Eric Clive
@ericclive.bsky.social
Retired law professor and law reformer. Pro EU. Anti Brexit. Pro UN, pro international law and civilised international relations. Supporter of Scottish independence in Europe for pro European, internationalist, democratic, progressive and other reasons.
Guardian headline "Judge me on what I do, says new EHRC chair after transgender groups’ criticism."
This is what I've been saying all along. It is disappointing though that she defends the unhelpful guidance submitted to the Minister by her predecessor. She should be prepared to look at it again.
This is what I've been saying all along. It is disappointing though that she defends the unhelpful guidance submitted to the Minister by her predecessor. She should be prepared to look at it again.
December 31, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Guardian headline "Judge me on what I do, says new EHRC chair after transgender groups’ criticism."
This is what I've been saying all along. It is disappointing though that she defends the unhelpful guidance submitted to the Minister by her predecessor. She should be prepared to look at it again.
This is what I've been saying all along. It is disappointing though that she defends the unhelpful guidance submitted to the Minister by her predecessor. She should be prepared to look at it again.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Two interim commissioners - Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry - appointed to EHRC for 12 months from 1 Jan 2026. Recruitment campaign for at least 4 regular commissioners continues.
Two interim commissioners - Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry - appointed to EHRC for 12 months from 1 Jan 2026. Recruitment campaign for at least 4 regular commissioners continues.
December 29, 2025 at 3:04 PM
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Two interim commissioners - Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry - appointed to EHRC for 12 months from 1 Jan 2026. Recruitment campaign for at least 4 regular commissioners continues.
Two interim commissioners - Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry - appointed to EHRC for 12 months from 1 Jan 2026. Recruitment campaign for at least 4 regular commissioners continues.
This is the man whose achievements as Secretary of State for Scotland included blocking, for no good reason in my view, a Bill passed by the Scottish Parliament by a large majority after years of consultation and debate.
When you get a job for life and are not elected you get a pass to steal millions £££ over the years, or if you are Lady Mone you can do this is one go. Abolish the HoL and replace it with an elected people’s chamber. 😡😡😡
December 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
This is the man whose achievements as Secretary of State for Scotland included blocking, for no good reason in my view, a Bill passed by the Scottish Parliament by a large majority after years of consultation and debate.
Reposted by Eric Clive
A SOLSTICE ANALEMMA: Italian photographer Paolo Bardelli stitched together 48 pictures spanning 12 months to reveal the analemma over Lake Varese. spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload... spaceweather.com
December 21, 2025 at 8:14 AM
A SOLSTICE ANALEMMA: Italian photographer Paolo Bardelli stitched together 48 pictures spanning 12 months to reveal the analemma over Lake Varese. spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload... spaceweather.com
Reposted by Eric Clive
Arctic security remains a key priority for the European Union, and one in which we seek to work with allies and partners.
Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law.
Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law.
December 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Arctic security remains a key priority for the European Union, and one in which we seek to work with allies and partners.
Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law.
Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law.
Reposted by Eric Clive
That is the reality
We used to be one of the rule makers
We are now a rule taker, not just with Europe but in any bilateral relationship where we are the smaller country
We need to get used to it
We used to be one of the rule makers
We are now a rule taker, not just with Europe but in any bilateral relationship where we are the smaller country
We need to get used to it
December 14, 2025 at 7:03 PM
That is the reality
We used to be one of the rule makers
We are now a rule taker, not just with Europe but in any bilateral relationship where we are the smaller country
We need to get used to it
We used to be one of the rule makers
We are now a rule taker, not just with Europe but in any bilateral relationship where we are the smaller country
We need to get used to it
Reposted by Eric Clive
Scottish Independence” isn’t isolation — it’s re‑joining the EU single market, the largest in the world. While Westminster dragged Scotland out of Europe, independence is the route back to free trade, jobs, and growth. Choice matters. #ScotlandInEurope
December 15, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Scottish Independence” isn’t isolation — it’s re‑joining the EU single market, the largest in the world. While Westminster dragged Scotland out of Europe, independence is the route back to free trade, jobs, and growth. Choice matters. #ScotlandInEurope
On the basis of what she is saying on BBC 1 right now, the new chair of the EHRC is a great improvement on the old.
December 14, 2025 at 9:43 AM
On the basis of what she is saying on BBC 1 right now, the new chair of the EHRC is a great improvement on the old.
