Paul F Scott

questions-statements.parliament.ukWritten statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK ParliamentInformation from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

'...the Department for Work and Pensions has issued the first Eligibility Verification Notice... EVNs require banks and other financial institutions to check relevant accounts receiving specified benefit payments against eligibility indicators.' questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...

Paul F Scott reposted

ukconstitutionallaw.orgAnnouncement: Lecture by Lord Justice SinghThe Faculty of Advocates’ Human Rights and Rule of Law Committee is delighted to be hosting an upcoming lecture by Lord Justice Singh, a member of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. Th…

Announcement: Lecture by Lord Justice Singh ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/10/23/a...

Paul F Scott reposted

isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...

isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...

Consultation on legislation re 'Critical Undersea Infrastructure' questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat... White Paper here: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ad8e0...

Paul F Scott reposted

ukconstitutionallaw.orgGareth Evans: Revisiting Senedd reform: Post-implementation review of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (“the Act”) introduced major structural and electoral changes to Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) which took effect for the election on 7 May 2026. …

Gareth Evans: Revisiting Senedd reform: Post-implementation review of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/10/22/g...

Big increase this year in students taking notes by hand.

Dominic Cummings on the constitution.

Paul F Scott@paulfscott.bsky.social

committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

New SIAC judgment, rejecting a challenge to a deprivation of citizenship on conducive grounds: caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna.9cvw7s87...

committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

theguardian.comUK’s ‘incoherent’ approach to China plagued by a lack of expertise, report saysInternational grouping of China-sceptic legislators warns of risks inherent in misjudging bilateral relationship

'The document offers several recommendations, including better institutional coordination, the strengthened use of national security tools, and diversification of supply chains.' www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

gov.ukCounter-terrorism disruptive powers report 2025Information on the use, regulation and oversight of a wide range of disruptive powers.

Paul F Scott@paulfscott.bsky.social

Counter-terrorism disruptive powers report 2025 www.gov.uk/government/p...

gov.ukCounter-terrorism disruptive powers report 2025Information on the use, regulation and oversight of a wide range of disruptive powers.

Counter-terrorism disruptive powers report 2025 www.gov.uk/government/p...

In the Court of Appeal tomorrow:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comSAS personnel ‘refusing to answer’ questions about alleged extrajudicial killings in AfghanistanJudge leading inquiry says most operators using privilege against self-incrimination to refuse to provide information

Paul F Scott reposted

ukconstitutionallaw.orgJoanna Bell & Hayley J Hooper: Not in my (Constitutional) Backyard: How Not to Speed Up Planning ChallengesImportant issues of UK constitutional law can arise in the most unusual of places. Some of the most important cases on undergraduate reading lists, for example, concerned disputes about fishing lic…

Joanna Bell & Hayley J Hooper: Not in my (Constitutional) Backyard: How Not to Speed Up Planning Challenges ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/10/08/j...

theguardian.comSearch warrants used in Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor raids were unlawful, court rulesJudge makes ruling after former prince brought judicial review of operation linked to Jeffrey Epstein investigation

'Hilliard said the search warrants were quashed but police had made an application, which would be heard next year, to retain the property seized, on the basis that it would have been lawful to seize it under a different statutory provision.' www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Afghanistan Inquiry hearings on Northmoor/Cestro: www.iia.independent-inquiry.uk/hearings/

caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk Baron Ranger (Raminder Singh Ranger), R (on the application of) v The Prime Minister - Find Case Law - The National Archives

Decision to recommend the withdrawal of an honour is in principle justiciable ('The factual issues, both in terms of the grounds for forfeiture and the particular facts of the process in the Claimant’s case, are not matters before me.') caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/admin/2...

rozenberg.substack.comPolice investigate Afghan killingsProsecutions of UK special forces may follow inquiry

'In early 2026, as a result of enquiries set in train by the inquiry, the Ministry of Defence identified material that indicated that service personnel deployed on operations may have committed serious offences under the Armed Forces Act 2006... referred by UKSF to the Defence Serious Crime Command'

Joshua Rozenberg@joshuarozenberg.bsky.social

Evidence that service personnel may have committed “serious offences” has been referred to the military police, it emerged today. It’s the first confirmation that members of UK special forces may be prosecuted over alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan. rozenberg.substack.com/p/police-inv...

In the Admin Court tomorrow and Tuesday:

caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna.5zf5x4mq...

Also:

theguardian.comKey disability benefit for young people may be axed under major welfare changesExclusive: Plan under discussion involves intensive support to help young people into employment

'a central option under consideration for young people is removing the health element of universal credit for claimants under 25... and offering intensive support for people to get into work.' www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Paul F Scott reposted

ukconstitutionallaw.orgRichard Martin: Scenes from the Garvaghy Road, 2026: Protest, Police and Public Law in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland’s so-called marching season is usually petering out by now. This year looks to be different. On Sunday 27 September, after a 28-year wait and a flurry of last-minute legal challeng…

Richard Martin: Scenes from the Garvaghy Road, 2026: Protest, Police and Public Law in Northern Ireland ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/09/30/r...

theguardian.comMI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese front company stealing researchSecurity service says academics should stop taking grants from and working with firm backed by China’s intelligence service

'The alert warns of “potential criminal consequences”, in a section issued after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorises criminal prosecutions in England and Wales.' www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

'The 2026 edition of the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide is now published and in force.' www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and...

judiciary.ukAdministrative Court Practice Statement: Applications for Urgent Consideration - Courts and Tribunals JudiciaryA request that parties seeking urgent consideration must comply strictly with Chapter 17 of the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide - which has just been published on the judicial website, in t...

