independent for Electoral Commission

On Monday, I led the debate on Russian influence on British politics. There are a number of changes in law I hope are included in this bill: ❌ Banning cryptocurrency donations ❌ Ensuring ALL Think Tanks declare their funding ❌ Strengthening independence of Electoral Commission And much, much more.

NEW: Our latest report finds that campaigning in select committee chair elections has become excessive, and rules should be introduced to regulate campaigning. Find out more and read the report 👉 committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...

Latest statement from the ISC in relation to the Mandelson papers - outlines the process. The committee met representatives of the Cabinet Office and FCDO yesterday. The Cabinet Secretary was due to attend “but was unavailable at the last minute.”

Are you a Palestinian wanting to move to the UK for a Law Master e.g. our LLM/MSc Law, Technology and Innovation? The University of Strathclyde offers 2 scholarships www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/...

v1.116 is rolling out now! For all the overthinkers and perfectionists out there, we're launching Drafts.

Today is the 5th anniversary of the release of the infamous #Lawyercat video, which I posted roughly thirty minutes after the start of the second impeachment trial. Who would have thought it would have such a lasting impact on the world! Happy Lawyercat Day for all who celebrate!

Darren Jones has set out various things that the government is "considering" to bolster how ethics are upheld, including: - considering changing the process for declaration of financial interests - looking closely at how lobbying is managed - revisiting the guidance on the use of informal comms...

Sarwar v Starmer New from me on Substack open.substack.com/pub/kaarmstr...

The news from Scotland

UK supreme court hearing interrupted by podcast played from judge’s phone. www.theguardian.com/law/2026/feb...?

SI postponing 30 English local elections to 2027, pending local gov reorganisation. Hardly best practice to formally cancel elections so close to date of scheduled polls. SI comes into force 27 Feb, less than 10 weeks before May 7 elections.

NEW: the independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 final report and recommendations have been published today. As one of the Commissioners, this year has involved an enormous amount of work. Our report sets out an agenda for change. 🔗 link to report www.gov.scot/publications...

What is “misconduct in public office”? An “explainer” www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/misond...

As @spotlightcorruption.org highlight, the new bill meant to strengthen accountability against misconduct at the highest levels of government, unfortunately introduces an "absurdly wide defence of having a ‘reasonable excuse’". This flaw needs to be addressed before its written into law.

Wondering where the sunshine has gone? Spare a thought for northeast Scotland; Aberdeen Dyce hasn't recorded any sunshine since 21 January! This is provisionally the longest sunless period here since records began in 1957 ☁️

The ISC has published its letter to the PM regarding how it will handle the Mandelson papers. It is a carefully worded and fascinating document not least because the ISC has a statutory relationship with the executive but has unusually been asked to carry out a job by Parliament.

The government’s reasons for cancelling these elections are not good enough.

Asked 'when Gov is going to issue a new Strategy & Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission', minister answers without confirming expressly any plans to do so. May be a hint that Gov position is shifting to consider repeal of controversial power to direct EC's priorities in Elections Act 2022.

📍Opening of the Judicial Year 📹 Stanislav Kravchenko, President of the Supreme Court of Ukraine 📍 Ouverture de l’année judiciaire 📹 Stanislav Kravchenko, président de la Cour suprême d’Ukraine 📍 Відкриття судового року 📹 Станіслав Кравченко, Голова Верховного Суду України

Interesting review of devolved law-making on elections in Scotland & Wales, by Annie Thiec, Nantes University www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

NEW: We recommend that call lists are not adopted by the House of Commons, as they are not an appropriate tool to improve certainty of timings over the parliamentary day. 📝 Read our report: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm... Our chair @catsmithmp.bsky.social comments on our findings ⬇️

Thoughts in the FT on why I don't like the idea of an automatic by election if an MP changes party - but understand why some people do, along with a possible compromise... How to deal with defecting MPs - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT

Automatic voter registration - steps towards it 'to be explored in the coming years', Gov says, 'when parliamentary time allows' for relevant legislation. Reforming the electoral registration regime to reach the missing millions (8m on one estimate) should be a higher priority.

Procedure Committee has put up a new round of written evidence on the parliamentary questions inquiry - including ours, focusing on the relationship with the FOI system committees.parliament.uk/work/9454/wr... committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...

I was expecting the government to stonewall my question about restoring the independence of the Electoral Commission, but the answer I got today in Parliament... hints that there may be a little movement possible?