Just a general question. If you've just retired as chair of a public body and you are asked by a reporter for a view on a matter of current concern to that body would it be polite to decline to answer and leave the field clear for the new chair to respond or not as he or she thought fit?
December 12, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Just a general question. If you've just retired as chair of a public body and you are asked by a reporter for a view on a matter of current concern to that body would it be polite to decline to answer and leave the field clear for the new chair to respond or not as he or she thought fit?
That is some decision in the Sandie Peggie case. I’m going to learn a lot from reading it. In the meantime it is clear that there has been enormous misreporting by the media. They seem to have read only the opening paras of the judgment or else a biased press release. On the law, Sandie Peggie lost.
December 8, 2025 at 8:09 PM
That is some decision in the Sandie Peggie case. I’m going to learn a lot from reading it. In the meantime it is clear that there has been enormous misreporting by the media. They seem to have read only the opening paras of the judgment or else a biased press release. On the law, Sandie Peggie lost.
Am I wrong in thinking that a law which obliges groups to exclude people they want to include and who want to be included would infringe art 11 of the ECHR -"Everyone has the right to ... freedom of association with others" - unless one of the exceptions applies?
December 8, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Am I wrong in thinking that a law which obliges groups to exclude people they want to include and who want to be included would infringe art 11 of the ECHR -"Everyone has the right to ... freedom of association with others" - unless one of the exceptions applies?
Reposted by Eric Clive
If the Equality Act had never existed, and someone proposed to pass a law banning women’s organisations from choosing to welcome trans people, we’d think it was a pretty extreme proposal. I don’t think it’s less extreme because it’s come about as a result of a new interpretation of an old law.
December 3, 2025 at 11:18 AM
If the Equality Act had never existed, and someone proposed to pass a law banning women’s organisations from choosing to welcome trans people, we’d think it was a pretty extreme proposal. I don’t think it’s less extreme because it’s come about as a result of a new interpretation of an old law.
It's odd. People readily accept that a person who adopts a child can be a social and legal parent but not a biological parent - and that social or legal parenthood is often more important than biological parenthood. A surprising number find it hard to accept something similar in the case of gender.
December 4, 2025 at 2:24 PM
It's odd. People readily accept that a person who adopts a child can be a social and legal parent but not a biological parent - and that social or legal parenthood is often more important than biological parenthood. A surprising number find it hard to accept something similar in the case of gender.
Reposted by Eric Clive
The WI has been trans inclusive since the 70s, before I was born. Do you see who in this scenario was innocently minding their own business, coming to their own arrangements locally? Do you see who is forcefully imposing themselves and their demands upon others, via threats.
December 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The WI has been trans inclusive since the 70s, before I was born. Do you see who in this scenario was innocently minding their own business, coming to their own arrangements locally? Do you see who is forcefully imposing themselves and their demands upon others, via threats.
I wonder what the judges of the UK Supreme Court are thinking when they see their judgment in the FWS case used to justify the banning of trans girls from the girl guides.
December 2, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I wonder what the judges of the UK Supreme Court are thinking when they see their judgment in the FWS case used to justify the banning of trans girls from the girl guides.
The political opportunism in the current attacks on Rachel Reeves is blatant and unattractive. The Labour government has made a lot of mistakes but saying there was a need to keep down borrowing costs was not one of them - and was not misleading the country.
December 2, 2025 at 10:06 AM
The political opportunism in the current attacks on Rachel Reeves is blatant and unattractive. The Labour government has made a lot of mistakes but saying there was a need to keep down borrowing costs was not one of them - and was not misleading the country.
Tedious rehashing of minor "political" budget issues this a.m. The big issue is that growth is a mirage. The budget had to avoid two dangers - increased borrowing costs and a move to greater inequality. It largely did. I would cut Rachel Reeves a bit of slack on the political presentation.
November 30, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Tedious rehashing of minor "political" budget issues this a.m. The big issue is that growth is a mirage. The budget had to avoid two dangers - increased borrowing costs and a move to greater inequality. It largely did. I would cut Rachel Reeves a bit of slack on the political presentation.
Rachel Reeves says there will be no referendum on Scottish independence.
"When there was a referendum just a few years ago, it said that this was a once in a generation referendum."
This is a poor argument. The ref was 11 years ago. A lot has changed. "It" said nothing about once in a generation.
"When there was a referendum just a few years ago, it said that this was a once in a generation referendum."
