I’ve seen it said that there is no need for the Privileges Committee to conduct an inquiry into Sir Keir Starmer because the Foreign Affairs Committee is already doing the job. This surely raises a few questions… (Short 🧵)

I’ve seen it said that there is no need for the Privileges Committee to conduct an inquiry into Sir Keir Starmer because the Foreign Affairs Committee is already doing the job. This surely raises a few questions… (Short 🧵)

My latest restaurant recommendation is in Dublin (which I am currently visiting for a conference on IP law). Forêt is a rather charming French bistro located above the M. O’Brien pub on Sussex Terrace (Dublin City, D04 KN82).

To the National Gallery of Ireland today. To see the Caravaggio in person was worth the trip. This small, early, Van Gogh (Rooftops in Paris), was also rather fun.

My latest piece for @thespectator1828.bsky.social looks ahead to the Court of Appeal hearing of the Palestine Action case.

For some reason I seem to be the go to person when politicians are accused of misleading Parliament. A certain sense of deja-vu, but nice to be asked.

I spoke to BBC 5 Live this morning about the Mandelson fiasco. In short, whatever happened at the time of Mandelson’s appointment, I think that the FCDO has some questions to answer about why it didn’t alert the PM when he was clearly giving misleading answers to Parliament.

This week I discovered that one of my favourite restaurants is closing at the end of the month…

I haven’t done a Brussels restaurant recommendation for a while, but I’ve been trying an Italian near Grand Sablon for a while and think it is really excellent. Genco is a traditional trattoria, possibly named after the fictional olive oil company from the Godfather.

As the weekend approaches, I thought it was time for another restaurant recommendation. Jiak (on Whitecross St, EC1) describes itself as a ‘Malaysian street food restaurant). This strikes me as rather self deprecatory, given that you can sit down to a series of excellent curries and other dishes.

Yesterday, there was a debate on treaty scrutiny in Westminster in the Lords. I am very grateful to constitutional expert @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social for highlighting my proposed Private Members’ Bill: the Treaty Ratification (Parliamentary Consent) Bill. It could not have found a better advocate.

Yesterday, there was a debate on treaty scrutiny in Westminster in the Lords. I am very grateful to constitutional expert @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social for highlighting my proposed Private Members’ Bill: the Treaty Ratification (Parliamentary Consent) Bill. It could not have found a better advocate.

On Monday 16 March there will be a debate in the House of Lords (Grand Committee) entitled Treaty Scrutiny in Westminster: Addressing the Accountability Gap. There have been repeated calls for reform of the current system of scrutiny (under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010).

On Monday 16 March there will be a debate in the House of Lords (Grand Committee) entitled Treaty Scrutiny in Westminster: Addressing the Accountability Gap. There have been repeated calls for reform of the current system of scrutiny (under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010).

Would it really have been so difficult to find some new people to adorn British banknotes? Perhaps some women for a change (Emmeline Pankhurst, Nancy Astor, Margaret Thatcher, Rosalind Franklin, Agatha Christie)? Nelson, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Benjamin Britten also worth a shout?

One last trip to Club Gascon before it closes at the end of the month. The tipsy duck was magnificent, as always. The restaurant opened in 1998 and held a Michelin Star for over 20 years. Rather sad to see it go - although the excellent Le Bar Gascon will remain.

It is very troubling seeing a government led by a human rights lawyer seeking to restrict the right to jury trial. I remember how we all laughed when Dominic Raab included a right to jury trial in his British Bill of Rights. We aren’t laughing now…

Being lucky enough to live near Smithfield, I am too often a creature of habit when it comes to restaurants. We have some excellent examples and it is nice to keep things local. However, every quarter I try to catch up with an old colleague from Parliament and try a new Indian restaurant…

Perhaps some good news on Starmer’s Chagos Island farrago. If the Bill falls at the end of the parliamentary session, it’s hard to imagine he has the political capital to bring it back. I love the formulation “when time allows”. That often means never… www.politico.eu/article/uk-t...

I started a new position as Partner at Hackett & Dabbs LLP yesterday. As some of you will know, my friend and colleague David Dabbs (one of the founding partners) died last year. So, the news that I have agreed to become a partner and to succeed David as head of finance is tinged with sadness.

The proscription of Palestine Action will remain in effect until a further hearing later in February. A conclusion may yet be months away. ✍️ Alexander Horne spectator.com/article/pale...

In my latest piece for the Spectator, I argue that the High Court’s decision against the proscription of Palestine Action is naive and unwise. The court ought to have shown more deference to the decision of the Government (and Parliament). You can read the piece at: spectator.com/article/pale...

