Public Sector Lawyer
@publicsectorlawyer.bsky.social
25 years lawyering, in Government Departments & independent public bodies in the UK. Statutory interpretation, constitutional, regulatory & criminal law.
"British" & "European" here assumed to mean whites only, in the Times today, & the Standard a couple of weeks ago, as though it's not even worth arguing about.
www.standard.co.uk/comment/gen-... www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.standard.co.uk/comment/gen-... www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
December 9, 2025 at 1:01 PM
"British" & "European" here assumed to mean whites only, in the Times today, & the Standard a couple of weeks ago, as though it's not even worth arguing about.
www.standard.co.uk/comment/gen-... www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.standard.co.uk/comment/gen-... www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Not a bad test to see where people stand, including those who talk about "saving the West": whether they think, say, Starmer's UK or Putin's Russia is preferable.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
December 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Not a bad test to see where people stand, including those who talk about "saving the West": whether they think, say, Starmer's UK or Putin's Russia is preferable.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
‘Straight-talking’, but you wouldn’t get the impression from this that he previously defended the 2 child limit as a necessary ‘tough decision’, & suspended 7 MPs who disagreed.
keirstarmer.substack.com/p/politics-t...
keirstarmer.substack.com/p/politics-t...
December 7, 2025 at 2:25 PM
‘Straight-talking’, but you wouldn’t get the impression from this that he previously defended the 2 child limit as a necessary ‘tough decision’, & suspended 7 MPs who disagreed.
keirstarmer.substack.com/p/politics-t...
keirstarmer.substack.com/p/politics-t...
"It could have been three if Duckett held a simple chance."
No! If Carey had been out ball 2, the universe would've taken a different course, & ball 4 would've been different, so in all probability wouldn't have got Smith out.
No! If Carey had been out ball 2, the universe would've taken a different course, & ball 4 would've been different, so in all probability wouldn't have got Smith out.
December 5, 2025 at 10:50 AM
"It could have been three if Duckett held a simple chance."
No! If Carey had been out ball 2, the universe would've taken a different course, & ball 4 would've been different, so in all probability wouldn't have got Smith out.
No! If Carey had been out ball 2, the universe would've taken a different course, & ball 4 would've been different, so in all probability wouldn't have got Smith out.
@hugorifkind.bsky.social on Your Party's founder turning on its "bureaucrats".
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
December 4, 2025 at 1:30 PM
@hugorifkind.bsky.social on Your Party's founder turning on its "bureaucrats".
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
It looks to be following this part of Leveson. Currently various ways of appealing mags convictions. It would be ending the "automatic" appeal route of a rehearing, & aligning such appeals with Crown Court convictions. Rarely taken up I think because of the danger of getting a harsher sentence.
December 3, 2025 at 8:59 AM
It looks to be following this part of Leveson. Currently various ways of appealing mags convictions. It would be ending the "automatic" appeal route of a rehearing, & aligning such appeals with Crown Court convictions. Rarely taken up I think because of the danger of getting a harsher sentence.
"So what would it have been like, growing up working class back then?"
"Well I found this."
"Yeah, that'll do."
"Well I found this."
"Yeah, that'll do."
November 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
"So what would it have been like, growing up working class back then?"
"Well I found this."
"Yeah, that'll do."
"Well I found this."
"Yeah, that'll do."
The speechwriters are really going for the "kitchen table" thing.
November 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The speechwriters are really going for the "kitchen table" thing.
In a moment of rare candour about this, the Chancellor referred to the keeping of manifesto promises as "political expediency", claiming at the time that she'd put the national interest ahead of such considerations.
www.ft.com/content/75c6...
www.ft.com/content/75c6...
November 26, 2025 at 9:25 AM
In a moment of rare candour about this, the Chancellor referred to the keeping of manifesto promises as "political expediency", claiming at the time that she'd put the national interest ahead of such considerations.
www.ft.com/content/75c6...
www.ft.com/content/75c6...
As KB mentioned at the last PMQs, increasing the freeze period on income tax thresholds to 2030 would breach a manifesto promise on the Chancellor's own interpretation of it.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024...
The promise has been so stretched & twisted you wonder whether it's worth keeping.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024...
The promise has been so stretched & twisted you wonder whether it's worth keeping.
November 26, 2025 at 9:25 AM
As KB mentioned at the last PMQs, increasing the freeze period on income tax thresholds to 2030 would breach a manifesto promise on the Chancellor's own interpretation of it.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024...
The promise has been so stretched & twisted you wonder whether it's worth keeping.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024...
The promise has been so stretched & twisted you wonder whether it's worth keeping.
Here’s another example. The HS states shortly after taking up her role she’s happy to accept reported breaches as fact before any official determination. What if officials later find no breach? Are they obliged to pretend there had been a breach, & act accordingly (or *pretend* to act accordingly)?
November 23, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Here’s another example. The HS states shortly after taking up her role she’s happy to accept reported breaches as fact before any official determination. What if officials later find no breach? Are they obliged to pretend there had been a breach, & act accordingly (or *pretend* to act accordingly)?
Here you can see the tension. The official publication refers to “illegal entrants who are not refugees” facing a 30 year wait, whereas the Home Secretary’s tweet states bluntly that “Those arriving on small boats” - ie indicating all of them - face the 30 year wait.
What’s the actual policy?
What’s the actual policy?
November 23, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Here you can see the tension. The official publication refers to “illegal entrants who are not refugees” facing a 30 year wait, whereas the Home Secretary’s tweet states bluntly that “Those arriving on small boats” - ie indicating all of them - face the 30 year wait.
