PeatWorrier
@peatworrier.bsky.social
Prolixity from Dr Andrew Tickell. Law & Scottish politics. Senior lecturer in law at GCU Law, Jacobin scribbler, Sunday National columnist, and jaded flâneur.
"In Scotland, unless and until the Scottish Parliament provides to the contrary, or further refines section 92, a trial of a natural person in solemn proceedings requires the presence of the accused..." www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/c4rnj4...
www.scotcourts.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 4:58 PM
"In Scotland, unless and until the Scottish Parliament provides to the contrary, or further refines section 92, a trial of a natural person in solemn proceedings requires the presence of the accused..." www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/c4rnj4...
⚖️ Important decision by the UK Supreme Court this morning, mandating a more "nuanced" approach to decision-making on admissibility of evidence in sexual offence cases. www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKS...
Daly v His Majesty's Advocate & Anor (Scotland) [2025] UKSC 38 (12 November 2025)
www.bailii.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
⚖️ Important decision by the UK Supreme Court this morning, mandating a more "nuanced" approach to decision-making on admissibility of evidence in sexual offence cases. www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKS...
How can Scotland have a "soft touch" approach to crime, and the biggest prison population in history, hitting just under 8,400 last month? This weekend's Herald on Sunday / Sunday National column on Anas Sarwar's pitch for the "tough on crime" vote. www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
www.thenational.scot
November 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
How can Scotland have a "soft touch" approach to crime, and the biggest prison population in history, hitting just under 8,400 last month? This weekend's Herald on Sunday / Sunday National column on Anas Sarwar's pitch for the "tough on crime" vote. www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
🍂 As the nights are now officially "fair drawing in," it feels like it is time to whip up the first dauphinoise potatoes and spiced red cabbage of the season (although probably not at the same time...)
November 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM
🍂 As the nights are now officially "fair drawing in," it feels like it is time to whip up the first dauphinoise potatoes and spiced red cabbage of the season (although probably not at the same time...)
Britain’s tarnished royal house has only done what became necessary and expedient after multiple attempts to temporise their way out of it, with the minimum possible concessions.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
Andrew Tickell: The real reason behind the stripping of former prince’s titles
The phrase 'these censures are deemed necessary' gives the game away. Notice the emphasis on necessity
www.thenational.scot
November 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Britain’s tarnished royal house has only done what became necessary and expedient after multiple attempts to temporise their way out of it, with the minimum possible concessions.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
⚖️ Having received royal assent today, the Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 is now finally law. Most provisions will only come into force when ministers make commencement orders - including the new complainer anonymity rules.
www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2025/12/...
www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2025/12/...
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025
www.legislation.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
⚖️ Having received royal assent today, the Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 is now finally law. Most provisions will only come into force when ministers make commencement orders - including the new complainer anonymity rules.
www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2025/12/...
www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2025/12/...
Can the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry recover? From the weekend, I reflect on a week in which Lord Bracadale announces his shock resignation in advance of judicial review accusing him of "apparent bias" and all the senior lawyers to the Bayoh inquiry also resign... www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
Andrew Tickell: I can't see how the Sheku Bayoh inquiry can be salvaged
CAN the Sheku Bayoh inquiry recover? As the week ends, the public inquiry is at risk of collapsing into a historic fiasco, with serious doubts about…
www.thenational.scot
October 27, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Can the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry recover? From the weekend, I reflect on a week in which Lord Bracadale announces his shock resignation in advance of judicial review accusing him of "apparent bias" and all the senior lawyers to the Bayoh inquiry also resign... www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
Following Lord Bracadale's resignation as chair, all senior and junior counsel working on the Sheku Bayoh inquiry have now resigned. The question now must be, can the whole process be rescued?
October 24, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Following Lord Bracadale's resignation as chair, all senior and junior counsel working on the Sheku Bayoh inquiry have now resigned. The question now must be, can the whole process be rescued?
Reposted by PeatWorrier
📺 On STV's Scotland Tonight this week, GCU Law's Dr Nick McKerrell joined the programme to discuss the resignation of Lord Bracadale as the chair of the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry and the consequences for the future. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae4u...
What’s next for the Sheku Bayoh inquiry after the investigation chairman quits?#news #currentaffairs
YouTube video by STV News
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:26 AM
📺 On STV's Scotland Tonight this week, GCU Law's Dr Nick McKerrell joined the programme to discuss the resignation of Lord Bracadale as the chair of the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry and the consequences for the future. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae4u...
