Tom Hickman

An end to the ban on Parliamentary footage in satirical broadcasts agreed by HoC Administration Committee, according to Today's Times (Martin Beckford). For the context see: ukconstitutionallaw.org/2019/09/12/tom…

My latest piece for the @spectator argues that Robert Jenrick is entirely wrong on the question of leaving the ECHR: it wouldn’t resolve the UK’s issues with illegal migration and is also bad policy: spectator.co.uk/article/what-r…

ON THE BLOG: Labour's removal of hereditary peers from the House of Lords: 10 key questions answered Meg Russell explores some questions about hereditary peers, the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill and Labour's policy in this area. constitution-unit.com/2024/10/15/lab…

New post | The new Attorney General on the rule of law publiclawforeveryone.com/2024/10/17/the…

Labour moving quickly to remove hereditary peers from the Lords, a manifesto commitment, is welcome.

@BellaWallerstei @TomRHickman He noted a particular problem, insofar as the Prime Minister is meant to be the person “most likely to be able to command the confidence of the House”.

@BellaWallerstei @TomRHickman has written rather convincingly on this subject (at the second half of this piece published by the LRB). He notes that all the major parties now use this type of system, but “historically this was not the case”. lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/…

Arrest of Telegram boss Pavel Durov is sequel to Twitter v Australia battle earlier this year (Aus e-Safety Commissioner failed to get permanent injunction for global removal of terrorist content)…/1

@ronanlupton @mcdermottkc_ A really enjoyable and interesting few days (aside from the UK economic crisis)

@TomRHickman I recall the 23 September ‘22 fairly well. Met after the European Circuit Conference in Lisbon had concluded at @mcdermottkc_ hotel rooftop - Maura was there too. Lovely view and sunset as the UK economy tanked before our very iPhones! Dinner at the Pousada. Never liked lettuce!

Some in Labour reportedly recognise members should not vote on the leader mid term: i fully support this ‘Liz Truss lock’ and wish I’d thought of that phrase myself. thetimes.com/article/31097b…

The ability of party activists to choose their leaders in both the UK and US has not been a happy experiment. The US car crashed almost immediately with McGovern and (I’m afraid to say) Carter. It took longer in the UK but Corbyn, IDS, Johnson and Truss show it’s a bad idea.

‘Keir Starmer​ has made several eye-catching appointments to his new government from outside Parliament, continuing the practice of his predecessor.’ @TomRHickman on the use of peerages to appoint non-MPs to the cabinet: lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/…

In a new piece for @LRB, Professor @TomRHickman (Professor of Public Law at UCL Laws) discusses the UK’s democratically dubious methods of ministerial (and prime ministerial) selection lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/…

Good easy to read insights from @TomRHickman I think "sun lounger constitutional law" should be essential element in a qualifying law degree.

‘The conspicuous failure of the Truss ministry has distracted attention from the failure of the process that led to it.’ @TomRHickman on the UK’s democratically dubious methods of ministerial (and prime ministerial) selection: lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/…

ON THE BLOG: The House of Commons Modernisation Committee: background, opportunities, and potential pitfalls Tom Fleming and Hannah Kelly explore the opportunities and challenges facing the new Modernisation Committee, including its unusual composition. constitution-unit.com/2024/08/02/the…

This highlights an interesting point about whether it’s proper for members to choose the next PM (effectively). Have to say it has swayed me toward the position that it would be constitutionally proper to insist on MPs choosing the next leader of their party.

No sunstroke here, but a thoughtful piece. Highlights the undesirable and constitutionally questionable role allotted by the major parties to their members in choosing a new leader when a PM resigns in office.

What rules govern appointment of ministers? What about choosing a prime minister? Sun lounger constitutional law from me in the ⁦@LRB⁩ lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/…