SpinningHugo
@spinninghugo.bsky.social
Reposted by SpinningHugo
We still need to get from a situation where Russia pretends to negotiate to a situation where they need to negotiate.
Extract from my press remarks following today’s informal Foreign Affairs Council ↓
Extract from my press remarks following today’s informal Foreign Affairs Council ↓
November 26, 2025 at 2:54 PM
We still need to get from a situation where Russia pretends to negotiate to a situation where they need to negotiate.
Extract from my press remarks following today’s informal Foreign Affairs Council ↓
Extract from my press remarks following today’s informal Foreign Affairs Council ↓
Good and fair review.
She is a serious person Baroness Hale, and deserves to be treated as such.
She also seems to have put effort into writing the book.
She is a serious person Baroness Hale, and deserves to be treated as such.
She also seems to have put effort into writing the book.
While I was offline I reviewed Baroness Hale of Richmond's newest book. It's actually very good! I'm going soft. Free link here @ www.thetimes.com/article/6dd6...
Return of the Spider Woman: Lady Hale tours Britain’s courts
With the Law on Our Side is a pleasingly old-fashioned look at our legal system by the former president of the Supreme Court
www.thetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Good and fair review.
She is a serious person Baroness Hale, and deserves to be treated as such.
She also seems to have put effort into writing the book.
She is a serious person Baroness Hale, and deserves to be treated as such.
She also seems to have put effort into writing the book.
Reposted by SpinningHugo
What folks need to realize about "peace talks" is that this is all theater for Washington. Ukraine knows that Russia has no intention of stopping the war, and the Russians know the Ukrainians know that. So this is just all a performance for Trump, hoping he blames the other for the lack of peace.
November 26, 2025 at 1:24 PM
What folks need to realize about "peace talks" is that this is all theater for Washington. Ukraine knows that Russia has no intention of stopping the war, and the Russians know the Ukrainians know that. So this is just all a performance for Trump, hoping he blames the other for the lack of peace.
I moan about them not governing, and they largely don't, but this is.
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I moan about them not governing, and they largely don't, but this is.
Reposted by SpinningHugo
My experience of jury service (when the courts were not a mess) led me to the same view
My view is anecdotal and I do think we got the verdict right in the two cases I sat in. We were dismissed in the third because a witness revealed the defendant’s criminal past. That was obvious from the guards
My view is anecdotal and I do think we got the verdict right in the two cases I sat in. We were dismissed in the third because a witness revealed the defendant’s criminal past. That was obvious from the guards
We should abolish juries because
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
My experience of jury service (when the courts were not a mess) led me to the same view
My view is anecdotal and I do think we got the verdict right in the two cases I sat in. We were dismissed in the third because a witness revealed the defendant’s criminal past. That was obvious from the guards
My view is anecdotal and I do think we got the verdict right in the two cases I sat in. We were dismissed in the third because a witness revealed the defendant’s criminal past. That was obvious from the guards
"Senior lawyers" are wrong.
The governments latest proposals have been slammed by senior lawyers, who said they would not reduce court backlogs and could “destroy justice as we know it”
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
David Lammy considers scrapping jury trials for all but the most serious cases
Senior lawyers criticise justice secretary’s radical plan, saying it could ‘destroy justice as we know it’
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:47 PM
"Senior lawyers" are wrong.
Reposted by SpinningHugo
I'm remarkably relaxed about this. No I don't want my neighbours – Mail and Telegraph-reading berks – judging me. I'd rather have legal experts who've learned how to think.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
David Lammy considers scrapping jury trials for all but the most serious cases
Senior lawyers criticise justice secretary’s radical plan, saying it could ‘destroy justice as we know it’
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I'm remarkably relaxed about this. No I don't want my neighbours – Mail and Telegraph-reading berks – judging me. I'd rather have legal experts who've learned how to think.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
We should abolish juries because
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
November 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
We should abolish juries because
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
Juries are an expensive way of doing justice badly. get rid of them all.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
David Lammy considers scrapping jury trials for all but the most serious cases
Senior lawyers criticise justice secretary’s radical plan, saying it could ‘destroy justice as we know it’
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Juries are an expensive way of doing justice badly. get rid of them all.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Reposted by SpinningHugo
I'm not sure my trip up here was worthwhile, but this space is a wonder of the world.
