Category Archives: British Constitution

What Is Section 35 Of The Scotland Act?

Posted on January 17, 2023 by jasonloch

After weeks of speculation, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, has blocked the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from receiving Royal Assent. The law seeks to simplify the process of changing one’s legal gender in Scotland,[1] and Jack … Continue reading →

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Ministerial Limbo

Posted on September 12, 2022 by jasonloch

One of the stranger consequences of Queen Elizabeth II’s death is that a good chunk of the British government now exists in a sort of constitutional limbo. Although she approved numerous ministerial appointments right before her death, she was unable … Continue reading →

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How Do You Solve A Problem Like Boris?

Posted on July 6, 2022 by jasonloch

Westminster is in turmoil. The news that Boris Johnson appointed Chris Pincher as Deputy Chief Whip even though he knew Pincher had been accused of sexual misconduct has fanned the flames of discontent within the Conservative Party. The Chancellor of … Continue reading →

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The Strange Saga Of The Information Commissioner’s Reappointment

Posted on September 17, 2021 by jasonloch

On July 13, 2021, the following notice appeared in The London Gazette: THE QUEEN has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 9 July 2021 to re-appoint Elizabeth Anne Denham, to be the Information … Continue reading →

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Should Ministers Be Appointed From Outside Parliament?

Posted on July 13, 2021 by jasonloch

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, has made headlines by suggesting that ministers need not always be MPs or peers, something the Commission for Smart Government also mooted in a recent discussion paper. While outsiders can make … Continue reading →

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Boris Johnson And Section 18 Of The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829

Posted on May 31, 2021 by jasonloch

Boris Johnson married his partner Carrie Symonds at Westminster Cathedral over the weekend. According to a statement from the cathedral, he is now, in fact, a Roman Catholic. This simple statement raises awkward constitutional questions. The Sovereign is formally responsible … Continue reading →

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The Perplexities Of The Royal Prerogative

Posted on December 2, 2020 by jasonloch

Yesterday’s reveal of a draft bill to repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 has led to quite a bit of academic debate about the nature of the power set out in clause 2(1). Is it a revived prerogative power? A … Continue reading →

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Government Unveils Bill To Repeal The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011

Posted on December 1, 2020 by jasonloch

The Government today unveiled a draft bill to repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. If the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (Repeal) Bill becomes law, the UK will go back to the pre-2011 arrangement where the Queen dissolves Parliament at the … Continue reading →

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The UK Internal Market Bill Could Open Pandora’s Box

Posted on September 15, 2020 by jasonloch

After taking a backseat to the COVID-19 pandemic over the last several months, Brexit is back in the headlines. The Government’s United Kingdom Internal Market Bill has provoked considerable outrage across the political spectrum due to the fact that its … Continue reading →

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A Few Words On Succession To The Premiership

Posted on April 6, 2020 by jasonloch

After being hospitalized with continuing COVID-19 symptoms, Boris Johnson has now been transferred to the ICU after his condition deteriorated. Downing Street has announced that Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State, will deputize for him as needed, … Continue reading →

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