So glad I could attend this very special evening in memory of the legendary Conor Gearty. Warm, fitting tributes, celebrating a human rights giant and the loveliest of people.
As was said, Conor would have been delighted with an entire evening of people singing his praises.
You are missed, Conor.
As was said, Conor would have been delighted with an entire evening of people singing his praises.
You are missed, Conor.
February 7, 2026 at 10:44 AM
So glad I could attend this very special evening in memory of the legendary Conor Gearty. Warm, fitting tributes, celebrating a human rights giant and the loveliest of people.
As was said, Conor would have been delighted with an entire evening of people singing his praises.
You are missed, Conor.
As was said, Conor would have been delighted with an entire evening of people singing his praises.
You are missed, Conor.
Following my complaint, the Telegraph has deleted an inaccurate and misleading article that claimed "Jurors who find activists not guilty for moral reasons could face jail".
This was incorrect and not what the court ruled.
This was incorrect and not what the court ruled.
January 26, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Following my complaint, the Telegraph has deleted an inaccurate and misleading article that claimed "Jurors who find activists not guilty for moral reasons could face jail".
This was incorrect and not what the court ruled.
This was incorrect and not what the court ruled.
Nothing psychopathic to see here.
January 25, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Nothing psychopathic to see here.
Telegraph publishes correction about the article: “Double killer wins human rights case because prison left him ‘depressed’."
The headline and article have been amended as well.
The headline and article have been amended as well.
January 23, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Telegraph publishes correction about the article: “Double killer wins human rights case because prison left him ‘depressed’."
The headline and article have been amended as well.
The headline and article have been amended as well.
ECtHR case of Osman Kavala has been relinquished to the Grand Chamber.
He has been jailed since 2017. Previously, ECtHR found breaches of Articles 5 (right to liberty), 4 (right to a speedy decision on the lawfulness of detention), and 18, ordering Turkey to release him. But he remains imprisoned.
He has been jailed since 2017. Previously, ECtHR found breaches of Articles 5 (right to liberty), 4 (right to a speedy decision on the lawfulness of detention), and 18, ordering Turkey to release him. But he remains imprisoned.
December 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
ECtHR case of Osman Kavala has been relinquished to the Grand Chamber.
He has been jailed since 2017. Previously, ECtHR found breaches of Articles 5 (right to liberty), 4 (right to a speedy decision on the lawfulness of detention), and 18, ordering Turkey to release him. But he remains imprisoned.
He has been jailed since 2017. Previously, ECtHR found breaches of Articles 5 (right to liberty), 4 (right to a speedy decision on the lawfulness of detention), and 18, ordering Turkey to release him. But he remains imprisoned.
Labour: Things are so amazing for the people and government of Denmark, let's copy their policies.
Reality in Denmark:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reality in Denmark:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
November 19, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Labour: Things are so amazing for the people and government of Denmark, let's copy their policies.
Reality in Denmark:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reality in Denmark:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Discussion in Parliament about the "almost inhuman level" to which the British state "failed the families and victims of Hillsborough".
Great reminder by Lord Alton that any little relief that the families have received has been because of human rights laws.
www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=20...
Great reminder by Lord Alton that any little relief that the families have received has been because of human rights laws.
www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=20...
November 14, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Discussion in Parliament about the "almost inhuman level" to which the British state "failed the families and victims of Hillsborough".
Great reminder by Lord Alton that any little relief that the families have received has been because of human rights laws.
www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=20...
Great reminder by Lord Alton that any little relief that the families have received has been because of human rights laws.
www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=20...
Not that the Leader of the Free World is a deranged, unstable, egotistical thug, but:
October 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Not that the Leader of the Free World is a deranged, unstable, egotistical thug, but:
There's argument in favour of ECtHR recalibrating caselaw by progressively limiting scope of qualified rights when issues are not considered to lie at core of the right. ECHR should be more forcefully leveraged as framework of fundamental freedoms targeting arbitrary use of state power: Robert Spano
October 8, 2025 at 10:38 AM
There's argument in favour of ECtHR recalibrating caselaw by progressively limiting scope of qualified rights when issues are not considered to lie at core of the right. ECHR should be more forcefully leveraged as framework of fundamental freedoms targeting arbitrary use of state power: Robert Spano
There is simply no factual or substantive nexus between the ECHR and the cadence of boats illegally arriving on the shores of this country. Article 8 does not preclude the UK from expelling foreign criminals and any limitations imposed can only apply in really exceptional circumstances: Robert Spano
October 8, 2025 at 10:24 AM
There is simply no factual or substantive nexus between the ECHR and the cadence of boats illegally arriving on the shores of this country. Article 8 does not preclude the UK from expelling foreign criminals and any limitations imposed can only apply in really exceptional circumstances: Robert Spano
"Now, more than ever, ECHR’s guarantees against dangers of unrestrained and oppressive majoritarianism are needed. There is no question the fundamental freedoms embedded in ECHR continue to be worth fighting for, and calls in to withdraw from ECHR system are unprincipled and unwise": Robert Spano
October 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
"Now, more than ever, ECHR’s guarantees against dangers of unrestrained and oppressive majoritarianism are needed. There is no question the fundamental freedoms embedded in ECHR continue to be worth fighting for, and calls in to withdraw from ECHR system are unprincipled and unwise": Robert Spano
"We must reconsider a purely individualistic rights-based model of human rights law and attempt to progressively revert back to its genesis as a framework of human freedoms, constraining arbitrary and oppressive government power, also encompassing individual duties & responsibilities": Robert Spano
October 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
"We must reconsider a purely individualistic rights-based model of human rights law and attempt to progressively revert back to its genesis as a framework of human freedoms, constraining arbitrary and oppressive government power, also encompassing individual duties & responsibilities": Robert Spano
"Human rights, as a political and moral value system, is losing ground. One fears a hurricane of horrors might be brewing. It may be a tropical storm at present, but rapid intensification into Category 4 or 5 is by no means unlikely": Robert Spano, ex-president of the European Court of Human Rights.
