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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 1d

Brussels has the benefit of fine restaurants, more affordable property (than London) and some good cultural attractions.

It is also, broadly speaking, multilingual (in that you can get by speaking English or French). I enjoy living there - but I know many folk who’d disagree.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 1d

It may be a benefit to people in the EU 27. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a benefit to residents of London, or indeed the rest of the world who may wish to visit, or live in London.

I’d repeat my original question- which European city has more appeal (globally) than London?

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 1d

Where would you consider the best in Europe?

In terms of scale and variety there are few competitors. Once you factor in culture, London is still truly a ‘world city’. In a way that few others can manage.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 1d

For example, people might argue against New York being the best city in the world today for many reasons.

But probably not because you need a green card to reside there?

If London is great it is because of the variety. And that includes people from around the world (not just the EU 27).

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 1d

I can’t agree with that. FoM within Europe is a relatively recent concept which didn’t exist in living memory (and only applies to Europeans).

Being the ‘best’ city in Europe, or indeed the world is to do with many things. But I don’t see FoM as being essential.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 1d

London used to sell itself as the best city in the world. And when I was younger I am guessing it was probably true.

I have not visited the new megalopolises of the East, and suspect I never will. But it seems likely that the next ‘best city in the world’ will eventually be located there.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 1d

Interesting. Where would you consider the best city in Europe?

I enjoy Berlin a great deal, but it doesn’t have the scale or the quite the variety of London.

Brussels is underrated. Amsterdam is fun for a weekend, but I’m not sure I’d want to live there. Am not fond of Paris at all.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 1d

Lovely to catch up with my friend and former colleague Holger Hestermeyer at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna yesterday.

I hope we will bs collaborating on some more work on treaty scrutiny next year.

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Reposted by Alexander Horne

The Spectator @thespectator1828.bsky.social · 6d

With even Labour now accepting that serious change is needed, it appears the status quo is politically indefensible.

✍️ Alexander Horne

This is Labour’s last chance to save the ECHR

One of Kemi Badenoch’s biggest announcements ahead of Conservative party conference was her pledge to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). On Sunday, she said that exiting the ECHR...

www.spectator.co.uk

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 6d

Not quite sure what you mean by this?

The title of the article really should have been something along the lines of ‘Kemi’s move on the ECHR leaves Labour facing some tricky questions on human rights reform’ - which I think is a more accurate summary of the argument.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 6d

Authors do not come up with the titles for pieces. I’d probably have suggested “Kemi’s move on the ECHR leaves Labour facing some tricky questions on human rights reform”

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 6d

A new piece by me for the Spectator on the ECHR.

Now Kemi has opted for the ‘simple’ option of leaving the Convention, it leaves Labour facing some tricky questions on human rights reform:

www.spectator.co.uk/article/this...

This is Labour’s last chance to save the ECHR

One of Kemi Badenoch’s biggest announcements ahead of Conservative party conference was her pledge to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). On Sunday, she said that exiting the ECHR wo...

www.spectator.co.uk

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

Here is some coverage. 40 people arrested including 6 for assaults on the police. Chants from the crowd allegedly included: “Death, Death to the IDF”. Who does these things?

www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/g...

Pro-Palestine demonstrators clash with police on Whitehall as 40 people arrested

Six arrests were ‘for assaults on police officers’ and the majority were for ‘breaching conditions’

www.standard.co.uk

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

A terrible state of affairs for a restaurant in London to have to hide its origins due to antisemitism.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

Rather sadly, my local falafel joint (which now has 4 or 5 branches in London and is excellent) started off selling overtly Israeli stuff (Goldstar Beer, Osem snacks etc.). That’s all stopped.

These days, other than a picture of Jaffa on the wall, it doesn’t acknowledge any link to Israel.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

Will definitely give Balady a go - looks great.

For some reason they don’t list an address on the website - but it looks v local to me (Leather Lane, EC1N).

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

Doesn’t really answer either of the 2 points made in my post.
Namely: (1) violent disorder in Westminster on the day two Jews were murdered for being Jews is disgusting
(2) There is a peace deal on the table. Israel has agreed to it.When will pro-Palestinian campaigners pressure Hamas to accept it?

Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

I commented on this back in November 2023. I argued that

“Antisemitic hate crime has soared in recent weeks. I would simply ask the police and prosecutors to take action now, before it is too late, and someone in the UK acts on these hateful calls to arms.”

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

The case for prosecuting ‘from the river to the sea’

As an international lawyer, splitting my time between London and Brussels, I dare say I might be considered one of Theresa May’s ‘citizens of nowhere’. Nonetheless, as the protests about the Israeli r...

www.spectator.co.uk

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

It’s hard to comprehend how people took the view that they would ignore the events earlier in the day and cause violent disorder last night. 40 people were apparently arrested. It is shameful. Time for the Metropolitan Police to do better and end these hateful marches.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

There is currently a peace deal on the table. If anything, these people should be campaigning for Hamas to end the long running conflict and accept the terms which have already been agreed by Israel.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

Looking back on the events yesterday. It is truly troubling to think that - following the murder of two Jewish people outside a synagogue during Yom Kippur - some people thought it appropriate to undertake violent protests in Westminster against the world’s only Jewish state.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 13d

Probably just goes to show that you shouldn’t leave political activists (and indeed former activists) in charge of anything!

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 13d

How sad. One of my favourite activities when I went up to Durham University to teach public law this year was to visit Bells, the absolutely splendid fish and chip shop on the high street. It’s really great. Nothing quite as good in London.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 13d

You may recall that the FWS case was about this issue (in terms of increasing the number of women on boards).

Happily it clarified the law on this matter, including in respect of people with GRCs.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 13d

If you set aside spots for women, and would offer those spots to trans women, but would not offer them to trans men (natal women) you would seem to miss the point about the discrimination which apparently justified AWS.
And, if you disregard the GRA entirely, you reduce the barriers to bad actors.

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