Alexander Horne
@legalmusings.bsky.social
Barrister. Commentator. Visiting Prof @ Durham University. Former parliamentary lawyer & special adviser UK Parliament (JCHR, EU, Women & Equalities; International Agreements). Musings on law, politics & restaurants . Personal views.
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Fair enough. Well this short extract may explain why I said what I said.
Many of the arguments around the ECHR occur when rights come into conflict - so it’s not a simple question of saying “what rights are you prepared to lose?”
Many of the arguments around the ECHR occur when rights come into conflict - so it’s not a simple question of saying “what rights are you prepared to lose?”
November 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Fair enough. Well this short extract may explain why I said what I said.
Many of the arguments around the ECHR occur when rights come into conflict - so it’s not a simple question of saying “what rights are you prepared to lose?”
Many of the arguments around the ECHR occur when rights come into conflict - so it’s not a simple question of saying “what rights are you prepared to lose?”
Because one of the reason for special terrorism legislation is to prevent things from happening in the first place. Including millions of pounds of damage to national security infrastructure.
In that context, it’s worth noting what Yvette Cooper told Parliament in the summer.
In that context, it’s worth noting what Yvette Cooper told Parliament in the summer.
October 15, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Because one of the reason for special terrorism legislation is to prevent things from happening in the first place. Including millions of pounds of damage to national security infrastructure.
In that context, it’s worth noting what Yvette Cooper told Parliament in the summer.
In that context, it’s worth noting what Yvette Cooper told Parliament in the summer.
I went to Helsinki for the first time this year. Really pretty, clean, charming. Lovely people. Great restaurants. But you could buy an affordable martini (pic 2) and drink good wine with you meal.
I can’t recall if I recommended it at the time, but Bouchon Carême is a first rate spot (pic 1).
I can’t recall if I recommended it at the time, but Bouchon Carême is a first rate spot (pic 1).
October 13, 2025 at 8:57 AM
I went to Helsinki for the first time this year. Really pretty, clean, charming. Lovely people. Great restaurants. But you could buy an affordable martini (pic 2) and drink good wine with you meal.
I can’t recall if I recommended it at the time, but Bouchon Carême is a first rate spot (pic 1).
I can’t recall if I recommended it at the time, but Bouchon Carême is a first rate spot (pic 1).
Having returned from a long weekend in Vienna, I confess I am slightly struggling for a fantastic restaurant recommendation.
The best I managed was a spot called Meissl & Schadn, which combined a civilised room and lovely staff with a pretty good veal schnitzel. Worth a visit if you are in town.
The best I managed was a spot called Meissl & Schadn, which combined a civilised room and lovely staff with a pretty good veal schnitzel. Worth a visit if you are in town.
October 13, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Having returned from a long weekend in Vienna, I confess I am slightly struggling for a fantastic restaurant recommendation.
The best I managed was a spot called Meissl & Schadn, which combined a civilised room and lovely staff with a pretty good veal schnitzel. Worth a visit if you are in town.
The best I managed was a spot called Meissl & Schadn, which combined a civilised room and lovely staff with a pretty good veal schnitzel. Worth a visit if you are in town.
Lovely to catch up with my friend and former colleague Holger Hestermeyer at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna yesterday.
I hope we will bs collaborating on some more work on treaty scrutiny next year.
I hope we will bs collaborating on some more work on treaty scrutiny next year.
October 11, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Lovely to catch up with my friend and former colleague Holger Hestermeyer at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna yesterday.
I hope we will bs collaborating on some more work on treaty scrutiny next year.
I hope we will bs collaborating on some more work on treaty scrutiny next year.
How sad. One of my favourite activities when I went up to Durham University to teach public law this year was to visit Bells, the absolutely splendid fish and chip shop on the high street. It’s really great. Nothing quite as good in London.
September 29, 2025 at 4:09 PM
How sad. One of my favourite activities when I went up to Durham University to teach public law this year was to visit Bells, the absolutely splendid fish and chip shop on the high street. It’s really great. Nothing quite as good in London.
The problem is - if you want to vote for a socially liberal, economically conservative party- who do you now vote for?
Philip Hensher made the point better than I can last year:
Philip Hensher made the point better than I can last year:
September 28, 2025 at 8:58 AM
The problem is - if you want to vote for a socially liberal, economically conservative party- who do you now vote for?
Philip Hensher made the point better than I can last year:
Philip Hensher made the point better than I can last year:
Irrespective of one’s views of the artistic merits of the Banksy, this shows everything that’s wrong with Britain at the moment.
The state decides it won’t put up with something and sends a man with a high viz jacket out..
But it cannot even do the job of erasing it properly.
The state decides it won’t put up with something and sends a man with a high viz jacket out..
But it cannot even do the job of erasing it properly.
September 18, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Irrespective of one’s views of the artistic merits of the Banksy, this shows everything that’s wrong with Britain at the moment.
The state decides it won’t put up with something and sends a man with a high viz jacket out..
But it cannot even do the job of erasing it properly.
The state decides it won’t put up with something and sends a man with a high viz jacket out..
