James Hand
@jamesahand.bsky.social
Legal academic (Assoc Prof, and an Assoc Head (R&I), at University of Portsmouth School of Law) https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/james-hand;
Co-Editor of the Int Jrnl of Discrimination and the Law (Sage) https://journals.sagepub.com/home/JDI
Co-Editor of the Int Jrnl of Discrimination and the Law (Sage) https://journals.sagepub.com/home/JDI
Reposted by James Hand
This misrepresentation is maddening: bsky.app/profile/sean...
Positive action: an explainer
In their manifesto Reform attack the "positive action" provisions in the "Equalities Act" which, they suggest cost billions, reduce productivity and destroy meritocracy. Have they identified a great social evil? Let's have a look. /1
February 17, 2026 at 11:46 PM
This misrepresentation is maddening: bsky.app/profile/sean...
Just two reported cases on s.159 by my count uklabourlawblog.com/2025/05/08/t...
February 17, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Just two reported cases on s.159 by my count uklabourlawblog.com/2025/05/08/t...
Reposted by James Hand
Reducing the 80,000 backlog of cases needs action now - not 2027/2028 as is the necessity of primary legislation to reduce jury trials.
Previously I’ve referred to IFG findings:a single Judge trial will save less than 2% of court time (if estimate of a Judge only trial being 20% quicker is correct)
Previously I’ve referred to IFG findings:a single Judge trial will save less than 2% of court time (if estimate of a Judge only trial being 20% quicker is correct)
Bar Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC hits out at Labour’s plans to reform jury trials, warning they won’t stop the court backlogs and undermine the safeguards built over hundreds of years.
Read more in The Telegraph today www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
@kirstybrimelow.bsky.social
Read more in The Telegraph today www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
@kirstybrimelow.bsky.social
www.telegraph.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Reducing the 80,000 backlog of cases needs action now - not 2027/2028 as is the necessity of primary legislation to reduce jury trials.
Previously I’ve referred to IFG findings:a single Judge trial will save less than 2% of court time (if estimate of a Judge only trial being 20% quicker is correct)
Previously I’ve referred to IFG findings:a single Judge trial will save less than 2% of court time (if estimate of a Judge only trial being 20% quicker is correct)
Reposted by James Hand
Is it possible to withdraw a peerage nomination? There is a precedent. nortonview.wordpress.com/2026/02/15/w...
Withdrawing a peerage nomination
The question of whether a peerage, having been announced, can be withdrawn has recently arisen, with Downing Street apparently believing that this was not possible. As the Clerks of the House of L…
nortonview.wordpress.com
February 15, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Is it possible to withdraw a peerage nomination? There is a precedent. nortonview.wordpress.com/2026/02/15/w...
Reposted by James Hand
Come, friendly points, and fail at Ely.
It isn't fit for humans, really.
It isn't fit for humans, really.
Ah, the joys of points-failure at Ely.
February 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Come, friendly points, and fail at Ely.
It isn't fit for humans, really.
It isn't fit for humans, really.
Vol 26(1) of the IJDL (Mar 2026) has been published online
journals.sagepub.com...
Following on from Vol 25 which marked the 30th anniversary of the journal in various ways including by being the biggest volume, Vol 26(1) is the biggest single issue to date (with >50% Open Access)
#IJDL #Equality
journals.sagepub.com...
Following on from Vol 25 which marked the 30th anniversary of the journal in various ways including by being the biggest volume, Vol 26(1) is the biggest single issue to date (with >50% Open Access)
#IJDL #Equality
February 16, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Vol 26(1) of the IJDL (Mar 2026) has been published online
journals.sagepub.com...
Following on from Vol 25 which marked the 30th anniversary of the journal in various ways including by being the biggest volume, Vol 26(1) is the biggest single issue to date (with >50% Open Access)
#IJDL #Equality
journals.sagepub.com...
