Colin Murray
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colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray
@colinmurray.bsky.social
7.6K followers 1.1K following 1.4K posts

Professor of Law & Democracy @newcastleuni.bsky.social

Constitutional Law | Human Rights | Brexit | Devolution | Political Violence | Colonialism | Other Assorted Dourness

He/Him

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Political science 58%
Law 17%
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colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · Sep 16
A new Explainer out from @aoifemod.bsky.social and me detailing the UK's ECHR commitments under the 1998 Agreement in response to recent speculation. It is short, because there is very little to say - the UK's obligations are evident on the B/GFA's plain text:

caj.org.uk/wp-content/u...

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 8h
My jaded take: Not so much that the UK is playing whack-a-mole with EU "red tape", but rather what was always going to happen with Johnson's Brexit deal. All that talk of "day one alignment" was always just deflection from what would happen from day two onwards...

share.google/tHtJVAsId5fp...
Britain plays whack-a-mole with EU red tape
Post-Brexit trade barriers are emerging faster than British negotiators can remove them.
share.google

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 1d
It's *always* undiplomatic to call out breaches of international law by another state, no matter the relationship. The unspoken reality behind the UK Govt position is that these decisions are now driven by fear of consequences when it comes to the US.

search.app/FRk7v
UK right to weigh diplomacy before ‘calling out’ allies on international law breaches, says attorney general
Exclusive: In first comments since US attack on Venezuela, Richard Hermer refrains from singling out Trump administration
search.app

Reposted by Colin Murray, Julia M. Wright, Hisham Zerriffi

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
Good reading.

'How the financial problem is described is not neutral. It reflects and reinforces a particular way of understanding what a university is....If the financial situation is framed as a classic demand-and-cost problem....the obvious actions are to emphasise tight cost controls'. 1/4
WEEKEND READING: What if, in trying to ‘fix’ universities, we are quietly unmaking them? - HEPI
Join HEPI and Advance HE for a webinar onTuesday, 13 January 2026, from 11am to 12pm, exploring what higher education can learn from leadership approaches in other sectors. Sign up here to hear this a...
www.hepi.ac.uk

Reposted by Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Colin Murray , and 7 more

eliothiggins.bsky.social
Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 2d
Now only paying subscribers can make violent non-consenual sexual imagery of women and children -
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
X to limit editing function to paying subscribers after platform threatened with fines and regulatory action
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Colin Murray, Jane Suiter

virginmedianews.bsky.social
Virgin Media News @virginmedianews.bsky.social · 3d
🗣️ “6,700 images were being generated in this way every single hour.”

The Group Chat examines the scale of the Grok deepfake crisis, the numbers behind it, and what the Irish Government can do.

📺 Tonight at 10PM | Virgin Media Play & Virgin Media One

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 3d
New Comment is Freed interview with John Bew. Bew might well be influential voice on No10 regarding much NI policy in recent years (certainly more top table access than the NIO). His "I don't do NI" crouch is palpable - a second interview needed on UK-EU relations:

samf.substack.com/p/interview-...

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 3d
The Irish Govt only making it clear that it will vote against the EU-Mercosur deal when it is absolutely sure that its vote will not prevent the deal going through on a QMV basis is setting new standards in performative politics:

www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
Ireland to vote against Mercosur deal with decision to end potential Cabinet revolt
The decision will head off a potential revolt from both the Independents in Government as well as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil backbenchers
www.irishexaminer.com

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Archon Fung, Steve Peers , and 3 more

malachy.bsky.social
Malachy Browne @malachy.bsky.social · 3d
Video analysis clearly contradicts what Noem and Trump claim about the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. By @devonlum.bsky.social @robinsteinnyt.bsky.social Ainara Tiefenthaler Courtney Brooks for @nytimes.com www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQCv...
Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
YouTube video by The New York Times
www.youtube.com

Reposted by Bruno Amable, Nandita Sharma, Colin Murray , and 8 more

literaryhub.bsky.social
Lit Hub @literaryhub.bsky.social · 3d
“i want back my rocking chairs, / solipsist sunsets, / & coastal jungle sounds...”