What’s the actual policy?
What’s the actual policy?
Even when voters see it wrong?
November 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Even when voters see it wrong?
This bit of the policy if read literally suggests the Govt doesn't agree that human rights protections should cover inhuman or degrading treatment.
Does that mean that the "logic" of their position is that if they can't get A3 amended - or significantly watered down - they'd argue for leaving?
Does that mean that the "logic" of their position is that if they can't get A3 amended - or significantly watered down - they'd argue for leaving?
November 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
This bit of the policy if read literally suggests the Govt doesn't agree that human rights protections should cover inhuman or degrading treatment.
Does that mean that the "logic" of their position is that if they can't get A3 amended - or significantly watered down - they'd argue for leaving?
Does that mean that the "logic" of their position is that if they can't get A3 amended - or significantly watered down - they'd argue for leaving?
Not sure if relevant to what you're writing, but here are Glasman's thoughts on the "logic" behind what the HS is doing. Not sure exactly how much influence he has in reality, but obviously some with the HS & MM.
somethingdistilled.substack.com/p/ep-2-mauri...
somethingdistilled.substack.com/p/ep-2-mauri...
November 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Not sure if relevant to what you're writing, but here are Glasman's thoughts on the "logic" behind what the HS is doing. Not sure exactly how much influence he has in reality, but obviously some with the HS & MM.
somethingdistilled.substack.com/p/ep-2-mauri...
somethingdistilled.substack.com/p/ep-2-mauri...
@harrytlambert.bsky.social interview with Maurice Glasman on his friendship with Shabana Mahmood, delight at her refugee policy, how it’s precursor to leaving the ECnHR, & views on judges & lawyers.
open.substack.com/pub/somethin...
open.substack.com/pub/somethin...
November 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
@harrytlambert.bsky.social interview with Maurice Glasman on his friendship with Shabana Mahmood, delight at her refugee policy, how it’s precursor to leaving the ECnHR, & views on judges & lawyers.
open.substack.com/pub/somethin...
open.substack.com/pub/somethin...
I would go much, much further than Oliver Cromwell.
November 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I would go much, much further than Oliver Cromwell.
Reform's Witchsmeller Pursuivant, Danny Kruger, was warning against precisely this earlier in the year.
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025...
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025...
November 20, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Reform's Witchsmeller Pursuivant, Danny Kruger, was warning against precisely this earlier in the year.
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025...
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025...
4. There is no provision requiring the Secretary of State to consent to the appointment of a chief executive: it is entirely a matter for the EC (ie its Commissioners) to decide for itself: Schedule 1 para 11 to the 2000 Act. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/4...
November 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
4. There is no provision requiring the Secretary of State to consent to the appointment of a chief executive: it is entirely a matter for the EC (ie its Commissioners) to decide for itself: Schedule 1 para 11 to the 2000 Act. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/4...
3. It isn't correct that the Secretary of State appoints the Chair. The king does, on the recommendation of Parliament. See section 3 of the 2000 Act. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/4...
November 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
3. It isn't correct that the Secretary of State appoints the Chair. The king does, on the recommendation of Parliament. See section 3 of the 2000 Act. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/4...
There is more on this in another part of the report, which includes the EC as one of the bodies that carries out Govt policies.
But the EC was deliberately set up as a body that had other functions (including regulating political finance): it's no part of its role to carry out Govt policies.
But the EC was deliberately set up as a body that had other functions (including regulating political finance): it's no part of its role to carry out Govt policies.
November 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
There is more on this in another part of the report, which includes the EC as one of the bodies that carries out Govt policies.
But the EC was deliberately set up as a body that had other functions (including regulating political finance): it's no part of its role to carry out Govt policies.
But the EC was deliberately set up as a body that had other functions (including regulating political finance): it's no part of its role to carry out Govt policies.
1. The EC is not an ALB. The EC isn’t a Govt organisation: it was set up to be completely independent of Govt, & remains separate from it even though the Strategy & Policy Statement now provides Govt with the means of influencing it. www.gov.uk/guidance/pub...
November 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
1. The EC is not an ALB. The EC isn’t a Govt organisation: it was set up to be completely independent of Govt, & remains separate from it even though the Strategy & Policy Statement now provides Govt with the means of influencing it. www.gov.uk/guidance/pub...
A suggestion that this Policy Exchange report influenced the Govt's decision to stick with Boris Johnson's curbs on the independence of the Electoral Commission.
If so, wonder if they realised at least 4 clear errors (highlighted).
policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/u...
If so, wonder if they realised at least 4 clear errors (highlighted).
policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/u...
November 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
A suggestion that this Policy Exchange report influenced the Govt's decision to stick with Boris Johnson's curbs on the independence of the Electoral Commission.
If so, wonder if they realised at least 4 clear errors (highlighted).
policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/u...
If so, wonder if they realised at least 4 clear errors (highlighted).
policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Government by anecdote.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
November 19, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Government by anecdote.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
Yes, part of it, but it was assessing an argument that a child with special needs would find it very difficult to move, and the first tier decision took a lot more into account (even if wrongly).
I take your points, but still think the reporting was very simplistic & ignored the context.
I take your points, but still think the reporting was very simplistic & ignored the context.
November 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Yes, part of it, but it was assessing an argument that a child with special needs would find it very difficult to move, and the first tier decision took a lot more into account (even if wrongly).
I take your points, but still think the reporting was very simplistic & ignored the context.
I take your points, but still think the reporting was very simplistic & ignored the context.