Following on from Vol 25 which marked the 30th anniversary of the journal in various ways including by being the biggest volume, Vol 26(1) is the biggest single issue to date (with >50% Open Access)
#IJDL #Equality
Reposted by James Hand
The missing line on this chart is the growing value of the national minimum wage. Sustained policy action means that very low pay is now illegal, and that has an impact on the aggregate graduate premium.
Treasury modelling had assumed post-2012 graduates would continue to enjoy the wage premiums that pre-2012 graduates enjoyed.
This didn't happen. Grad wages were lower, and so were repayments.
By 2021, the government expected back just 46p of every £1 repaid.
2/4
This didn't happen. Grad wages were lower, and so were repayments.
By 2021, the government expected back just 46p of every £1 repaid.
2/4
February 15, 2026 at 1:20 PM
The missing line on this chart is the growing value of the national minimum wage. Sustained policy action means that very low pay is now illegal, and that has an impact on the aggregate graduate premium.
Reposted by James Hand
We're hiring in Psychology at Portsmouth Uni (apps due next Fri)!
Teaching Fellow:
TF: mss.port.ac.uk/ce0732li_web...
Perhaps place that enabled me to become British (via hire for @uoppald.bsky.social) can become your home too?
(Pictured: UK passport that arrived yesterday alongside my US passport)
Teaching Fellow:
TF: mss.port.ac.uk/ce0732li_web...
Perhaps place that enabled me to become British (via hire for @uoppald.bsky.social) can become your home too?
(Pictured: UK passport that arrived yesterday alongside my US passport)
February 13, 2026 at 3:46 PM
We're hiring in Psychology at Portsmouth Uni (apps due next Fri)!
Teaching Fellow:
TF: mss.port.ac.uk/ce0732li_web...
Perhaps place that enabled me to become British (via hire for @uoppald.bsky.social) can become your home too?
(Pictured: UK passport that arrived yesterday alongside my US passport)
Teaching Fellow:
TF: mss.port.ac.uk/ce0732li_web...
Perhaps place that enabled me to become British (via hire for @uoppald.bsky.social) can become your home too?
(Pictured: UK passport that arrived yesterday alongside my US passport)
Reposted by James Hand
Cabinet league table – favourability (not preferred leader) among Labour members: Survation for LabourList labourlist.org/2026/02/cabi...
February 12, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Cabinet league table – favourability (not preferred leader) among Labour members: Survation for LabourList labourlist.org/2026/02/cabi...
A brief update to previous substack posts on KC/QC appointments
February 12, 2026 at 10:20 PM
A brief update to previous substack posts on KC/QC appointments
Reposted by James Hand
Tonight feels v much like June 2009 when James Purnell quit the Brown cabinet saying Brown was going to lose the election, & everyone thought it was the start of a coup. (Including me, who was on a family holiday & cut it short to go back to the office, in order for nothing to actually happen)
February 9, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Tonight feels v much like June 2009 when James Purnell quit the Brown cabinet saying Brown was going to lose the election, & everyone thought it was the start of a coup. (Including me, who was on a family holiday & cut it short to go back to the office, in order for nothing to actually happen)
Reposted by James Hand
There’s a trend among recent PMs of having a poor relationship with and/or not really understanding what their backbenchers’ expectations are and how they view their role (and how that seems to have shifted among backbenchers of all parties in recent years)
Since Labour has been in government the lack of preparation and depth of thinking has been apparent but I think one of the biggest mistakes was going to war with the PLP so early. It stunned a lot of MPs to be told they could not even table amendments. This resentment is a massive part of the story.