A poem by Renee Nicole Good, who was murdered by ICE earlier today.

lithub.com/renee-nicole...
Renee Nicole Good, murdered by ICE, was a prize-winning poet. Here’s that poem.
Renee Nicole Good, 37, mother to a six-year-old boy, was murdered earlier today by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, a few blocks from her home. According to the Minnesota Star Tribune: [An ICE agent] s…
lithub.com

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 4d
New in the world of "why can't NI have normal things", the NIHC decision on the public sector equality duty. It both highlights now hollow the duty is in NI compared to GB and that NI departments can't possibly operate processes entirely commonplace elsewhere:

www.judiciaryni.uk/judicial-dec...

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 4 more

adambienkov.bsky.social
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 4d
Keir Starmer's spokesman tells me that X and Grok's creation of sexual deepfakes of children is "completely unacceptable" but again won't commit to taking direct action against them, or to stop posting there.

Says "all options are on the table" but suggests it's a matter for Ofcom, not Government

Reposted by Colin Murray, Leo McCann, Catriona Seth

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 4d
'Despite all their difficulties, universities remain an enormous and irreplaceable national asset. As well as educating millions of people, they generate about £24bn in export earnings, which is about 1% of GDP – more than aircraft manufacturing and legal services combined'. 1/2
The Guardian view on universities: Labour needs a clearer plan | Editorial
Editorial: Ministers promised a ‘change of approach’, but their new tax could tip weaker institutions over the edge
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Colin Murray

emma-briant.co.uk
Dr Emma L Briant @emma-briant.co.uk · 4d
How has Grok not been shut down yet and those responsible at X been arrested over actively generating CSAM?

Reposted by Colin Murray

djag2.bsky.social
Douglas Guilfoyle @djag2.bsky.social · 4d
New Called to the Bar episode: the full crew unpacks the US bombing of Venezuela and the abduction of Nicolás Maduro. UN Charter violations, head of state immunity, and why Washington no longer seems troubled by illegality. Bleak, sharp, and very 2026.
#CalledToTheBar
soundcloud.com/calledtotheb...
63. Bombing Caracas: The Use of Force, Abducting a Head of State, and the Unravelling of International Law
In this special bonus episode of Called to the Bar, the full podcast crew assembles to confront the legal fallout from the US bombing of Venezuela and the abduction of its sitting president, Nicolás M
soundcloud.com

Reposted by Colin Murray

news.rte.ie
RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 5d
Legislation which will overhaul the judicial review process has been published by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan. He pledged that it would result in greater transparency and a more streamlined process
New legislation aims to overhaul judicial review process
Legislation which will overhaul the judicial review process has been published by the Minister for Justice.
www.rte.ie

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 7d
Here's how much I've enjoyed hiding while the world has lurched sideways...

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 20d
Epic "huge if true" energy.

Reposted by Colin Murray

colinyeo.bsky.social
Colin Yeo @colinyeo.bsky.social · 23d
From yesterday: Home Secretary ordered to allow man to return to UK after telling airline not to fly him and cancelling his eVisa | Sonia Lenegan
Home Secretary ordered to allow man to return to UK after telling airline not to fly him and cancelling his eVisa - Free Movement
This is one of those real train wrecks from the Home Office, where you may want to make yourself a large cup of coffee and read through the whole judgment. It
freemovement.org.uk

Reposted by Steve Peers, Colin Murray

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social
Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 23d
This piece is billed as ‘father of girls thinks misogyny lessons are unnecessary’ but right at the end he actually asks the girls he is confidently speaking on behalf of and they…disagree. Amazing. www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
I’m a father of teen girls. I don’t want misogyny lessons for boys
The government is planning classes to combat prejudice against women. Andrew Billen isn’t sure it will work
www.thetimes.com

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 23d
Some of the takes on the UKSC's Thompson decision on legacy secrecy amount to gaslighting. There's no threat to security personnel inherent in an abstracted gist of events entering the public domain. And there is no clandestine effort to "rewrite" the conflict. These inquests were delayed for years:

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 24d
Spoiler Alert: It's the most depressing of all rubber stamps!
anuragdeb.bsky.social Anurag Deb @anuragdeb.bsky.social · 24d
Also featuring reflections on some difficult to follow reasoning on merits review in natsec contexts. Is it merits review? Is it reasonableness review? Does the court only care about whether executive decisions have been rubber stamped? 🤷
colinmurray.bsky.social Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 24d
New post that I hope anyone who cares about human rights/the rule of law reads. If the UK Govt can use a 30 year old threat of terrorism to conceal the release of *outline* information about its agents' connection to murder, it really can act with impunity:

ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/18/a...