This one has been bubbling under for a while. The owners of Brel in Ashton Lane are suing trade union Unite for defamation. The Sheriff Appeal Court rejects United's challenge to the Sheriff's decision the social media posts were defamatory. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/fapib5...
www.scotcourts.gov.uk
October 22, 2025 at 11:17 AM
This one has been bubbling under for a while. The owners of Brel in Ashton Lane are suing trade union Unite for defamation. The Sheriff Appeal Court rejects United's challenge to the Sheriff's decision the social media posts were defamatory. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/fapib5...
Lord Bracadale has resigned as chair of the Sheku Bayoh inquiry. The Court of Session was due to hear a judicial review on whether he had demonstrated apparent bias next month. www.shekubayohinquiry.scot/sites/defaul...
www.shekubayohinquiry.scot
October 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Lord Bracadale has resigned as chair of the Sheku Bayoh inquiry. The Court of Session was due to hear a judicial review on whether he had demonstrated apparent bias next month. www.shekubayohinquiry.scot/sites/defaul...
Appeal Court quashes two summary convictions after Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission referral www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/40akpl...
www.scotcourts.gov.uk
October 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Appeal Court quashes two summary convictions after Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission referral www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/40akpl...
I thought exile, the Tower, or the Malmsey butt were more traditional ways for English kings to dispose of unwanted royal brothers – but last week we saw a new innovation. www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
Andrew Tickell: Andrew agrees to relinquish his titles – except, of course, ‘prince’
I THOUGHT exile, the Tower, or the Malmsey butt were more traditional ways for English kings to dispose of unwanted royal brothers – but last week…
www.thenational.scot
October 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I thought exile, the Tower, or the Malmsey butt were more traditional ways for English kings to dispose of unwanted royal brothers – but last week we saw a new innovation. www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
🧑🍳 Tonight, I am mostly slow-cooking lamb shank with garlic, onion, wine, bay, oregano and tomato - adding orzo pasta at th close to sook up and reduce the braising liquid.
October 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
🧑🍳 Tonight, I am mostly slow-cooking lamb shank with garlic, onion, wine, bay, oregano and tomato - adding orzo pasta at th close to sook up and reduce the braising liquid.
"No formality please. Do just address me informally as Your Grace the Most Worshipful Megadux of Kinlochbervie and Bonk."
October 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
"No formality please. Do just address me informally as Your Grace the Most Worshipful Megadux of Kinlochbervie and Bonk."
A very British absurdity, that you can apparently release a press statement saying you are "no longer using your titles", and simultanously sign it "Prince Andrew." Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would surely do.
October 17, 2025 at 6:24 PM
A very British absurdity, that you can apparently release a press statement saying you are "no longer using your titles", and simultanously sign it "Prince Andrew." Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would surely do.
Down in London, the Court of Appeal rejects the Home Secretary's challenge to the decision to grant permission for the proscription of Palestine Action to be challenged by way of judicial review. www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk
October 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Down in London, the Court of Appeal rejects the Home Secretary's challenge to the decision to grant permission for the proscription of Palestine Action to be challenged by way of judicial review. www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
Concerning new report published by the UK Anti-SLAPP coalition today: "From Survivor to Defendant: How the law is being weaponised to silence victims of sexual violence."
antislapp.uk/2025/10/16/s...
antislapp.uk/2025/10/16/s...
A new report exposes how the legal system is being weaponised to silence survivors of sexual and gender-based violence - UK Anti-Slapp Coalition
A new report by coalition co-chair Index on Censorship reveals how survivors of SGBV in the UK and Ireland are being silenced through abusive legal actions known as SLAPPs.
antislapp.uk
October 16, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Concerning new report published by the UK Anti-SLAPP coalition today: "From Survivor to Defendant: How the law is being weaponised to silence victims of sexual violence."
antislapp.uk/2025/10/16/s...
antislapp.uk/2025/10/16/s...
We've spent 5 years working to reform the law on reporting restrictions in Scotland, trying to align public conceptions- that complainers have automatic rights to lifelong anonymity unless they choose to waive it- with the legal rules which apply in this jurisdiction.
www.slsa.ac.uk/post/anonymi...
www.slsa.ac.uk/post/anonymi...
Anonymity in Sexual Offences: A Scottish Law Reform Campaign?