I’ve never taken a particularly ideological, party political, approach to politics, but I have to say that after 13 years in opposition I am quite astonished at how bad Labour is proving in Government.

I haven’t recommended anywhere in a while, but last month I went to an exceptional cocktail bar which I thought I’d share. Waltz is located on Scrutton Street (London, EC2A) and has been described as London’s most authentic Japanese style cocktail bar.

My latest piece in the Spectator looks at the sad case of Peter Mandelson and questions whether he might be expelled from the House of Lords and have his peerage removed. spectator.com/article/how-...

Very pleased to get the proof back for my chapter on judicial participation in Parliament (which will appear in @helenetyrrell.bsky.social and Conall Mallory’s forthcoming edited collection Extrajudicial Communication Perspectives and Practice).

If Trump really does invade Greenland, do we have to keep talking about tariffs? I for one would rather we didn’t punish Californian wine growers & UK consumers. If we are going to take real action, how about direct sanctions on Trump & his cronies, like any other bad actor?

Took a trip to the Courtauld today to see the wonderful Wayne Thiebaud exhibition. Well worth a visit. Really extraordinary art. Not a big show, but the pictures are really striking. These photos do not do them justice.

Labour’s approach to the constitution in 2025 (a short 🧵): 1) Lords reform which essentially amounts to gerrymandering with no attempt at real modernisation (why retain the bishops? Why not limit numbers or limit patronage?); 2) Proposals to limit trial by jury;

Progress on UK free trade agreement negotiations https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9314/

I haven’t done a restaurant review in a while. But after a day spent talking about Standard Essential Patents yesterday, here is something a bit more seasonal - the truffle menu at 45 Jermyn Street.

Will this deliver the changes that Starmer is looking for? ✍️ Alexander Horne www.spectator.co.uk/article/keir...

In my latest piece for the Spectator (I think my 50th!) I take a look at the summit in Strasbourg today where Keir Starmer is hoping win support to reform the ECHR. www.spectator.co.uk/article/keir...

Senior members of the UK government will meet ministers from 45 other Council of Europe member states in Strasbourg on Wednesday to discuss the challenges posed by “irregular” migration. rozenberg.substack.com/p/stopping-t...

Ironically, in its decision yesterday, the Court of Appeal concluded that the Upper Tribunal had reached the wrong decision ✍️ Alexander Horne www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-...

My latest piece for the @thespectator1828.bsky.social looks at the Court of Appeal’s judgment in the ‘Gaza family case’. www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-...

Hard to imagine people go into politics with the aim of underfunding the justice system to the extent that you need to do this… Combined with headlines about a milkshake tax and a £15bn welfare expansion and it’s not exactly a great week for Labour. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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

If the Lords ends up effectively blocking the progress if the Assisted Dying legislation, I trust that Keir Starmer will do one useful thing with his premiership and whip a Government backed Bill through the Commons next session. We know there is a majority for it. So get it done.

Labour is in the last-chance saloon. ✍️ Alexander Horne

A new piece in @thespectator1828.bsky.social today on the Government’s proposed asylum and immigration reforms. www.spectator.co.uk/article/shab...

I hope to have a short piece up on Labour’s proposed asylum and immigration reforms later today. Will post when it is published. In the meantime, I’d just say that by giving this issue such prominence Labour will increase its political cut through with the electorate. It’s a v risky strategy.

Disappointing to see this response by @chrisbryant1962.bsky.social on the question of scrutiny of trade agreements. The U.K. system under CRaG is hopeless. Everyone knows it. Labour’s approach is exactly the same as the Conservatives. Shameful. questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

Disappointing to see this response by @chrisbryant1962.bsky.social on the question of scrutiny of trade agreements. The U.K. system under CRaG is hopeless. Everyone knows it. Labour’s approach is exactly the same as the Conservatives. Shameful. questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

On the 75th anniversary of the ECHR, I pose the question - is now the time for reform? My latest piece for @thespectator1828.bsky.social www.spectator.co.uk/article/can-...

In the UK the Convention faces a significant challenge. For the first time, both the Conservatives and Reform will enter the next general election pledging to withdraw from it. ✍️ Alexander Horne

On the 75th anniversary of the ECHR, I pose the question - is now the time for reform? My latest piece for @thespectator1828.bsky.social www.spectator.co.uk/article/can-...

The problem with Monbiot’s proposal is that there is no agreed definition of ‘fundamental rights’ and that many consider that the ambit of ‘rights’ has been expanded so far that they cover many politically contested areas.

Periodic reminder that Erskine May is freely available online

Slightly later than expected, we're delighted to announce that @tweaty-twacker.bsky.social is back. It posts every time a treaty is laid before the UK Parliament under the procedure set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.