Tag Archives: British constitution

A Tempest In A Teacup?

Posted on February 28, 2023 by jasonloch

The King had tea with the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, yesterday. At first glance, this might seem like a standard diplomatic nicety, but it took place against a backdrop of tensions between the United Kingdom and the … Continue reading →

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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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Some Thoughts On Counsellors Of State

Posted on November 24, 2022 by jasonloch

The Counsellors of State Bill cleared the House of Lords yesterday. Counsellors of State are members of the Royal Family who carry out the Sovereign’s functions if they are ill or absent from the United Kingdom, and this Bill would … 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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Some Thoughts On The Dissolution And Calling Of Parliament Bill

Posted on October 22, 2021 by jasonloch

The House of Lords is now considering the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill that was passed by the Commons back in September. It would repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 and restore the pre-2011 status quo whereby the Sovereign … 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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A Brief History Of Royal Assent By Commission

Posted on April 29, 2021 by jasonloch

Today Lords Commissioners gave Royal Assent to legislation before proroguing Parliament. Traditionally, the Monarch signified their Assent in the presence of Parliament, but the statute 33 Henry 8 c. 21 allowed Henry VIII to grant Assent without visiting Parliament. Although … Continue reading →

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Queen’s Consent, Again

Posted on February 8, 2021 by jasonloch

David Pegg and Rob Evans of The Guardian have released another tranche of documents relating to Queen’s Consent. This time, the documents are more interesting than the ones they released yesterday, but Pegg and Evans’ reporting is still flawed. The … Continue reading →

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Some Thoughts On The Guardian’s Latest ‘Royal Exposé’

Posted on February 8, 2021 by jasonloch

The Queen’s Consent is once again in the news. This time it’s because David Pegg and Rob Evans, two reporters with The Guardian, have unearthed documents from 1973 that reveal discussions between Matthew Farrer, the Queen’s private solicitor, and the … Continue reading →

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