7th August 2024 On the site that is still known as Twitter, Elon Musk has again tweeted that ‘civil war is inevitable’. The thing is that civil wars are rarely …

How the criminal justice system deals with a riot

Individual Contributors to Policy Commons · 5 August 2024 English

5th August 2024 Thirteen years ago, I went along to the south London shopping centre expecting to report on a riot. But there was not a riot. And so in …

The Lucy Letby case: some thoughts and observations: what should happen when a defence does not put in their own …

Individual Contributors to Policy Commons · 26 July 2024 English

26th July 2024 Often the criminal cases that feature prominently in the news are really not interesting from a legal(istic) perspective. One could quite happily commentate on interesting legal issues …

How the Met police may be erring in its political insider betting investigation – and why we should be wary …

Individual Contributors to Policy Commons · 28 June 2024 English

28 June 2024 Some may be tempted to clap and cheer at the news that a Conservative politician is facing a Metropolitan police investigation in respect of alleged political insider …

What you need to know about commercial regulation, in the sports sector and elsewhere – for there is compliance and …

Individual Contributors to Policy Commons · 25 June 2024 English

25th June 2024 Imagine you are a business person faced with an irksome or onerous regulation. The regulation means that a course of action you would like to take for …

Seven changes for a better constitution? Some interesting proposals from some good people.

Individual Contributors to Policy Commons · 24 June 2024 English

24th June 2024 In the Times today there is a letter published from various good sorts putting forward seven practical and easy-to-make steps for a better constitution. One of the …

The wrong gong

Individual Contributors to Policy Commons · 22 June 2024 English

22nd June 2024 In my post earlier today on Lord Etherton I confused the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George for the …

The public service of an “Enemy of the People”

Individual Contributors to Policy Commons · 22 June 2024 English

22nd June 2024 You may remember this headline: This was about the first of the two Brexit cases where the courts had to prevent the government acting in spite of …

Of majorities and “super-majorities”

Individual Contributors to Policy Commons · 21 June 2024 English

21st June 2024 The greatest prize that the constitution of the United Kingdom can bestow is a substantial parliamentary majority at a general election. With such a majority you can …

The strange omission in the Conservative manifesto: why is there no commitment to repeal the Human Rights Act?

Individual Contributors to Policy Commons · 12 June 2024 English

12th June 2024 As each party manifesto is published online, and for my own easy amusement, I like to search the pdf for words like “enshrine” and “clear”. And after …