David Mead
@seethingmead.bsky.social
Professor of UK Human Rights Law, UEA: public order/protest/policing/free speech/human rights
Poor but inveterate punster.Converse collector. Law, politics, Derby County, & music
Man of Sussex in exile…still fighting the forced East/West partition of ‘72
Poor but inveterate punster.Converse collector. Law, politics, Derby County, & music
Man of Sussex in exile…still fighting the forced East/West partition of ‘72
I played a tiny tiny role in this by providing evidence of the potential chilling effect of the proscription on academic freedom - research and teaching - as well as research expertise testifying to the non-use of proscription powers for NVDA in the past
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
UK ban on Palestine Action unlawful, high court judges rule
Protest group’s co-founder wins legal challenge against decision to proscribe it under anti-terrorism laws
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:42 PM
I played a tiny tiny role in this by providing evidence of the potential chilling effect of the proscription on academic freedom - research and teaching - as well as research expertise testifying to the non-use of proscription powers for NVDA in the past
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by David Mead
Decison to proscribe Palestine Action unlawful due to two reasons:
1: The Home Sec had considered 'other factors' that were not consistent with her own policy, which is founded in the basis that not all orgs who meet the criteria for a terrorist org should be proscribed.
1/2
1: The Home Sec had considered 'other factors' that were not consistent with her own policy, which is founded in the basis that not all orgs who meet the criteria for a terrorist org should be proscribed.
1/2
February 13, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Decison to proscribe Palestine Action unlawful due to two reasons:
1: The Home Sec had considered 'other factors' that were not consistent with her own policy, which is founded in the basis that not all orgs who meet the criteria for a terrorist org should be proscribed.
1/2
1: The Home Sec had considered 'other factors' that were not consistent with her own policy, which is founded in the basis that not all orgs who meet the criteria for a terrorist org should be proscribed.
1/2
Will probably get a bit lost in the noise, but an interesting handful of paras on the application - or not - of Bank Mellat proportionality exercise to the application of policy discretion [73]-[81]
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk
February 13, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Will probably get a bit lost in the noise, but an interesting handful of paras on the application - or not - of Bank Mellat proportionality exercise to the application of policy discretion [73]-[81]
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
Do Americans think the rest of the world is weird and insular and chauvinistic for not calling hockey “field hockey”?
February 13, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Do Americans think the rest of the world is weird and insular and chauvinistic for not calling hockey “field hockey”?
That is very poor decision, one that will rebound to women’s detriment
Our Law Clinic partners Norfolk Community Law Service, have had funding for its domestic abuse service discontinued by the local PCC, as she needs the funds for.... the violence against women and girls strategy and devolution. I don't think this is quite what @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social intended.
Police commissioner ends domestic violence funding so it can go towards devolution
Norfolk's police and crime commissioner is under fire after she said she had withdrawn funding for a domestic violence project because the money had…
www.wymondhamandattleboroughmercury.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 7:23 PM
That is very poor decision, one that will rebound to women’s detriment
Reposted by David Mead
Prof Steve Waters from our School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing has written a new series for BBC Radio 4 titled 'Good People', with the first episode airing today.
Read more: www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/a...
#ThisIsUEA #Academia
Read more: www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/a...
#ThisIsUEA #Academia
February 12, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Prof Steve Waters from our School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing has written a new series for BBC Radio 4 titled 'Good People', with the first episode airing today.
Read more: www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/a...
#ThisIsUEA #Academia
Read more: www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/a...
#ThisIsUEA #Academia
That’s not how I understood contract law to work but maybe it’s all changed since 1986?
February 12, 2026 at 6:48 PM
That’s not how I understood contract law to work but maybe it’s all changed since 1986?
Reposted by David Mead
Part I of my work in progress mega essay is now published
historyofpublicspace.uk/thoughts/dra...
historyofpublicspace.uk/thoughts/dra...
Draft essay, “More than more than space?”, part I – contested commons
historyofpublicspace.uk
February 12, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Part I of my work in progress mega essay is now published
historyofpublicspace.uk/thoughts/dra...
historyofpublicspace.uk/thoughts/dra...