But it cannot even do the job of erasing it properly.
In addition to the above, we also went to Alain llorca. The views were breathtaking (near St Paul). The food was very good. There was little I could really fault. But it wasn’t my favourite spot.
September 16, 2025 at 10:06 AM
In addition to the above, we also went to Alain llorca. The views were breathtaking (near St Paul). The food was very good. There was little I could really fault. But it wasn’t my favourite spot.
We also had a great meal at Chez Fon Fon, where we also had the bouillabaisse.
The restaurant was perhaps rather smarter than Michel, and located in a charming cove just behind the war memorial (pictured below). However, I think that Michel was very marginally better for everything bar dessert.
The restaurant was perhaps rather smarter than Michel, and located in a charming cove just behind the war memorial (pictured below). However, I think that Michel was very marginally better for everything bar dessert.
September 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
We also had a great meal at Chez Fon Fon, where we also had the bouillabaisse.
The restaurant was perhaps rather smarter than Michel, and located in a charming cove just behind the war memorial (pictured below). However, I think that Michel was very marginally better for everything bar dessert.
The restaurant was perhaps rather smarter than Michel, and located in a charming cove just behind the war memorial (pictured below). However, I think that Michel was very marginally better for everything bar dessert.
Finally, in Marseille we had a splendid time at Michel. Again we visited twice. The first time for a first rate bouillabaisse (the house speciality); the second time for sole.
It’s a simple looking spot, overlooking a beach. But it has been there forever and they know exactly what they are doing.
It’s a simple looking spot, overlooking a beach. But it has been there forever and they know exactly what they are doing.
September 16, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Finally, in Marseille we had a splendid time at Michel. Again we visited twice. The first time for a first rate bouillabaisse (the house speciality); the second time for sole.
It’s a simple looking spot, overlooking a beach. But it has been there forever and they know exactly what they are doing.
It’s a simple looking spot, overlooking a beach. But it has been there forever and they know exactly what they are doing.
Both were excellent and being able to sample each of them was a wonderful experience.
I won’t pretend it is a cheap spot but it’s the second time I have visited in two years and on both occasions it was memorable.
I won’t pretend it is a cheap spot but it’s the second time I have visited in two years and on both occasions it was memorable.
September 16, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Both were excellent and being able to sample each of them was a wonderful experience.
I won’t pretend it is a cheap spot but it’s the second time I have visited in two years and on both occasions it was memorable.
I won’t pretend it is a cheap spot but it’s the second time I have visited in two years and on both occasions it was memorable.
By far the best meal we had was at a lovely spot called Place de Mougins. The pictures probably speak for themselves. It was one of the few places we went to that let you mix the proposed set menus - so we had two different multi course options - one entitled ‘signature’ and one ‘homard’.
September 16, 2025 at 9:47 AM
By far the best meal we had was at a lovely spot called Place de Mougins. The pictures probably speak for themselves. It was one of the few places we went to that let you mix the proposed set menus - so we had two different multi course options - one entitled ‘signature’ and one ‘homard’.
The Home Secretary also referenced two other attacks which are sub judicie and the fact that PA 👇
August 5, 2025 at 7:12 AM
The Home Secretary also referenced two other attacks which are sub judicie and the fact that PA 👇
No. I’m making the point that the social licence to ban PA exists.
The population at large does not support damaging RAF aircraft and submarine parts. Nor does it have any sympathy for groups which do the following (taken from the Home Secretary’s statement to Parliament):
The population at large does not support damaging RAF aircraft and submarine parts. Nor does it have any sympathy for groups which do the following (taken from the Home Secretary’s statement to Parliament):
August 5, 2025 at 7:04 AM
No. I’m making the point that the social licence to ban PA exists.
The population at large does not support damaging RAF aircraft and submarine parts. Nor does it have any sympathy for groups which do the following (taken from the Home Secretary’s statement to Parliament):
The population at large does not support damaging RAF aircraft and submarine parts. Nor does it have any sympathy for groups which do the following (taken from the Home Secretary’s statement to Parliament):
Returned to Club Gascon last night for the first time in a while.
They currently have an interesting 2/3 course summer menu on offer. (£38/46pp).
It’s a rather lovely introduction to their food and well worth trying.
They currently have an interesting 2/3 course summer menu on offer. (£38/46pp).
It’s a rather lovely introduction to their food and well worth trying.
August 2, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Returned to Club Gascon last night for the first time in a while.
They currently have an interesting 2/3 course summer menu on offer. (£38/46pp).
It’s a rather lovely introduction to their food and well worth trying.
They currently have an interesting 2/3 course summer menu on offer. (£38/46pp).
It’s a rather lovely introduction to their food and well worth trying.
I haven’t made a restaurant recommendation some time. But recently I had the pleasure of visiting Veeraswamy, located centrally on London’s Regent Street.
It advertises itself as ‘the city’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant, having opened in 1926. It didn’t disappoint…
It advertises itself as ‘the city’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant, having opened in 1926. It didn’t disappoint…
August 1, 2025 at 5:34 AM
I haven’t made a restaurant recommendation some time. But recently I had the pleasure of visiting Veeraswamy, located centrally on London’s Regent Street.