'Accordingly, with effect from 19 October 2026, decisions on whether urgent consideration is justified will be taken using the information on Form N463 alone and without reference to any other document.'

Paul F Scott reposted

ukconstitutionallaw.orgPatrick Graham: Legality, Legitimacy, and Durability – The Limits of Constitutional Reform in Northern IrelandThere is some unreality to the current clamour for reform of Northern Ireland’s devolved government. The three major non-unionist parties, as well as the British and Irish governments, have propose…

Patrick Graham: Legality, Legitimacy, and Durability – The Limits of Constitutional Reform in Northern Ireland ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/09/28/p...

computerweekly.comInvestigative journalist seeks damages from police over unlawful phone surveillance | Computer WeeklyAn investigative journalist has filed a high court claim against the Police Service of Northern Ireland after police unlawfully obtained communications data in a covert attempt to identify a confident...

'“In my opinion everything that was disclosed by the PSNI to McCullough is now material which can be disclosed in high court proceedings,” she said.' www.computerweekly.com/news/3666512...

bbc.co.ukDiscovery of 97 million files related to SAS inquiry 'regrettable', MoD saysIt comes after the inquiry's chair called the disclosure - three years into the investigation - "troubling".

The most interesting thing in today's hearing was counsel for the RMP talking about how important it is for them that their evidence is not delayed. Hearings of RMP witnesses begin on 12 October: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukUK military jamming other nations' satellites to defend itself, BBC toldThe head of the RAF says the UK faces "unprecedented threats" from adversaries in space, as a new unit is created to defend Britain's satellites.

'The RAF has been using a ground-based system for the past year, which a defence source said had already been used "to deter our adversaries".' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

iiaweb-prod.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.comiiaweb-prod.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com

22 Sept

Afghanistan Inquiry: 'The late appearance of this potentially relevant material is troubling and regrettable, and if not rapidly addressed and managed, has the capacity to delay the important work of this Inquiry, which is now well advanced.' iiaweb-prod.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/260922_IIA_C...

caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk Carter-Ruck Solicitors & Anor v Solicitors Regulation Authority - Find Case Law - The National Archives

21 Sept

'Given that LPP has been recognised as a fundamental right, including in the cases to which I have referred above, the principle of legality is brought into play.' caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/kb/2026...

21 Sept

Constitution Committee's evidence session with Lord Young of Old Windsor (former principal private secretary to the Monarch: committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

bbc.co.ukAfghan inquiry into alleged SAS war crimes has already cost £58m, MOD figures showThe inquiry has been running for more than three and a half years but has yet to publish any findings.

19 Sept

'When the inquiry was launched in 2023, its chair said it would aim to report, "at least on an interim basis", within 12-18 months. However, the inquiry has now been running for more than three and a half years, and has yet to publish any findings.' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

glasgowbell.co.uk“We know who the real bigots are”: Rutherglen's big birthday turns sourHow one pigeon, one orange-sashed rival and a 900th anniversary celebration ended up at war

19 Sept

This is the most West of Scotland story ever told: www.glasgowbell.co.uk/rutherglen-o...

caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna.t6ndhv3m...

18 Sept

bbc.co.ukMI5 accepts it gave evidence based on lies in neo-Nazi spy caseIt is the first time MI5 has confirmed the BBC's revelation that it gave evidence based on lies in court.

18 Sept

'Otty argued against contempt of court proceedings being brought, saying it would not be in the public interest given the detailed Goldring investigation, MI5's apologies, and its commitment to a programme of reform.' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

reuters.comUK silence over demand for Apple data access is farcical, lawyer saysThe British government's refusal to confirm whether it has issued an order to bypass encryption to access customer data ‌held by Apple has become farcical, a lawyer for civil rights groups told a Lon...

17 Sept

'The IPT will give a ruling on the NCND issue at a ⁠later date while a full hearing on the case itself is unlikely until next year.' www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

17 Sept

High Court hearing re possible contempt proceedings in the Beth case tomorrow:

Paul F Scott reposted

ukconstitutionallaw.orgThomas Horsley: Legislative Design in the Shadow of the UK Internal Market Act: The Food Price Cap (Scotland) BillThe Scottish Government’s proposals to introduce statutory price caps on essential food items provide a new test of the practical effects of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (UKIMA) on d…

16 Sept

Thomas Horsley: Legislative Design in the Shadow of the UK Internal Market Act: The Food Price Cap (Scotland) Bill ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/09/16/t...

Paul F Scott reposted

ukconstitutionallaw.orgAnnouncement: UKCLA Blog Editorial TeamProfessor Se-shauna Wheatle is stepping down as one of the editors of the UK Constitutional Law Association Blog. We would like to thank Se-shauna, on behalf of the wider public law community, for …

14 Sept

Announcement: UKCLA Blog Editorial Team ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/09/14/a...

bbc.co.ukCalls for public inquiry into Manchester synagogue terror attackThe chief coroner says sensitive MI5 evidence means inquests may not be suitable.

14 Sept

'Judge Alexia Durran, chief coroner of England and Wales, said she would write to the Home Sec to recommend the inquests be converted into a public inquiry after being told some MI5 material could not be heard in open court because of national security concerns.' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

scotcourts.gov.ukscotcourts.gov.uk

11 Sept

'The two trading standards officers called to give evidence were evidently mystified as to why they had been summoned to court... I was equally mystified, both before and after their evidence had been given.' www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/3xpd2l...

wyden.senate.govwyden.senate.gov

11 Sept

Josh Chafetz@joshchafetz.bsky.social

This is a phenomenal letter, and the references to Pitt, Bagehot, and Dicey are just 👨‍🍳😘 www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

11 Sept

Procedural, I think: investigatorypowerstribunal.org.uk/hearings/