One more sacking, and Forest can field a 5-a-side team from this season’s managers alone
February 12, 2026 at 8:11 AM
One more sacking, and Forest can field a 5-a-side team from this season’s managers alone
No, R4, somehow I don’t think Ratcliffe is talking about “overseas” players - like Lemmens and Sesco - when he talks of the UK being “colonised by immigrants”
I’m fairly sure he has in his sights Amad Diallo, Mbeuno and Kobbie Mainoo*
* Yes, I know …that’s the point
I’m fairly sure he has in his sights Amad Diallo, Mbeuno and Kobbie Mainoo*
* Yes, I know …that’s the point
February 12, 2026 at 7:57 AM
No, R4, somehow I don’t think Ratcliffe is talking about “overseas” players - like Lemmens and Sesco - when he talks of the UK being “colonised by immigrants”
I’m fairly sure he has in his sights Amad Diallo, Mbeuno and Kobbie Mainoo*
* Yes, I know …that’s the point
I’m fairly sure he has in his sights Amad Diallo, Mbeuno and Kobbie Mainoo*
* Yes, I know …that’s the point
I suspect most UK public law colleagues on here have been this already but it is flabbergasting
The idea that here in the UK a minister/ law officer would so openly and disdainfully ignore a question put to them in select committee by the other party MP is so totally beyond my contemplation
The idea that here in the UK a minister/ law officer would so openly and disdainfully ignore a question put to them in select committee by the other party MP is so totally beyond my contemplation
Bondi is now just straight up ignoring questions from Democratic members
February 11, 2026 at 8:14 PM
I suspect most UK public law colleagues on here have been this already but it is flabbergasting
The idea that here in the UK a minister/ law officer would so openly and disdainfully ignore a question put to them in select committee by the other party MP is so totally beyond my contemplation
The idea that here in the UK a minister/ law officer would so openly and disdainfully ignore a question put to them in select committee by the other party MP is so totally beyond my contemplation
Reposted by David Mead
#Gambia I led a communication sent together with the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders to the Government of #Gambia regarding mass arrests and excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, most of them young people. #HumanRights #FreedomOfAssembly
Pic: NewsClick
Pic: NewsClick
February 10, 2026 at 12:09 PM
#Gambia I led a communication sent together with the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders to the Government of #Gambia regarding mass arrests and excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, most of them young people. #HumanRights #FreedomOfAssembly
Pic: NewsClick
Pic: NewsClick
Oh bollocks, it’s the quadrennial reappearance of the noun ‘medal’ as a verb
February 10, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Oh bollocks, it’s the quadrennial reappearance of the noun ‘medal’ as a verb
Reposted by David Mead
The re-introduction of 'cumulative disruption' into Public Order powers is looming following Braverman's failed attempt, along with a new power to designate officers able to impose conditions. A few thoughts in a new blog post:
wildlifeinperil.com/cumulative-d...
wildlifeinperil.com/cumulative-d...
Cumulative Disruption Returns: The Crime and Policing Bill - Wildlife in Peril
The Crime and Policing Bill is currently making its way through the House of Lords, seeking to introduce a concept into protest regulation that was previously attempted by Suella Braverman.
wildlifeinperil.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:53 AM
The re-introduction of 'cumulative disruption' into Public Order powers is looming following Braverman's failed attempt, along with a new power to designate officers able to impose conditions. A few thoughts in a new blog post:
wildlifeinperil.com/cumulative-d...
wildlifeinperil.com/cumulative-d...
Reposted by David Mead
“The admission of lying to the public in order to justify banning Palestine Action shows how baseless the proscription truly is”.
Claims about links between the protest group and Iran appear to have originated from pro-Israel lobbyists novaramedia.com/2026/02/09/g...
Claims about links between the protest group and Iran appear to have originated from pro-Israel lobbyists novaramedia.com/2026/02/09/g...
Government Terrorism Advisor Casts Doubt on Palestine Action Iran Link
Exclusive: In a forthcoming Channel 4 documentary, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, says he’s “not aware” of any evidence behind the government’s claim...
novaramedia.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:02 AM
“The admission of lying to the public in order to justify banning Palestine Action shows how baseless the proscription truly is”.
Claims about links between the protest group and Iran appear to have originated from pro-Israel lobbyists novaramedia.com/2026/02/09/g...
Claims about links between the protest group and Iran appear to have originated from pro-Israel lobbyists novaramedia.com/2026/02/09/g...
The toolmaker’s son loses The Toolman
February 9, 2026 at 2:35 PM
The toolmaker’s son loses The Toolman
Not bloody Graham Stringer and his heavy nasal breathing
February 9, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Not bloody Graham Stringer and his heavy nasal breathing
Like watching the end stages of Macbeth while on acid
February 9, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Like watching the end stages of Macbeth while on acid
Should just have remained as Toolman
Keir Starmer latest: Director of communications Tim Allan quits, after Morgan McSweeney steps down
Tim Allan says he's quitting to
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Should just have remained as Toolman
Reasons never to rely on AI, part x of an infinite series
February 9, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Reasons never to rely on AI, part x of an infinite series
The point of winning elections is not to take power but to take power in order to do things… make changes
It’s not even a “discuss” question is it
It’s not even a “discuss” question is it
February 9, 2026 at 8:05 AM
The point of winning elections is not to take power but to take power in order to do things… make changes
It’s not even a “discuss” question is it
It’s not even a “discuss” question is it
Reposted by David Mead
An interesting lecture from Lord Sales which includes, among other topics, discussion of the Influence of public law ideas and values on private law development and the relationship between the common law and ECHR
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
1/5
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
1/5
supremecourt.uk
February 6, 2026 at 5:17 PM
An interesting lecture from Lord Sales which includes, among other topics, discussion of the Influence of public law ideas and values on private law development and the relationship between the common law and ECHR
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
1/5
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
1/5
Mrs S-M “orange and cardamom… part pudding, part cake”
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the puke
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the puke
February 8, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Mrs S-M “orange and cardamom… part pudding, part cake”
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the puke
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the puke
Some views (of mine) of the legality of the PA proscription in light of last week’s acquittals
(paywall, sorry)
www.thenational.scot/news/2583440...
(paywall, sorry)
www.thenational.scot/news/2583440...
Can Labour's Palestine Action ban survive jury acquittals? Experts have their say
IT will be “very difficult” for judges to rule that the UK Government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group was lawful, a…
www.thenational.scot
February 8, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Some views (of mine) of the legality of the PA proscription in light of last week’s acquittals
(paywall, sorry)
www.thenational.scot/news/2583440...
(paywall, sorry)
www.thenational.scot/news/2583440...