It advertises itself as ‘the city’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant, having opened in 1926. It didn’t disappoint…
It advertises itself as ‘the city’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant, having opened in 1926. It didn’t disappoint…
This week, the new trade deal with India was announced.
Politico’s London Playbook was reading my co-authored piece (with @eliotwilson.bsky.social ) examining why Parliament won’t have much of a say.
If you missed it, you can read it on Eliot’s Substack:
theideaslab.substack.com/p/improving-...
Politico’s London Playbook was reading my co-authored piece (with @eliotwilson.bsky.social ) examining why Parliament won’t have much of a say.
If you missed it, you can read it on Eliot’s Substack:
theideaslab.substack.com/p/improving-...
July 26, 2025 at 8:19 AM
This week, the new trade deal with India was announced.
Politico’s London Playbook was reading my co-authored piece (with @eliotwilson.bsky.social ) examining why Parliament won’t have much of a say.
If you missed it, you can read it on Eliot’s Substack:
theideaslab.substack.com/p/improving-...
Politico’s London Playbook was reading my co-authored piece (with @eliotwilson.bsky.social ) examining why Parliament won’t have much of a say.
If you missed it, you can read it on Eliot’s Substack:
theideaslab.substack.com/p/improving-...
This week, my restaurant recommendation comes from North Yorkshire - The Star Inn at Harome.
Google describes it as a ‘gastropub’. I’d argue it is rather smarter than that. In any event it’s a charming spot.
Google describes it as a ‘gastropub’. I’d argue it is rather smarter than that. In any event it’s a charming spot.
June 1, 2025 at 6:50 AM
This week, my restaurant recommendation comes from North Yorkshire - The Star Inn at Harome.
Google describes it as a ‘gastropub’. I’d argue it is rather smarter than that. In any event it’s a charming spot.
Google describes it as a ‘gastropub’. I’d argue it is rather smarter than that. In any event it’s a charming spot.
My latest restaurant recommendation is from a trip to Finland. We visited a super spot called Bouchon Carême. The menu is quite eclectic. Our meal featured some excellent lobster bisque and pasta. Fantastic steak. And a chocolate mousse trolley…
May 25, 2025 at 7:41 AM
My latest restaurant recommendation is from a trip to Finland. We visited a super spot called Bouchon Carême. The menu is quite eclectic. Our meal featured some excellent lobster bisque and pasta. Fantastic steak. And a chocolate mousse trolley…
Another splendid ‘Half-six fix’ last night at the Barbican Centre. This time Sir Antonio Pappano conducting the
Symphonie fantastique by Berlioz.
It was the first time I had heard the piece in its entirety (although part of the 5th movement appears as the main theme to the Shining).
Symphonie fantastique by Berlioz.
It was the first time I had heard the piece in its entirety (although part of the 5th movement appears as the main theme to the Shining).
May 22, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Another splendid ‘Half-six fix’ last night at the Barbican Centre. This time Sir Antonio Pappano conducting the
Symphonie fantastique by Berlioz.
It was the first time I had heard the piece in its entirety (although part of the 5th movement appears as the main theme to the Shining).
Symphonie fantastique by Berlioz.
It was the first time I had heard the piece in its entirety (although part of the 5th movement appears as the main theme to the Shining).
This week, we have been on a wine-tasting tour in France, stopping at Reims, Chablis and Epernay. The restaurant recommendation is La Grand Georgette. Really great food. Lovely staff. Just fabulous. The pictures probably speak for themselves (lobster ravioli, venison & eel tartare, veal, tapioca).
May 10, 2025 at 5:35 AM
This week, we have been on a wine-tasting tour in France, stopping at Reims, Chablis and Epernay. The restaurant recommendation is La Grand Georgette. Really great food. Lovely staff. Just fabulous. The pictures probably speak for themselves (lobster ravioli, venison & eel tartare, veal, tapioca).
An excellent afternoon at the Brussels opera to see I Grotteschi - a new opera (but with music by Montrverdi).
Well worth a trip.
Well worth a trip.
April 20, 2025 at 5:43 AM
An excellent afternoon at the Brussels opera to see I Grotteschi - a new opera (but with music by Montrverdi).
Well worth a trip.
Well worth a trip.
I’m pretty sure I’ve recommended the Tamil Prince in Islington before, so I’m not going to post a long review today. But I had another excellent meal there this week and thought I’d share some pictures. The lamb chops and roti are divine. A consistently good spot.
April 5, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I’m pretty sure I’ve recommended the Tamil Prince in Islington before, so I’m not going to post a long review today. But I had another excellent meal there this week and thought I’d share some pictures. The lamb chops and roti are divine. A consistently good spot.
A lovely day to amble to Westminster to give evidence to the Lords International Agreements Committee. Hopefully we will see some good suggestions for reforming the parliamentary treaty scrutiny system.
April 1, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A lovely day to amble to Westminster to give evidence to the Lords International Agreements Committee. Hopefully we will see some good suggestions for reforming the parliamentary treaty scrutiny system.