Eric Clive
@ericclive.bsky.social
Retired law professor and law reformer. Pro EU. Anti Brexit. Pro UN, pro international law and civilised international relations. Supporter of Scottish independence in Europe for pro European, internationalist, democratic, progressive and other reasons.
Fraud by false representation seems too mundane here. It looks like a gross case of misconduct in public office. The article cited concludes "Overall, we think a misconduct in public office prosecution would have a realistic prospect of conviction on the evidence presently available ..."
February 13, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Fraud by false representation seems too mundane here. It looks like a gross case of misconduct in public office. The article cited concludes "Overall, we think a misconduct in public office prosecution would have a realistic prospect of conviction on the evidence presently available ..."
Yes. MF is always worth engaging with. I've submitted a comment on his blog post on the UKCLA blog, suggesting essentially that a blanket exclusion rule which inevitably infringes one set of rights in some case would be beyond a State's margin of appreciation when a case by case rule is available.
February 12, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Yes. MF is always worth engaging with. I've submitted a comment on his blog post on the UKCLA blog, suggesting essentially that a blanket exclusion rule which inevitably infringes one set of rights in some case would be beyond a State's margin of appreciation when a case by case rule is available.
SNP 1 Greens 2 for me in the Scottish election. Both progressive, pro-EU parties. Both pro Scottish independence because that's the fastest way back in for Scotland.
February 12, 2026 at 8:08 AM
SNP 1 Greens 2 for me in the Scottish election. Both progressive, pro-EU parties. Both pro Scottish independence because that's the fastest way back in for Scotland.
On a last in, first out approach that would be what would happen.
February 11, 2026 at 12:23 PM
On a last in, first out approach that would be what would happen.
Fair point historically. The union of 1707 was between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England (then seen as including Wales). But now Wales is regarded as a country and, I think, as a unit of the UK. It voted narrowly for Leave, some say because of English incomers.
February 11, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Fair point historically. The union of 1707 was between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England (then seen as including Wales). But now Wales is regarded as a country and, I think, as a unit of the UK. It voted narrowly for Leave, some say because of English incomers.
On the EU referendum. Technically it was advisory. The UK gov could have said that as 2 of the 4 constituent parts of the UK voted Remain it would be wise not to accept the advice of the overall majority but to maintain the status quo.
February 11, 2026 at 9:39 AM
On the EU referendum. Technically it was advisory. The UK gov could have said that as 2 of the 4 constituent parts of the UK voted Remain it would be wise not to accept the advice of the overall majority but to maintain the status quo.
I see the UK as a construct. It could be deconstructed. Worth thinking about starting off with NI leaving via reunification and then with Scotland becoming independent and a member of the EU in its own right? Deconstruct in reverse order - last in, first out. Reassemble within the EU.
February 11, 2026 at 9:32 AM
I see the UK as a construct. It could be deconstructed. Worth thinking about starting off with NI leaving via reunification and then with Scotland becoming independent and a member of the EU in its own right? Deconstruct in reverse order - last in, first out. Reassemble within the EU.
For voters in Scotland the quickest way back into the EU is via independence. That also has been obvious for almost a decade. It could provide the necessary jolt south of the border.
February 11, 2026 at 8:37 AM
For voters in Scotland the quickest way back into the EU is via independence. That also has been obvious for almost a decade. It could provide the necessary jolt south of the border.
It sounded as if Douglas Alexander said that Keir Starmer "remains determined Anas Sarwar is the first minister of Scotland after me". My wife and I both thought we heard that. Probably just his slightly unusual accent though. The press report says "after May". It's a bit funny either way.
February 11, 2026 at 6:34 AM
It sounded as if Douglas Alexander said that Keir Starmer "remains determined Anas Sarwar is the first minister of Scotland after me". My wife and I both thought we heard that. Probably just his slightly unusual accent though. The press report says "after May". It's a bit funny either way.
It's the whole Scottish Labour campaign buggered, if you ask me. Must be absolutely infuriating for hard-working Labour activists in Scotland.
February 10, 2026 at 10:33 AM
It's the whole Scottish Labour campaign buggered, if you ask me. Must be absolutely infuriating for hard-working Labour activists in Scotland.
Yes. I see the Equality Act and its consolidated predecessors as being fundamentally against various acted out intolerances, including this one. It is so ironic that trans-intolerants are trying to use it as a weapon.
February 10, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Yes. I see the Equality Act and its consolidated predecessors as being fundamentally against various acted out intolerances, including this one. It is so ironic that trans-intolerants are trying to use it as a weapon.