Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Arabella Lang

London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 6d

‘The current members of the Supreme Court, ten men and two women, all of them white, seem to regard the Human Rights Act as an unwelcome remnant of a past era.’

In his final piece for the LRB, Conor Gearty writes on the Supreme Court’s reinterpretation of the HRA: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Conor Gearty · Unwelcome Remnant: Erasing the Human Rights Act

The Supreme Court is quietly editing the Human Rights Act out of existence. In cases where human rights cannot be...

www.lrb.co.uk

1 18 37

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 5d

Support for staying in the ECHR has been rising (probably a Farage effect of solidifying the majority who oppose him, maybe Trump osmosis effect). Media and political opinion on the right believes there is a strong public desire to quit. Badenoch has now committed the Conservatives to quitting.

17 74 180

Arabella Lang @arabellalaw.bsky.social · 14d

Really enjoyed today’s discussion, expertly hosted by @lisajames.bsky.social

Features treaty scrutiny as a mainstream constitutional topic, an excellent new report from the Lords international Agreements Committee, and the scrutiny challenges cubed that devolved legislatures face.

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 14d

How should the UK's parliaments scrutinise international agreements?

Earlier today we hosted Lord (Peter) Goldsmith, @arabellalaw.bsky.social and @clareadamsonmsp.bsky.social to discuss just this.

A recording is now available on YouTube and should be in our podcast feed very soon.

Watch it 👇

How should the UK's parliaments scrutinise international agreements?

YouTube video by UCL Constitution Unit

www.youtube.com

1 1

Arabella Lang @arabellalaw.bsky.social · 14d

🙏

1

Reposted by Arabella Lang

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Sep 5

What role should parliament have in scrutinising international agreements with countries like Mauritius, the US and India?

On 24 Sept, join @arabellalaw.bsky.social, @clareadamsonmsp.bsky.social and Lord (Peter) Goldsmith to discuss just this at our free, online event.

Sign up 👉 buff.ly/T2ZL4WO

The Constitution Unit.
How should the UK’s parliaments scrutinise international agreements?
24 September 2025, 1:00pm–2:00pm.
Arabella Lang (Head of Public Law at the Law Society and Visiting Fellow at the University of Essex).
Lord (Peter) Goldsmith KC (Chair of the International Agreements Committee and former Attorney General).
Clare Adamson MSP (SNP MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, and Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee).
Chair: Lisa James (Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit).

1 4 5

Reposted by Arabella Lang

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Sep 3

What role should parliament have in scrutinising international agreements with countries like Mauritius, the US and India?

On 24 Sept, join @arabellalaw.bsky.social, @clareadamsonmsp.bsky.social and Lord (Peter) Goldsmith to discuss just this at our free, online event.

Sign up 👉 buff.ly/T2ZL4WO

2 5

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Pants, Manchester @fantasticlife.bsky.social · Sep 1

Excellent news for roundhead colleagues. If you're lucky enough to work for a minister who'd like to exercise a delegated power or two before a certain date, but you're never sure how long an instrument has to sit before Parliament, our beloved egg timer (TM) now comes with a start date calculator.

1 2 4

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Political Studies Association @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social · Aug 7

*PSA OPPORTUNITY* House of Commons internship opportunity. This is exclusively for #EarlyCareer Network members of the PSA who are currently studying towards their #PhD.
📆 Apply by 28 September 2025
➡️ Full details buff.ly/xY1xXxn
#PoliticalStudies #Politics #PhDStudents #HouseofCommons

2025 House of Commons Internship | The Political Studies Association (PSA)

Become a member Log in

buff.ly

5

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Jon Featonby @jonfeatonby.bsky.social · Aug 7

Letters from Yvette Cooper committees.parliament.uk/publications/49082/documents/258601/default/ and Angela Eagle committees.parliament.uk/publications/49083/documents/258602/default/ to HASC about why neither the treaty nor immigration rules have been subject to the normal parliamentary timetables

committees.parliament.uk

3 1

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · Aug 7

The UK government's rationale for applying the UK/France migration treaty before a parliamentary vote - via @cjmckinney.bsky.social

1 6 11

Arabella Lang @arabellalaw.bsky.social · Aug 8

This appears to be what’s happened - see treaties.parliament.uk/treaty/Vpz4J...

Timeline - Treaty CP 1377 - Treaties - UK Parliament

Timeline for Agreement, done at London 29 July and Paris 30 July 2025, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the French Republic on t...

treaties.parliament.uk

1

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · Aug 7

Noting a few oddities in respect of the U.K./France migration treaty published on 5 August and already operationalised today. (Short 🧵)
www.gov.uk/government/p...

UK/France: Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys [CS France No.2/2025]

This treaty was presented to Parliament in August 2025.

www.gov.uk

3 15 33

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · Jul 15

The Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean
Territory Bill publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...

