@bricksilk
Lord Anderson of Ipswich KBE KC: Barrister, Cross-bench Peer, Independent Prevent Commissioner; HL Constitution Cttee; Chair Inter Mediate, @uclei.bsky.social; Vis Prof KCL; AFPS; ex-indept reviewer terrorism legn; history, nature, sea kayaking, Suffolk
Spouses/partners could be permitted entry in the normal way as accompanied guests. If there is a case for greater access (which I very much doubt), applicants for passes should be properly vetted.
Time to address the scandal that MPs’ and peers’ spouses and partners are given free passes to the parliamentary estate without even being vetted first. Along with a few other peers I raised this issue with Lord Speaker in January. An urgent review is needed.
Key paras
Legal advice re use of UK bases for attacks on Iranian missile bases now published www.gov.uk/government/n...
Just published this Q&A with @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & @rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Bottom line:
-US strikes on #Iran would be flatly illegal
-would trigger armed conflict between the US and Iran
-other countries (like the UK) are obligated not to assist
www.justsecurity.org/132180/us-ir...
How could you doubt it Stephen! This is me also 😉
Indeed - and it made the equivalent snowmobile rescue exercise look almost simple!
Guy Martin did it first (and, being slightly fitter than the average UK parliamentarian, in a slightly more hands-on way).
www.channel4.com/programmes/g...
Thank you #AFPS and UK Commando Force for an informative and action-packed parliamentary visit to Camp Viking, Arctic Norway. Much to be impressed by and to reflect on.
My piece for Verfassungsblog on the High Court judgment regarding the proscription of Palestine Action.
verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
Thank you to the Captain of the King’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (sic) for the extra few seconds …
tl;dr While the word extremism is a convenient label for drawing attention to a vast bundle of problems, it is not a satisfactory key to solving them.
What to do about extremism? My 4-minute answer (starts 2.10 pm) hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2026-0....
A reminder of the HL Constitution Committee’s report on the appointment and removal of permanent secretaries, including the cabinet secretary publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5803/ld....
New post out:
"The most dangerous man in America"
Understanding "Trump's Prime Minister" Stephen Miller - the nexus of all the streams of right-wing thought and behaviour that embody the current regime.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Spotlight are spot-on, as so often
I no longer sit on the constitution committee, but some of your concerns (which I share) have been raised with the main parties and were aired at second reading this evening: hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2026-0....
This is great: Meet Hereditary Peer Lord Hampton – The Only Serving Teacher In Parliament www.politicshome.com/news/article...
He certainly brings his experience to bear – as here, on the need for flexibility over pay for support staff
As National Security Adviser, I was often at the UK’s HQ in Helmand, Camp Bastion. Too often, the tannoy would announce medevac helicopters inbound. The huge base w’d fall silent, out of respect for the young men or women who were fighting for their lives. No, they had not stayed a little back.
It is an excellent speech.
bsky.app/profile/pete...
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
This is so true, David. Good constitutional intentions wilt in face of the short term realities of power: see the HL constitution committee evidence session with then Cabinet Office Ministers Pat McFadden and Nick Thomas-Symonds committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence..., especially QQ 52 and 53.
@justicehq.bsky.social @bigbrotherwatch.bsky.social @privacyinternational.org any interest? My Amts 390/391 to Crime and Policing Bill were very well supported today, including in principle by both Opposition parties.
Happy for the police to hang on to your phone, laptop and cloud data indefinitely without even a requirement of reasonable suspicion? Such laws and proposals look dry on the page but erode personal freedom. Cracking debate this afternoon in the House of Lords: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
Fantastic news that a government body is now on here. Zero excuse at this point for all others not doing the same