October 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
"Human rights, as a political and moral value system, is losing ground. One fears a hurricane of horrors might be brewing. It may be a tropical storm at present, but rapid intensification into Category 4 or 5 is by no means unlikely": Robert Spano, ex-president of the European Court of Human Rights.
Nothing sinister at all.
October 7, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Nothing sinister at all.
Delighted to chair the Human Rights Lawyers Association's brilliant Inaugural Annual Lecture last week, delivered by the phenomenal Robert Spano, with a reply from the legendary Baroness Hale.
Huge thanks to the speakers, and to everyone who joined us.
Huge thanks to the speakers, and to everyone who joined us.
October 4, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Delighted to chair the Human Rights Lawyers Association's brilliant Inaugural Annual Lecture last week, delivered by the phenomenal Robert Spano, with a reply from the legendary Baroness Hale.
Huge thanks to the speakers, and to everyone who joined us.
Huge thanks to the speakers, and to everyone who joined us.
Wonderful evening to celebrate 200 years of the Law Society with lots of amazing colleagues.
October 1, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Wonderful evening to celebrate 200 years of the Law Society with lots of amazing colleagues.
The hatemonger Rupert Lowe MP wrote a whiny letter to @thebarcouncil.bsky.social complaining about the Black Interns scheme.
Well done Bar Council and Bar Chair for this robust response.
Well done Bar Council and Bar Chair for this robust response.
September 30, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The hatemonger Rupert Lowe MP wrote a whiny letter to @thebarcouncil.bsky.social complaining about the Black Interns scheme.
Well done Bar Council and Bar Chair for this robust response.
Well done Bar Council and Bar Chair for this robust response.
This is what the government has been saying about eVisas. So, why do we need digital IDs?
Every time they come up with yet another idea to monitor us and further control our lives, they claim this one is the panacea for all our problems.
Every time they come up with yet another idea to monitor us and further control our lives, they claim this one is the panacea for all our problems.
September 27, 2025 at 8:37 AM
This is what the government has been saying about eVisas. So, why do we need digital IDs?
Every time they come up with yet another idea to monitor us and further control our lives, they claim this one is the panacea for all our problems.
Every time they come up with yet another idea to monitor us and further control our lives, they claim this one is the panacea for all our problems.
Digital IDs are a terrible, dangerous idea for numerous reasons.
But, even on their own terms, what's the gap they're supposed to fill?
It seems many people don't realise that we already have eVisas. All migrants get this "digital record" of their status and permission anyway.
But, even on their own terms, what's the gap they're supposed to fill?
It seems many people don't realise that we already have eVisas. All migrants get this "digital record" of their status and permission anyway.
September 27, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Digital IDs are a terrible, dangerous idea for numerous reasons.
But, even on their own terms, what's the gap they're supposed to fill?
It seems many people don't realise that we already have eVisas. All migrants get this "digital record" of their status and permission anyway.
But, even on their own terms, what's the gap they're supposed to fill?
It seems many people don't realise that we already have eVisas. All migrants get this "digital record" of their status and permission anyway.
If you were missing the good old "Migrants Are Eating Our Pets" headlines.
September 24, 2025 at 8:55 AM
If you were missing the good old "Migrants Are Eating Our Pets" headlines.
No, I don't think they are, actually.
September 23, 2025 at 10:49 PM
No, I don't think they are, actually.
This takes one back. An ECtHR decision about prisoner voting in the UK.
ECtHR: Considering seriousness of offending, risk posed to public and imposition of harsh sentence of indeterminate detention, restriction on rapist's right to vote in 2019 UK general election did not breach his human rights.
ECtHR: Considering seriousness of offending, risk posed to public and imposition of harsh sentence of indeterminate detention, restriction on rapist's right to vote in 2019 UK general election did not breach his human rights.
September 23, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This takes one back. An ECtHR decision about prisoner voting in the UK.
ECtHR: Considering seriousness of offending, risk posed to public and imposition of harsh sentence of indeterminate detention, restriction on rapist's right to vote in 2019 UK general election did not breach his human rights.
ECtHR: Considering seriousness of offending, risk posed to public and imposition of harsh sentence of indeterminate detention, restriction on rapist's right to vote in 2019 UK general election did not breach his human rights.
September 22, 2025 at 9:22 PM
A rare ray of hope and humanity in a world of despair and death.
September 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
A rare ray of hope and humanity in a world of despair and death.