Tag Archives: Boris Johnson

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 Prime Minister, The Queen, And Ecclesiastical Appointments

Posted on October 20, 2021 by jasonloch

Earlier this year, there was some debate over whether or not Boris Johnson had run afoul of section 18 of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. There were reports that he’d converted to Roman Catholicism, and Roman Catholics are barred … 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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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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Is This The End Of The Road For The Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011?

Posted on November 25, 2019 by jasonloch

Regular readers of my blog will know that I’m not a fan of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. I think it was a cynical ploy to stabilize David Cameron’s coalition government, and it has done far more harm than good. … Continue reading →

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The Lascelles Principles Won’t Save Boris Johnson

Posted on October 8, 2019 by jasonloch

Back in August, I wrote a post about the circumstances in which the Queen might dismiss Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. I noted that, if Johnson were to refuse to resign after losing a vote of no confidence, Her Majesty … Continue reading →

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Could Boris Johnson Try To Suspend The Benn Act?

Posted on September 26, 2019 by jasonloch

Sir John Major today claimed that Boris Johnson might try to suspend the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019 (‘the Benn Act’) by Order of Council to avoid having to ask for an extension. But what is an Order … Continue reading →

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Supreme Court Rules Prorogation Unlawful

Posted on September 24, 2019 by jasonloch

In a constitutional bombshell, Britain’s Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament for five weeks was unlawful, and the prorogation itself is “null and of no effect.” The justices found that the Prime Minister’s advice … Continue reading →

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The Future Of Prorogation

Posted on September 23, 2019 by jasonloch

With all the controversy surrounding Boris Johnson’s extended prorogation, I’ve been asked if I think the practice of proroguing Parliament is likely to be abolished in the not-too-distant future. However, outright abolition seems unlikely. Until now, prorogation has been a … Continue reading →

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Prorogation Gets Even Messier

Posted on September 11, 2019 by jasonloch

Courts in England and Scotland have come to radically different conclusions on the legality of Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament for five weeks. The Inner House of Scotland’s Court of Session overturned an earlier decision of the Outer House … Continue reading →

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