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Ben Stanford

@drbenstanford.bsky.social

150 followers 240 following 100 posts

Senior Lecturer in Law. Lay Observer with the MOJ to monitor court custody facilities. Interested in all things public law and human rights, elections and democracy, global affairs and moaning. https://profiles.ljmu.ac.uk/15925-ben-stanford

profiles.ljmu.ac.uk

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · May 22

Gave oral evidence today to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee on the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill.

Agenda and recording of the meeting here - www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/stan....

@ljmuresearch.bsky.social @ljmuimpact.bsky.social

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee | Scottish Parliament TV

www.scottishparliament.tv

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 1d

Even current law students struggle to grasp the difference. It's so difficult to shake off the gross simplifications and misunderstandings being spread amongst the media, politicians and other commentators.

Reposted by Ben Stanford

Tanja Bueltmann @tanjabueltmann.net · 3d

I say this with the bluntness it requires: they will get people murdered if this continues. This is not just populism anymore either: it’s completely unhinged and a deliberate choice that does endanger lives. I am not saying this lightly at all.

Screenshot of an Express article; it says: Robert Jenrick lists 30 'activist judges' he vows to axe in war on UK's open border

In a bold move, Robert Jenrick is set to unveil a controversial plan targeting what he calls 'activist' judges, at the Conservative Party conference.

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 3d

Interesting and timely conference for UK constitutional law folk - ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/10/03/e...

Events: Call for Papers – The Future of Constitutional Reform in the United Kingdom

Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 May 2026, University of Manchester, United Kingdom The public law team at the University of Manchester Law Department, in collaboration with the UK Constitutional Law A…

ukconstitutionallaw.org

Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 3d

Of all the failures and disasters of privatisation of basic state infrastructure and essential services over the decades, this has to be right up there with the railways.
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...

Water bills: millions of households in England could face even bigger rises

CMA poised to give verdict after appeal by five firms for permission to increase bills higher than allowed by Ofwat

www.theguardian.com

Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 8d

Merseyrail claiming a "Good Service" on the Chester and Ellesmere Port lines. That's an absolute fib. An afternoon of chaos. @merseytravel.bsky.social

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 8d

This so obviously had a stink to it from the very start, all those years ago...
news.sky.com/story/firm-l...

Firm linked to Tory peer Michelle Mone breached £122m PPE contract, judge rules

A company linked to Tory peer Baroness Michelle Mone breached a government contract of nearly £122m to supply surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the High Court has ruled.

news.sky.com

Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 9d

This should really be a given, especially for a Government pledging to clean up politics and remedy some of the worst behaviour of the past Governments. It's also one of those things that isn't necessarily a problem today, but it certainly could be under a future authoritarian Government.

Electoral Reform Society @electoralreform.bsky.social · 9d

The government must restore the independence of the Electoral Commission

UK government urged to restore Electoral Commission’s independence to protect democracy

Oversight of watchdog could be abused by a future authoritarian government, report warns

buff.ly

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 11d

Morning madness. Sisters reunited.

Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 14d

Big hat tip to @drjohnnymac.bsky.social for organising the conference that led to this as well as for putting this edited collection together! I contributed a chapter on culture wars and constitutional identity.
www.routledge.com/Constitution...

Constitutional Values, Identities and Rights: Realisation and Protection in Codified and Uncodified Constitutions

This book discusses the way in which the constitutions are shaped by, and shape, the values and identities inherent in them and how those values and identities may be realised as fundamental rights an...

www.routledge.com

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 14d

I think I'm going for a new record for how many times in a single day I need to complete multifactor authentication to open the same damn apps. No option to "remember me" or save an access. Such an incredible waste of time.

Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 14d

Good. Withdrawing from Erasmus was one of the most backward, self-sabotaging and counterproductive decisions made post-2016, apart from Brexit in general of course.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...

UK students get chance to study in Europe from January 2027 under new Erasmus deal

The EU is pushing for a rapid agreement for Britain to rejoin the student exchange scheme

inews.co.uk

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 15d

💯 @bylinetimes.bsky.social

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 16d

A new UK prisoner voting case and the first since some have been allowed to vote post-Hirst. A convicted rapist having his right to vote restricted in the 2019 election was not disproportionate.

Judgment - hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre?i=001-24...

Press Release - hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=....

HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights

The HUDOC database provides access to the case-law of the Court (Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee judgments and decisions, communicated cases, advisory opinions and legal summaries from the Case-L...

hudoc.echr.coe.int

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 17d

Missed this last week. The Public Office (Accountability) Bill now laid before Parliament - otherwise dubbed the "Hillsborough Law". Introducing a legal duty of candour on public officials and bodies, making misleading the public a criminal offence.

bills.parliament.uk/bills/4019

Public Office (Accountability) Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament

Current version of Public Office (Accountability) Bill with latest news, sponsors, and progress through Houses

bills.parliament.uk

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 17d

With the usual media obsession and fawning over Reform you would barely be aware that the third biggest party with 72 MPs was currently having their annual conference.

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Reposted by Ben Stanford

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 18d

Reform are now coming after people with permanent residency. It'll be citizens next. No one is safe from authoritarian governments.

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Reposted by Ben Stanford

Donncha O’Connell @donnchalaw.bsky.social · 20d

Conor Gearty obituary - The Guardian

www.theguardian.com/law/2025/sep...

Conor Gearty obituary

A skilled and persuasive human rights lawyer who fought for civil liberties in the face of over-reaching anti-terror law

www.theguardian.com

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 21d

The free speech patriots once again confirming that the only free speech that matters is their own. Yawn.
news.sky.com/story/kimmel...

US talk show hosts react to Jimmy Kimmel cancellation - as Trump issues threat

After Jimmy Kimmel was suspended for comments he made about Charlie Kirk, his fellow late-night hosts have rallied around him - with some pointed barbs towards Donald Trump.

news.sky.com

Reposted by Ben Stanford

Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 23d

Eat this, Elon:
2024 London Mayoral Election
Count Binface: 24,260
Britain First: 20,519

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 24d

First day of the semester. First train cancellation of the semester. Business as usual for Merseyrail.

Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 24d

We probably have three/three and a half years until the next general election so any defections now are clearly not about MPs saving their own skin.

Reposted by Ben Stanford

Cassia Rowland @cassiarowland.bsky.social · 25d

This is moving in exactly the wrong direction! Education & meaningful activity in prison is crucial to reducing violence and improving outcomes

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Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 24d

As much as the collapse of the Tory Party brings some joy, Reform are looking increasingly unstoppable. news.sky.com/story/politi...

Politics latest: 'The Conservative Party is over': MP defects to Reform UK

Shadow minister Danny Kruger has defected from the Conservatives to Reform, declaring that his former party is "over". Nigel Farage said Mr Kruger will head up Reform's efforts to prepare for governme...

news.sky.com

Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 24d

If momentum picks up and more defections take place, I bet we'll see more calls for defections to lead to automatic recall.
news.sky.com/story/politi...

Politics latest: 'The Conservative Party is over': MP defects to Reform UK

news.sky.com

Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 28d

Genoa 🇮🇹 An indulgent few days. 25,000 steps. 25,000 calories.