Tom Hickman KC
@tomrhickman.bsky.social
Professor of Public Law and a barrister, who posts on public law, the constitution and national security. Reposts are not endorsements.
Reposted by Tom Hickman KC
... and (3) National Security and the Law www.daqc.co.uk/2022/11/19/n... /3
National Security and the Law - David Anderson QC Lawyer London UK
"National Security and the Law" was the subject of this year's Birkenhead Lecture. It contains a description and assessment of the current state of our law on counter-terrorism, hostile state activity...
www.daqc.co.uk
August 26, 2024 at 9:15 AM
... and (3) National Security and the Law www.daqc.co.uk/2022/11/19/n... /3
Reposted by Tom Hickman KC
... (2) Writing a Constitution (revised version to be published in Public Law this October) www.daqc.co.uk/2023/12/01/w... ... /2
Writing a Constitution - David Anderson QC Lawyer London UK
I gave a lecture last night to the Statute Law Society on the subject of Writing a Constitution.
Our constitution is sick (though its condition is chronic rather than acute); a written constitution is...
www.daqc.co.uk
August 26, 2024 at 9:14 AM
... (2) Writing a Constitution (revised version to be published in Public Law this October) www.daqc.co.uk/2023/12/01/w... ... /2
The Labour Party adopted this approach in 2015, the conservatives around turn of century, so not a development that coincided with the development of democracy.
August 26, 2024 at 9:25 PM
The Labour Party adopted this approach in 2015, the conservatives around turn of century, so not a development that coincided with the development of democracy.
Until relatively recently, this was the way our constitution worked.
August 26, 2024 at 9:04 PM
Until relatively recently, this was the way our constitution worked.
Democracy is about having a roughly equal right to choose those that govern. It was therefore much more democratic for those who had been elected to represent the people of this country to choose Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister than for 172,000 Con party members to choose Liz Truss.
govern.it
govern.it
August 26, 2024 at 9:03 PM
Democracy is about having a roughly equal right to choose those that govern. It was therefore much more democratic for those who had been elected to represent the people of this country to choose Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister than for 172,000 Con party members to choose Liz Truss.
Coda to this. Whist there are differences, it is notable that John Swinney was appointed FM without a party vote after the short-lived Yousaf ministry, presumably to avoid another divisive leadership contest amongst party members; similarly, Sunak was appointed by MPs agreeing, to avoid party vote
August 26, 2024 at 7:42 PM
Coda to this. Whist there are differences, it is notable that John Swinney was appointed FM without a party vote after the short-lived Yousaf ministry, presumably to avoid another divisive leadership contest amongst party members; similarly, Sunak was appointed by MPs agreeing, to avoid party vote
Yes I agree. It’s a sort of softball version at the moment
August 26, 2024 at 6:13 PM
Yes I agree. It’s a sort of softball version at the moment
Reposted by Tom Hickman KC
As far as I can tell, political parties are essentially private member’s clubs and can do whatever the heck they want to. See: expelling members en masse on fake pretext ahead of Corbyn’s 2nd leadership election. (Of which I was one…)
August 25, 2024 at 8:43 PM
As far as I can tell, political parties are essentially private member’s clubs and can do whatever the heck they want to. See: expelling members en masse on fake pretext ahead of Corbyn’s 2nd leadership election. (Of which I was one…)
More on this and the constitutional issues around appointing ministers from outside Parliament, here (partly paywalled I’m afraid) : www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Tom Hickman · Short Cuts: Outside Appointments
In a report published in 2010, the House of Commons Public Administration Committee warned that the prime minister’s...
www.lrb.co.uk
August 25, 2024 at 8:41 PM
More on this and the constitutional issues around appointing ministers from outside Parliament, here (partly paywalled I’m afraid) : www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
The issue was not as obvious when Johnson was appointed as it was mid Brexit crisis and the Con Party was fractured and a minority administration. May was effectively appointed by MPs without a party election.
August 25, 2024 at 8:38 PM
The issue was not as obvious when Johnson was appointed as it was mid Brexit crisis and the Con Party was fractured and a minority administration. May was effectively appointed by MPs without a party election.
The radical policies she had promised to members quickly resulted in MPs withdrawing their support from her and Sunak was appointed without another members vote.
August 25, 2024 at 8:36 PM
The radical policies she had promised to members quickly resulted in MPs withdrawing their support from her and Sunak was appointed without another members vote.
Because constitutional principle requires the King to appoint the individual most likely to command the confidence of the Commons, not party members. The issue arose starkly when Liz Truss was appointed PM, when Sunak had the support of Conservative MPs.
August 25, 2024 at 8:33 PM
Because constitutional principle requires the King to appoint the individual most likely to command the confidence of the Commons, not party members. The issue arose starkly when Liz Truss was appointed PM, when Sunak had the support of Conservative MPs.