February 8, 2026 at 8:49 PM
There’s a trend among recent PMs of having a poor relationship with and/or not really understanding what their backbenchers’ expectations are and how they view their role (and how that seems to have shifted among backbenchers of all parties in recent years)
Reposted by James Hand
An interesting lecture from Lord Sales which includes, among other topics, discussion of the Influence of public law ideas and values on private law development and the relationship between the common law and ECHR
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
1/5
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
1/5
supremecourt.uk
February 6, 2026 at 5:17 PM
An interesting lecture from Lord Sales which includes, among other topics, discussion of the Influence of public law ideas and values on private law development and the relationship between the common law and ECHR
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
1/5
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
1/5
Reposted by James Hand
Govt's court reforms have focussed on crown court backlogs, but they will put more pressure on magistrates courts that also have record backlogs. A great new @transformjustice.bsky.social report looks at the causes of poor productivity in the magistrates
Beyond reasonable delay: efficiency in London magistrates’ courts - Transform Justice
www.transformjustice.org.uk
February 2, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Govt's court reforms have focussed on crown court backlogs, but they will put more pressure on magistrates courts that also have record backlogs. A great new @transformjustice.bsky.social report looks at the causes of poor productivity in the magistrates
Reposted by James Hand
V excited that we are launching Scribble Book - a free weekly newsletter ft. notes and jottings from me on all things parliamentary history (and possibly a few other things). You can subscribe below!
HistParl is now on Substack!
We are very pleased to announce the launch of Scribble Book - a History of Parliament newsletter written by our Director @jhdavey.bsky.social ! Our first post, on the history of the Trust, will be out on Monday.
Be sure to subscribe now to keep up to date!
We are very pleased to announce the launch of Scribble Book - a History of Parliament newsletter written by our Director @jhdavey.bsky.social ! Our first post, on the history of the Trust, will be out on Monday.
Be sure to subscribe now to keep up to date!
Introducing Scribble Book
A History of Parliament Newsletter
open.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:13 PM
V excited that we are launching Scribble Book - a free weekly newsletter ft. notes and jottings from me on all things parliamentary history (and possibly a few other things). You can subscribe below!
Reposted by James Hand
Photo from Day 2 of the Rewiring-EU Conference in Leuven flic.kr/p/2rVe5Ka of the UoP-led WP4 on gender gaps in employment and enterprise with Panos Kapotas, Caroline Perrin and Devran Gulel
Re-wiring.eu
Re-wiring.eu
Final RE-WIRING Conference
How could institutions be ‘re-wired’ to provide a gender-equal environment where everyone could thrive and feel included? This was the focus of the closing conference of the Horizon Europe RE-WIRING p...
flic.kr
February 6, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Photo from Day 2 of the Rewiring-EU Conference in Leuven flic.kr/p/2rVe5Ka of the UoP-led WP4 on gender gaps in employment and enterprise with Panos Kapotas, Caroline Perrin and Devran Gulel
Re-wiring.eu
Re-wiring.eu
Reposted by James Hand
Mandelson has resigned from Lords. So why is he still a Lord?
Because the process of retiring from the Lords, or expelled, is not the same as removing their title.
See our explainer on how Lords are appointed, vetted, retired or expelled
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/jo...
Because the process of retiring from the Lords, or expelled, is not the same as removing their title.
See our explainer on how Lords are appointed, vetted, retired or expelled
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/jo...
Joining and leaving the House of Lords | Institute for Government
Most Lords members are life peers – nominated for their lifetime, but without their peerage passing to their children.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
February 3, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Mandelson has resigned from Lords. So why is he still a Lord?
Because the process of retiring from the Lords, or expelled, is not the same as removing their title.
See our explainer on how Lords are appointed, vetted, retired or expelled
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/jo...
Because the process of retiring from the Lords, or expelled, is not the same as removing their title.
See our explainer on how Lords are appointed, vetted, retired or expelled
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/jo...
