I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture. They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

Pleased to see the House of Lords Constitution Committee's report on the rule of law, published today, cites my written evidence, arguing that the virtues of the concept depend upon assurances that officials will play their part in respecting the rule of law committees.parliament.uk/committee/17...

‘The​ current members of the Supreme Court, ten men and two women, all of them white, seem to regard the Human Rights Act as an unwelcome remnant of a past era.’ In his final piece for the 𝘓𝘙𝘉, Conor Gearty writes on the Supreme Court’s reinterpretation of the HRA: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

The government want more coercive powers for the state against protests, and the main opposition party wants more coercive powers for the state against migrants. Our political-media culture continues in a loop where the response to every perceived problem is yet more coercive powers for the state.

Thrilled to share this call for papers for a conference on the Future of Constitutional Reform in the United Kingdom at @uomlaw.bsky.social with the support of @ukcla.bsky.social ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/10/03/e...

Some good news. London is meeting legal limits for toxic NO2 pollution for the first time – almost 200 years earlier than predicted – following the Mayor’s "world leading air pollution policies," City Hall announces. The Ultra Low Emissions Zone - and similar policies - really do work.

More hiring at Surrey Law School! Open-area Lecturer position (Research & Teaching) - deadline Thu 2 October 2025. THE POSITION IS GENUINELY OPEN re: research focus, so all interested parties should apply. Please circulate to anyone you think might be interested! jobs.surrey.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...

After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.

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...

We are delighted to share Conor Gearty @lselaw.bsky.social’s reflections on writing: 8 tips for surviving (and enjoying!) academic writing. Many thanks to Conor for sharing his insights! Article: doi.org/10.53386/nil... Series: doi.org/10.53386/nil...

The news of Conor Gearty's death has just been announced and I'm not coping. He was a mentor and the pole star in my constitutional thinking. He was also a great friend and fantastic fun to be around. I'm heartbroken for Aoife and the children.

Al Jazeera Media Network condemns the ‘assassination’ of its Gaza correspondents and photographers by Israeli forces. 🔗: aje.io/eeht0q | #JournalismIsNotACrime

'(Excludes Northern Ireland)'

As someone who couldn't have undertaken a PhD without funding, the AHRC scholarship I received (many years ago) was life-changing. It's incredibly concerning that the the next generation of prospective academics are being denied such opportunities. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/student...

Two governments took The News Agents to secret court for two years via a constitutionally unprecedented superinjunction to stop you from hearing this story. The MoD is responsible for a data leak that put up to 100,000 Afghans at risk of death. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdc6...

ICJ issued its first provisional and binding order in January 2024. It said what is only now beginning, tentatively, to be lined out by western commentators. Genocide is plausible and Israel must act to stop it The shift is welcome but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s 19 months since.

NEW BLOG: 10 reasons why the hereditary peers bill should be amended to constrain Prime Ministerial patronage and the size of the House of Lords Ahead of the hereditary peers bill's report stage starting in the Lords tomorrow, our Director, Meg Russell, sets out why peers should amend the bill.

Jaw-dropping reporting by Haaretz www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad's wife. While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE. This is still developing, and our team is monitoring the situation closely.

📢 CALL FOR PAPERS The Rule of Law, Multi-layered Human Rights Protection and Constitutional Resilience: The ECHR at 75 and the Venice Commission at 35 | 6-7 Nov 25 Submissions on the theme of constitutional resilience in the context of multi-layered human rights protection by 4 June. buff.ly/WummGxp

I failed to post this last week, but it’s one of the best op-eds you’ll read all year. Two politicians with *wildly* different orientations but a common thread of belief in the nature of citizenship and nationality. (They’re also 100% right obvs.) on.ft.com/3GS1rPl

How should legal education respond to AI? Together with 11 UCL Laws colleagues, this paper is our vision for the sector. It's rooted in academic integrity, fundamental competences, and concerns around impacts on learning to learn and intellectual risk taking. (🧵) discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...

Looks like a fabulous set of events for this year's Legal Theory Festival. The programme is available here: www.law.ed.ac.uk/news-events/.... Please repost and share widely!