After the 8.30 service, I'm the only one here.
/1
After the 8.30 service, I'm the only one here.
/1
November 25, 2025 at 9:36 AM
I'm not sure my trip up here was worthwhile, but this space is a wonder of the world.
After the 8.30 service, I'm the only one here.
/1
After the 8.30 service, I'm the only one here.
/1
Spoilsports have corrected it without acknowledging the howler.
OMG. The Guardian have confused Kenneth Clark, presenter of the 1969 series 'Civilisation' with Tory ex-MP & former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke in their review of the new BBC series 'Civilisations:Rise & Fall'
November 25, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Spoilsports have corrected it without acknowledging the howler.
All Reeves' choices are bad.
Unfortunately, over and over again Labour is choosing the "least unpopular" options rather than "least bad".
Anything that comes after this government will be worse. Foolish parties offering easy solutions to intractable problems
/1
Unfortunately, over and over again Labour is choosing the "least unpopular" options rather than "least bad".
Anything that comes after this government will be worse. Foolish parties offering easy solutions to intractable problems
/1
November 25, 2025 at 7:35 AM
All Reeves' choices are bad.
Unfortunately, over and over again Labour is choosing the "least unpopular" options rather than "least bad".
Anything that comes after this government will be worse. Foolish parties offering easy solutions to intractable problems
/1
Unfortunately, over and over again Labour is choosing the "least unpopular" options rather than "least bad".
Anything that comes after this government will be worse. Foolish parties offering easy solutions to intractable problems
/1
Reposted by SpinningHugo
OMG. The Guardian have confused Kenneth Clark, presenter of the 1969 series 'Civilisation' with Tory ex-MP & former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke in their review of the new BBC series 'Civilisations:Rise & Fall'
November 25, 2025 at 12:29 AM
OMG. The Guardian have confused Kenneth Clark, presenter of the 1969 series 'Civilisation' with Tory ex-MP & former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke in their review of the new BBC series 'Civilisations:Rise & Fall'
Reposted by SpinningHugo
I have read Zack Polanski's interview with Laura K. Good grief docs.google.com/document/d/1...
November 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM
I have read Zack Polanski's interview with Laura K. Good grief docs.google.com/document/d/1...
I don't think the councils (city and county) understand how they're perceived by the University, Colleges, or businesses.
You're just obstacles to people doing anything productive.
/1
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2563707...
You're just obstacles to people doing anything productive.
/1
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2563707...
Oxford University colleges told they cannot upgrade sports fields by council
Plans to upgrade the sports field belonging to Hertford and Exeter colleges, which are part of Oxford University, were refused by the city council.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I don't think the councils (city and county) understand how they're perceived by the University, Colleges, or businesses.
You're just obstacles to people doing anything productive.
/1
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2563707...
You're just obstacles to people doing anything productive.
/1
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2563707...
Great. An hour's wait at Birmingham, and I'll be late inconveniencing others.
The foolishness of re-nationalisation in a post.
I'm traveling from Oxford to Durham today, by train, to give a lecture. I could have hired a car, but decided to do this so as to write.
/1
I'm traveling from Oxford to Durham today, by train, to give a lecture. I could have hired a car, but decided to do this so as to write.
/1
Train fares frozen: not happened for decades.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
November 24, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Great. An hour's wait at Birmingham, and I'll be late inconveniencing others.
The foolishness of re-nationalisation in a post.
I'm traveling from Oxford to Durham today, by train, to give a lecture. I could have hired a car, but decided to do this so as to write.