Reposted by James Hand
Given current franchise ownership structures, there will be a lot more of this www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Tristan Stubbs: Hampshire Hawks sign South Africa batter for T20 Blast
South African batter Tristan Stubbs signs for Hampshire Hawks for the 2026 T20 Blast.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Given current franchise ownership structures, there will be a lot more of this www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Interesting procedural judgment - but curious why s.149 played no part
Sex Matters v City of London • Standing and Time Limits in Judicial Review
Sex Matters v City of London
Standing and Time Limits in Judicial Review
knowingius.org
February 2, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Interesting procedural judgment - but curious why s.149 played no part
Reposted by James Hand
'The House of Lords should not be blamed for what has happened here and the House of Lords should not be blamed for having inadequate procedures.'
Our Director, Meg Russell, spoke to @iaindale.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk about removing Lord (Peter) Mandelson from the House of Lords.
Listen 👇
Our Director, Meg Russell, spoke to @iaindale.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk about removing Lord (Peter) Mandelson from the House of Lords.
Listen 👇
Meg Russell describes how to remove a person from the House of Lords with Iain Dale on LBC
The Director of the Constitution Unit, Professor Meg Russell, spoke to Iain Dale on LBC about removing Lord (Peter) Mandelson from the House of Lords and how this is different to removing his…
www.youtube.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:31 PM
'The House of Lords should not be blamed for what has happened here and the House of Lords should not be blamed for having inadequate procedures.'
Our Director, Meg Russell, spoke to @iaindale.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk about removing Lord (Peter) Mandelson from the House of Lords.
Listen 👇
Our Director, Meg Russell, spoke to @iaindale.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk about removing Lord (Peter) Mandelson from the House of Lords.
Listen 👇
Reposted by James Hand
The “problem” is that a peerage is BOTH an honour AND confers a role/function (membership of the HL). There are mechanisms for removing the latter but not the former. And in that respect a peerage differs from other honours (eg knighthood) which can be removed by the prerogative without legislation
Since we’re talking again about expelling people from the House of Lords … the HL (Expulsion & Suspension) Act 2015 allows the Lords, by resolution, to suspend or expel a member. The HL Reform Act 2014 allows a life peer to resign from the HL, and provides for expulsion for non-attendance or … /1
February 2, 2026 at 4:43 PM
The “problem” is that a peerage is BOTH an honour AND confers a role/function (membership of the HL). There are mechanisms for removing the latter but not the former. And in that respect a peerage differs from other honours (eg knighthood) which can be removed by the prerogative without legislation
Reposted by James Hand
Very true! I got people to focus on three questions:
1. Where do you want to get to in three years? Aspirational - you won’t be held to account.
2. What can you realistically achieve in one year?
3. How does 2 help with 1?
Often there was no connection so we rethought 2.
1. Where do you want to get to in three years? Aspirational - you won’t be held to account.
2. What can you realistically achieve in one year?
3. How does 2 help with 1?
Often there was no connection so we rethought 2.
February 1, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Very true! I got people to focus on three questions:
1. Where do you want to get to in three years? Aspirational - you won’t be held to account.
2. What can you realistically achieve in one year?
3. How does 2 help with 1?
Often there was no connection so we rethought 2.
1. Where do you want to get to in three years? Aspirational - you won’t be held to account.
2. What can you realistically achieve in one year?
3. How does 2 help with 1?
Often there was no connection so we rethought 2.
Reposted by James Hand
Some initial reactions to the 'published on a Sunday afternoon' letter from the CEO of UKRI. 🧵
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
February 1, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Some initial reactions to the 'published on a Sunday afternoon' letter from the CEO of UKRI. 🧵
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
Reposted by James Hand
Hot off the press - a letter from the Exec Chair of @ukri.org explaining his plans and in particular the financial position of STFC. It notes curiosity driven research is protected and will make up around half of UKRI spend over the coming period
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community
UKRI Chief Executive outlines changes to UKRI investment approach, addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC.
www.ukri.org
February 1, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Hot off the press - a letter from the Exec Chair of @ukri.org explaining his plans and in particular the financial position of STFC. It notes curiosity driven research is protected and will make up around half of UKRI spend over the coming period
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...