Tag Archives: constitutional conventions

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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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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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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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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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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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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