Monthly Archives: June 2015
The Bagehot caption competition
At the beginning of the month, I visited Langport in Somerset to take part in the 4th Annual Bagehot Debate, opposing the motion ‘It’s time for a new Magna Carta’. Held at the Huish Academy, Lord Tyler and pupil Douglas Stephenson … Continue reading
Not all it is cracked up to be?
On Tuesday evening, I gave a public lecture at the University on ‘The Continuing Relevance of Magna Carta: Symbol or Substance?’ There was an impressive attendance, clearly reflecting interest in the subject. My purpose was to provide the background to King … Continue reading
Parliament: a new assertiveness?
In an earlier post, I drew attention to a chapter I had written on Parliament for the 8th edition of The Changing Constitution, edited by Jeffery Jowell, Dawn Oliver and Colm O’Cinneide, and being published by Oxford University Press. The … Continue reading
The case for a constitutional convocation
I took part last week in the debate on the Queen’s Speech on the day when we focused on constitutional issues. I was concerned not to address particular measures, but rather to stand back at look more broadly at what … Continue reading
Charles Kennedy and Parliament
The death of Charles Kennedy came as a great shock. He will be much missed. He spent the whole of his working life as an MP and I knew him for most of his years in Parliament. He was not … Continue reading
Correcting a correction…..
Various media have now corrected the claim that Mhairi Black, the 20-year-old SNP MP, is the youngest MP since 1667. The Times Higher Education carried an article reporting on my posts pointing out that she is the youngest since 1832. The Times published … Continue reading
The Norton View 