A group of us law academics put together a letter on FWS v Scottish Ministers UK Supreme Court ruling & we are asking other *UK based law folk* (academic activist practitioner etc) to sign More details 👇 #transrights #trans #transgender #lawsky #academicsky #UKlaw docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Not a UK lawyer but fwiw this was my impression as well: the Court wildly overstated the force of its coherentist arguments, and misrepresented its own social views and policy preferences as evidence of Parliament's intention.

My article on "Full-Bodied Promulgation" has just been assigned to the most recent issue of the Modern Law Review. Go have a read, it has something for lovers of the rule of law and Douglas Adams. doi.org/10.1111/1468...

Publication day! 'The Principle of Legality: A Moral Theory' is now out in the world. Perfect for your undergraduate public law reading lists and children's birthday presents. Feeling immensely grateful to friends and colleagues for the years of support during the writing of this. <3

New inquiry announcement from the House of Lords Constitution Committee: committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evi...

This is a great article!

The exchange between Trump, Vance and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office today in which our country attacked the victim in defense of a brutal aggressor has to be one of the most shameful moments in Modern American history.

#SaveThePCC Some of you may have read about the situation regarding our new landlord wishing to add a new redevelopment break clause, with only 6 months notice to our lease. For now, we're simply asking you all to share & sign the petition below; you.38degrees.org.uk/p/princechar...

not Lynch's movie, I know, but god, what a sendoff

Less than 2 weeks left to apply for this👇post. Please share. @odileammann.bsky.social

I'm editor of the Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Legal Theory & Philosophy. We're in need of contributors on: (1) Raz, Joseph; (2) Critical Race Theory & Law; (3) Discourse Theory & Law; (4) Empirical Legal Studies; & (5) Law & Risk. If you're interested, let me know via email. #academicsky

My new article is out in the Modern Law Review, arguing that the rule of law requires public officials to engage in "full-bodied" promulgation where a new rule diverges from a long-standing legal rule or established moral norms. doi.org/10.1111/1468...

@lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social and I critically explore the claim that legalising euthanasia for terminally ill adults would breach the European Convention on Human Rights and be a slippery slope to legalisation without distinction. Tldr: we disagree. ukhumanrightsblog.com/2024/11/07/n...

mood

The new Global Centre for Democratic Constitutionalism (GCDC), based at UCL Laws & headed by @efieldingd.bsky.social, is offering fully funded PhD studentships to cover research on the relationship between democratic government and rule of law. Details available here: www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/study/m...

Tomorrow Kim Leadbeater will introduce into the House of Commons her private member's bill on assisted dying. PMBs face a precarious route onto the statute book, often vulnerable to objections from small numbers of MPs. So what might we expect on this bill? 🧵

Just re-posting this, as new Law students — @cambridgelaw.bsky.social and elsewhere — start to get to grips with essay-writing publiclawforeveryone.com/2022/02/16/w...

Delighted to be discussing my new book, "Trust, Courts and Social Rights", at the Oxford Public Law Discussion Group on Tues 15 Oct, 12:30-14:00, www.law.ox.ac.uk/public-law-d..., with Jo Murkens (LSE) and James Milton (UCL) commenting. For more info on the book: doi.org/10.1017/9781...

Looking forward to presenting a paper at the Irish Jurisprudence Society next week. If anyone has any recommendations for hotspots to visit on a flying visit, they'll be greatly appreciated!

I had the pleasure of meeting Lily a few times, and she was an absolute force of nature. The epitome of unwavering warmth, courage, and determination. She may be gone, but in no way will she ever be forgotten.

I understand why this is not people's top concern, but it's a very disconcerting day to be a Milton.

I think Keir Starmer's public health drive is a step in right direction - but public health needs to address poverty, housing, employment & environment too! www.theguardian.com/politics/202... I discussed this in this post a few months ago christinapagel.substack.com/p/our-health...

Spent a couple of days almost exclusively thinking about 'Sing Sing', and it would take a miracle for a better film to be released this year. It's well worth seeking out, especially given its strangely lowkey release.

he calls her a marxist but she's not the one getting publicly owned

The final report of the Grenfell Inquiry is published tomorrow - Peter Apps’ summary of what to expect is well worth reading: open.substack.com/pub/peteapps...

I have decided to post a thread to explain the current situation to BlueSky users outside of Brazil.

I’ve recently been seeking to explain why the rules that the political parties now have for choosing party leaders by vote of members operate inconsistently with constitutional principle as well as being contrary to the public interest, at least when prime ministers are replaced mid term. Why?