This is a poor argument. The ref was 11 years ago. A lot has changed. "It" said nothing about once in a generation.
November 29, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Rachel Reeves says there will be no referendum on Scottish independence.
"When there was a referendum just a few years ago, it said that this was a once in a generation referendum."
This is a poor argument. The ref was 11 years ago. A lot has changed. "It" said nothing about once in a generation.
"When there was a referendum just a few years ago, it said that this was a once in a generation referendum."
This is a poor argument. The ref was 11 years ago. A lot has changed. "It" said nothing about once in a generation.
Reposted by Eric Clive
Reeves tells Scotland that it does not have the right to exist as a separate state if its people so desire. Imagine someone said this about Israel Canada or Ukraine there would rightly be outrage & condemnation. Nothing from Sarwar or Scottish Labour. Do they agree with Reeves?
x.com/bjcruickshan...
x.com/bjcruickshan...
Bill Cruickshank on X: "No Labour politician can now claim that Scotland is in an equal, fair & democratic union: https://t.co/jS8g9wT6F9 @RachelReeves has blown Scottish democracy to smithereens. No unionist politician has ever gone this far, not even Thatcher. Scary times Scotland!" / X
No Labour politician can now claim that Scotland is in an equal, fair & democratic union: https://t.co/jS8g9wT6F9 @RachelReeves has blown Scottish democracy to smithereens. No unionist politician has ever gone this far, not even Thatcher. Scary times Scotland!
x.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Reeves tells Scotland that it does not have the right to exist as a separate state if its people so desire. Imagine someone said this about Israel Canada or Ukraine there would rightly be outrage & condemnation. Nothing from Sarwar or Scottish Labour. Do they agree with Reeves?
x.com/bjcruickshan...
x.com/bjcruickshan...
Reposted by Eric Clive
staggered to see the stories about David Coburn. If only there had been some sort of sign that he was an utterly inept and incompetent politician
November 28, 2025 at 12:25 PM
staggered to see the stories about David Coburn. If only there had been some sort of sign that he was an utterly inept and incompetent politician
One of the less discussed aspects of the UK budget is that it reveals the ramshackle state of the UK constitution. It is difficult for the ordinary citizen to work out what measures are UK measures and what are England-only measures.
November 27, 2025 at 8:57 AM
One of the less discussed aspects of the UK budget is that it reveals the ramshackle state of the UK constitution. It is difficult for the ordinary citizen to work out what measures are UK measures and what are England-only measures.
The Laura Kuenssberg show left me depressed. Nobody has the answers. Maybe we should be asking what we can and should avoid, starting with greater inequality; higher borrowing costs.
November 23, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The Laura Kuenssberg show left me depressed. Nobody has the answers. Maybe we should be asking what we can and should avoid, starting with greater inequality; higher borrowing costs.
In the Scottish Parliament elections in May I won't be voting for a pro Customs Union party when I can vote for a pro EU membership party. But if the UK prefers the less satisfactory solution then so be it - fewer problems at border if/when an independent Scotland becomes an EU member state.
Oh, Customs Union again? Based on recent conversations I am pretty sure that any form of greater UK market access to the single market including this will require substantial financial contribution, alignment, and close to freedom of movement. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Lib Dems to force vote on creating new customs union with EU
Ed Davey’s party believes the move is the best way to ‘turbocharge’ economy, rather than tax rises
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:14 AM
In the Scottish Parliament elections in May I won't be voting for a pro Customs Union party when I can vote for a pro EU membership party. But if the UK prefers the less satisfactory solution then so be it - fewer problems at border if/when an independent Scotland becomes an EU member state.
"if a trans person is admitted to a service which is for the opposite sex, it would no longer be a separate or single-sex service, which could amount to unlawful sex discrimination."
"Would"? Really? Always?
"Could"? Please explain why and when.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
"Would"? Really? Always?
"Could"? Please explain why and when.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
What is the new gender guidance on single-sex spaces and sport?
We look at several elements of the equality watchdog’s code, which advises organisations on how to interpret the Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act
www.thetimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:13 AM
"if a trans person is admitted to a service which is for the opposite sex, it would no longer be a separate or single-sex service, which could amount to unlawful sex discrimination."
"Would"? Really? Always?
"Could"? Please explain why and when.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
"Would"? Really? Always?
"Could"? Please explain why and when.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...