/1
I'm traveling from Oxford to Durham today, by train, to give a lecture. I could have hired a car, but decided to do this so as to write.
/1
Train fares frozen: not happened for decades.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
November 24, 2025 at 9:58 AM
The foolishness of re-nationalisation in a post.
I'm traveling from Oxford to Durham today, by train, to give a lecture. I could have hired a car, but decided to do this so as to write.
/1
I'm traveling from Oxford to Durham today, by train, to give a lecture. I could have hired a car, but decided to do this so as to write.
/1
Reposted by SpinningHugo
This isn’t true! Regulated fares have always been set by the government, regardless of operator!
Train fares frozen: not happened for decades.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
November 23, 2025 at 12:07 PM
This isn’t true! Regulated fares have always been set by the government, regardless of operator!
Reposted by SpinningHugo
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.
November 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.
Reading what is in many ways a good book on US law, Stephen J Burton's "Elements of Contract Interpretation."
But.
The lack of interest in how other jurisdictions might approach this is stark.
Indeed, here I think it is a big problem.
/1
But.
The lack of interest in how other jurisdictions might approach this is stark.
Indeed, here I think it is a big problem.
/1
November 23, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reading what is in many ways a good book on US law, Stephen J Burton's "Elements of Contract Interpretation."
But.
The lack of interest in how other jurisdictions might approach this is stark.
Indeed, here I think it is a big problem.
/1
But.
The lack of interest in how other jurisdictions might approach this is stark.
Indeed, here I think it is a big problem.
/1
Reposted by SpinningHugo
'i hate socialism and that's why i refuse to socialize'
There are some truly unhinged bits in the piece about Glasman, as to be expected when dealing with Glasman, but seriously what the actual? That's...one hell of a conflation of terminology.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
'i hate socialism and that's why i refuse to socialize'
The "shadow docket" under which SCOTUS overturns lower court decisions without giving reasons is straightforwardly a violation of the rule of law (in its true sense).
I wonder if Americans realise how out of line this practice is from that applicable everywhere else in the common law world?
I wonder if Americans realise how out of line this practice is from that applicable everywhere else in the common law world?
I have a review of Justice Barrett's recent book, "Listening to the Law,"in the LA Review of Books.
Check it out!
lareviewofbooks.org/article/is-j...
Check it out!
lareviewofbooks.org/article/is-j...
Is Justice Barrett Listening? | Los Angeles Review of Books
Leah Litman prosecutes Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s new legal memoir, “Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution.”
lareviewofbooks.org
November 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The "shadow docket" under which SCOTUS overturns lower court decisions without giving reasons is straightforwardly a violation of the rule of law (in its true sense).
I wonder if Americans realise how out of line this practice is from that applicable everywhere else in the common law world?
I wonder if Americans realise how out of line this practice is from that applicable everywhere else in the common law world?
I thought we "did" Glasman when Miliband was in charge, and then moved on? Why is this zombie being listened to?
November 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I thought we "did" Glasman when Miliband was in charge, and then moved on? Why is this zombie being listened to?
Judges. Why they matter.
I just re-read McRae v Commonwealth (1951) for the first time in years, after reading lots of English cases where the judges blather on meaninglessly on the same topic.
Dixon J was a genius.
Top judges list.
/1
I just re-read McRae v Commonwealth (1951) for the first time in years, after reading lots of English cases where the judges blather on meaninglessly on the same topic.
Dixon J was a genius.
Top judges list.
/1
November 22, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Judges. Why they matter.
I just re-read McRae v Commonwealth (1951) for the first time in years, after reading lots of English cases where the judges blather on meaninglessly on the same topic.
Dixon J was a genius.
Top judges list.
/1
I just re-read McRae v Commonwealth (1951) for the first time in years, after reading lots of English cases where the judges blather on meaninglessly on the same topic.
Dixon J was a genius.
Top judges list.
/1