Reposted by Colin Murray

anuragdeb.bsky.social
Anurag Deb @anuragdeb.bsky.social · 24d
Also featuring reflections on some difficult to follow reasoning on merits review in natsec contexts. Is it merits review? Is it reasonableness review? Does the court only care about whether executive decisions have been rubber stamped? 🤷

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 24d
This piece on yesterday's (really troubling) Thompson judgment in the UKSC wouldn't have come together at all, or so quickly, without @anuragdeb.bsky.social and @finishedloading.bsky.social. Thanks to the @ukcla.bsky.social for hosting.

Reposted by Rory O’Connell

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 24d
New post that I hope anyone who cares about human rights/the rule of law reads. If the UK Govt can use a 30 year old threat of terrorism to conceal the release of *outline* information about its agents' connection to murder, it really can act with impunity:

ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/18/a...
Anurag Deb, Colin Murray and Gabriel Tan: Legacy Issues: In re Secretary of State for Northern Ireland [2025] UKSC 47
Introduction It is a rare case where the UK Government initiates a judicial review against an independent public body. The Thompson case is just such a case. The Secretary of State for Northern Ire…
ukconstitutionallaw.org

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 25d
A judgment to fit a dull day. The UK Supreme Court blithely allows the UK Govt free rein to determine the weight of security issues at more than three decades remove from events in Thompson, and pretty much dooms NI never to get more light on the conflict's legacy:

supremecourt.uk/uploads/uksc...
supremecourt.uk

Reposted by Colin Murray

shamimmalekmian.bsky.social
Shamim Malekmian @shamimmalekmian.bsky.social · 25d
DFA argued that releasing feedback on plan to label Algeria as “safe” would hurt diplomatic relations. “It’s probably fair to assume that if the DFA said anything positive about Algeria’s human rights record, they wouldn’t be so determined to withhold it". www.dublininquirer.com/dfa-argued-t...
DFA argued that releasing feedback on plan to label Algeria as “safe” would hurt diplomatic relations
“It’s probably fair to assume that if the DFA said anything positive about Algeria’s human rights record, they wouldn’t be so determined to withhold it.”
www.dublininquirer.com

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 26d
I'm not sure what disgusts me more, that the UK Government straight-up unlawfully imprisoned people in hellish conditions in the BIOT, that two administrations have continued to dispute and fight this finding, or how little attention the whole saga has received...

www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/20...
Asylum seekers were unlawfully detained on Diego Garcia
A ruling that 64 Tamil individuals, including 16 children, were unlawfully detained on the island of Diego Garcia for more than three years has been upheld
www.leighday.co.uk

Reposted by Colin Murray

rivkahbrown.bsky.social
Rivkah Brown @rivkahbrown.bsky.social · 26d
Read my @novaramedia.com report on the Peggie affair, and the stumbling block the gender-critical movement appears to have hit, here: novaramedia.com/2025/12/16/a...
Anti-Trans Groups Want a Bathroom Ban. Judges Aren’t Giving Them One | Novara Media
Gender-critical campaigners had hoped that this year’s Supreme Court ruling would tee up US-style bathroom bills across the UK, throwing hundreds of thousands of pounds at lawsuits to exclude trans wo...
novaramedia.com

Reposted by Colin Murray, Aoife O’Donoghue

nihrc.bsky.social
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission @nihrc.bsky.social · 26d
The research findings are now being presented by the report’s authors, @anuragdeb.bsky.social (@qubelfastofficial.bsky.social), @sylviademars.me (@newcastleuni.bsky.social), @colinmurray.bsky.social (@newcastleuni.bsky.social) and @aoifemod.bsky.social (@qubelfastofficial.bsky.social).
Photo of Anurag Deb. Photo of Professor Aoife O'Donoghue presenting. Photo of Professor Colin Murray presenting.

Reposted by Steve Peers, Colm O’Cinneíde

colinmurray.bsky.social
Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 26d
The @nihrc.bsky.social are today launching a major new report, by @anuragdeb.bsky.social, @sylviademars.me, @aoifemod.bsky.social, Eleni Frantziou and me, on the novel arrangements for remedying breaches of the UK's obligations for rights and equality in NI under Art 2 WF:

nihrc.org/assets/uploa...
nihrc.org