6 4

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · Jul 15

Durham Law is hiring a 3yr career development fellow in public law! Some lovely ppl here: @jessieblackbourn.bsky.social @lizaoloughlin.bsky.social @seshauna.bsky.social @rogermasterman.bsky.social @dkagiaros.bsky.social @nataliesedacca.bsky.social ... and @aileenmcharg.bsky.social
rb.gy/ybcbpf

Career Development Fellow in Public Law at Durham University

An opportunity for an academic position as a Career Development Fellow in Public Law is available, as advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Apply now and explore other academic job openings.

www.jobs.ac.uk

1 28 22

Arabella Lang @arabellalaw.bsky.social · Jul 10

Is one of us about to be executed?

1 1

Reposted by Arabella Lang

CITP @thecitp.bsky.social · Jul 1

Do you have an idea for an innovative research project with a focus on inclusive #tradepolicy?

Applications are open for our Innovation Fund, offering grants between £10k-£40k fEC. We’re particularly keen to receive applications from or involving Early Career Researchers citp.ac.uk/innovation-f...

2

Arabella Lang @arabellalaw.bsky.social · Jun 26

Fascinating resource and analysis here on training journalists about migration.

It would be great to explore (as the authors of the article suggest) how this model could be transferred to other contentious policy areas.

Migration Observatory @migobs.bsky.social · Jun 23

Nice new publication by our deputy director Rob McNeil and the brilliant @drdonnasmith.bsky.social looking at the importance of specialist training for journalists on contentious policy issues like migration - it leans heavily on the free training programme we developed for @nctj.bsky.social

1

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Hansard Society @hansardsociety.bsky.social · Jun 13

📢 Following the #AssistedDying Bill in the House of Commons today?

🧐 Confused about what happens at Report Stage? Our short briefing explains it all — from how amendments are selected and grouped, to how debates are organised and decisions made.

Assisted dying bill: what will happen on Friday 13 June?

On Friday 13 June, the House of Commons will once again debate the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. Specifically, it will hold a…

buff.ly

1 1

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · Jun 11

😳😳 www.ft.com/content/4a93...

Pentagon launches review to decide if US should scrap Aukus

Ending nuclear submarine deal would be blow to security alliance with Australia and UK

www.ft.com

9 7 16

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · Jun 4

For the past couple of months I have been arguing in favour of a new Treaties Ratification (Parliamentary Consent) Bill with @hhesterm.bsky.social

I hope that parliamentarians might pick up this suggestion in the next parliamentary session if Ministers refuse to take action.

1 4

Reposted by Arabella Lang

Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · Jun 4

Great to see that the ⁦‪ @hansardsociety.bsky.social
has joined calls for the introduction of a parliamentary consent vote for the most significant new treaties. Surely the time has come for the Government to admit that the current system is unsustainable.
www.hansardsociety.org.uk/publications...

Parliamentary scrutiny of treaties - Our evidence to the House of Lords International Agreements Committee

Our evidence on treaty scrutiny has been published by the House of Lords International Agreements Committee. Our submission outlines the problems with the existing framework for treaty scrutiny and wh...

www.hansardsociety.org.uk

2 18 48

Reposted by Arabella Lang

JUSTICE @justicehq.bsky.social · Jun 3

JUSTICE is hiring a new Communications Officer 📢

We're looking for an organised and motivated new addition to our team to help tell powerful stories, drive policy change, and engage our community.

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!

Apply by Sun 22 June 2025.

Communications Officer - JUSTICE

Job Title: Communications Officer Location: Hybrid, with minimum 1-2 days per month at JUSTICE’s office near St Paul’s, London. Salary: £35,742 per annum starting salary, ...

justice.org.uk

2 1

Arabella Lang @arabellalaw.bsky.social · Jun 2

The closest answer I ever got to this question was ‘probably’. But last time it was an option (I think the UK-Aus FTA), the opposition chose not to use their time for a treaty debate.

1 2

Arabella Lang @arabellalaw.bsky.social · May 23

Here are all the parliamentary things to know about the Chagos Islands treaty. The objection period ends on 3 July:

treaties.parliament.uk/treaty/Qnu21...

Timeline - Treaty CP 1334 - Treaties - UK Parliament

Timeline for Agreement, done at London and Port Louis on 22 May 2025, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius...

treaties.parliament.uk

1 2

Arabella Lang @arabellalaw.bsky.social · May 22

*and involving very large public expenditure

Arabella Lang @arabellalaw.bsky.social · May 22

Imagine a new UK treaty with major domestic and international implications were being signed today. Would you want your MP to have a say?

Here’s what I said recently about why that would be appropriate, necessary and constitutionally desirable:

committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

committees.parliament.uk