Alison Young: Taking (Back) Control?
In his insightful post, David Howarth set out a conflict between two visions of democracy: Westminster and Whitehall. The Westminster vision favours Parliament (particularly the House of Commons), drawing on … Continue reading
Joseph Crampin: Precedent for Delaying Royal Assent: A Response to Professor Finnis
The ‘Cooper-Letwin Act’ (European Union Withdrawal (No 5) Act 2019) may yet come to be known as the constitutional crisis that wasn’t. But, the advocacy by some of the Government’s … Continue reading
Editors’ note: Contributions regarding royal assent
The issue of whether the Queen can refuse royal assent to legislation, whether advised by her Ministers to do so or otherwise, has generated a lot of posts and comments … Continue reading
David Howarth: Westminster versus Whitehall: Two Incompatible Views of the Constitution
Lawyers like to make as much sense as possible of the material in front of them, transforming it, if they can, from a jumble of decisions and remarks into a … Continue reading
John Finnis: Royal Assent – A Reply to Mark Elliott
I agree with Mark Elliott in finding my April 1 argument about prorogation and assent astonishing and monstrous, once the argument’s important premises have been omitted, as he has omitted … Continue reading
Jeff King: Can Royal Assent to a Bill Be Withheld If So Advised by Ministers?
An article in the Sunday Times by Professor Richard Ekins and Sir Stephen Laws QC advised that the Monarch could withhold Royal Assent to a bill passed if advised to … Continue reading
Robert Craig: Why Royal Consent Is Required for the Proposed Article 50 Extension Bill
I wrote recently on this blog about the issue of Royal Assent. This post concerns the wholly separate issue of Royal Consent which is a requirement for those rare Bills … Continue reading
Robert Craig: Could the Government Advise the Queen to Refuse Royal Assent to a Backbench Bill?
Introduction As is well known, the Government’s Withdrawal Agreement was voted down in Parliament last week by 230 votes in a ‘meaningful vote’ mandated under s 13(1) of European Withdrawal … Continue reading
Nick Barber: Can Royal Assent Be Refused on the Advice of the Prime Minister?
There is a very good article in the most recent edition of the Law Quarterly Review. It is by Rodney Brazier, and is concerned with the nature and mechanics of … Continue reading
Tom Adams: Royal Consent and Hidden Power
The requirement of Royal Assent for bills which have passed through our democratic institutions is well known. Those amongst us who favour the constitutional monarch remind others that it is … Continue reading