This blog is the first in our series, “Gender (in)justice: Views from Scotland”, featuring pieces authored by legal academics at Glasgow Caledonian University. GCU Law has a strong socio-legal researc...
www.slsa.ac.uk
October 15, 2025 at 7:16 PM
We've spent 5 years working to reform the law on reporting restrictions in Scotland, trying to align public conceptions- that complainers have automatic rights to lifelong anonymity unless they choose to waive it- with the legal rules which apply in this jurisdiction.
www.slsa.ac.uk/post/anonymi...
www.slsa.ac.uk/post/anonymi...
I like a schnitzel in almost all forms - but am pleasantly surprised how chicken cordon bleu turned out, with a bit of smoke from a slice of ham through the middle, and more from layering German smoked cheese inside before giving the whole thing its egg, flour and panko jaikit.
October 14, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I like a schnitzel in almost all forms - but am pleasantly surprised how chicken cordon bleu turned out, with a bit of smoke from a slice of ham through the middle, and more from layering German smoked cheese inside before giving the whole thing its egg, flour and panko jaikit.
From the paper this weekend. On the many ironies of folk complaining about state overreach on privacy, property and freedom of expression - who simultaneously want to scrap the ECHR.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
Andrew Tickell: Scrapping the ECHR would be a threat to our freedom of expression
I LIKE to think of them as Messiah policies: always promised but never appearing. The art of a good Messiah policy is that it should always be just…
www.thenational.scot
October 14, 2025 at 10:29 AM
From the paper this weekend. On the many ironies of folk complaining about state overreach on privacy, property and freedom of expression - who simultaneously want to scrap the ECHR.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
After almost 50 years, the Scottish Government is finally revisiting the rights of children and parents to opt out of religious observance in schools. But somehow, ministers have managed to bungle what ought to be a basic question of children's rights. www.thenational.scot/news/2551810...
Andrew Tickell: Scotland’s schools still force children to pray. That needs to change
MY wee sister will never forgive me. In the early 2000s, you apparently couldn’t have a school assembly without involving God, prayers and Bible…
www.thenational.scot
October 7, 2025 at 10:39 AM
After almost 50 years, the Scottish Government is finally revisiting the rights of children and parents to opt out of religious observance in schools. But somehow, ministers have managed to bungle what ought to be a basic question of children's rights. www.thenational.scot/news/2551810...
📢 Fancy coming to work with us at GCU Law? We've just advertised a new full time and open ended opportunity for a new colleague to join us as a lecturer in law. Full details about the position here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOX845/l...
Lecturer in Law (1.0FTE) at Glasgow Caledonian University
An academic position as a Lecturer in Law (1.0FTE) is being advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Click now to find more details and explore additional academic job opportunities.
www.jobs.ac.uk
October 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
📢 Fancy coming to work with us at GCU Law? We've just advertised a new full time and open ended opportunity for a new colleague to join us as a lecturer in law. Full details about the position here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOX845/l...
So Holyrood has unanumously decided to pass legislation to make it a criminal offence to steal dogs. Exactly how recriminalising behaviour which is already criminal "strengthens the law" is a question for the philosophers. A throwback rant from 2023: andrewtickell.co.uk/2023/09/03/o...
On dog-napping
Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 3rd September 2023. We’ve always had black Schnauzers. Niamh was our first dog. She was a giant. We chose her partly because we then lived in rural mid-Argy…
andrewtickell.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 11:13 AM
So Holyrood has unanumously decided to pass legislation to make it a criminal offence to steal dogs. Exactly how recriminalising behaviour which is already criminal "strengthens the law" is a question for the philosophers. A throwback rant from 2023: andrewtickell.co.uk/2023/09/03/o...
Should it be any mitigation, for someone who kills their partner to say "I just snapped when I found out they cheated on me"? As Scots law stands, "provocation by sexual infidelity" reduces murder to culpable homicide. This archaic doctrine needs repealed.
www.thenational.scot/comment/2550...
www.thenational.scot/comment/2550...
Andrew Tickell: Mitigation for adultery is an anomaly that must be abolished
IN January 1941, Alexander Hill received a letter from his wife Alice. Hill was corporal in the military police, stationed in England. Alice lived…
www.thenational.scot
September 28, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Should it be any mitigation, for someone who kills their partner to say "I just snapped when I found out they cheated on me"? As Scots law stands, "provocation by sexual infidelity" reduces murder to culpable homicide. This archaic doctrine needs repealed.
www.thenational.scot/comment/2550...
www.thenational.scot/comment/2550...