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Adam Tucker

@adam.publiclaw.space
1.2K followers 403 following 263 posts

Constitutional lawyer at University of Liverpool & Bingham Centre. Interested in legislative power and its limits. Currently finishing book on parliamentary sovereignty But easily distracted esp by delegated legislation, and statutory interpretation.

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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 25/09/2026
Man City quickly out of the blocks there with the statement connecting ("strict") confidentiality, due process and today's information. Expect their appeal to include the argument that a breach of confidentiality vitiated the independence of the regulator (and therefore its findings).
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 14/09/2026
The mega-donations are a set-piece, aimed at the retrospectivity provisions before Parliament, yes? - the retrospectivity of those measures was announced in March, and fully approved by the Commons last week - both donations will be caught by it - they're (by design) the hook for coverage like this
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 09/09/2026
This position (as summarised here) exists in two contradictory species... 1. The Common Law has always been great. It proved itself. The HRA is unnecessary / undesirable / regrettable. 2. The Common Law used to be inadequate. But things have changed now. It is better than it used to be.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 21/08/2026
A new constitution would probably just capture the existing one, *entrench* its pathologies, so make things worse Better to address those pathologies OK, could do that in a new constitution. But why on earth (even if it's possible) make life hard by purporting to address them all simultaneously?
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 13/08/2026
I wonder whether this approach is driven by a reticence to regulate / ban things (or just BBQs, I guess) or by doubts about the availability of a sound legal basis for the government to introduce an actual ban. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Burnham urges shops not to sell disposable BBQs over wildfire risks
The PM wants the public to avoid using single-use grills during the current spell of extremely dry weather.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 16/07/2026
Nb on this - 100 Universities applied. The list is just the "successful" applicants. The ordering of the list hardly shows military level discipline or academic rigour. www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
Boost for skills and research as 35 universities across the UK partner in new defence alliance
A new Defence Universities Alliance with 35 UK universities will help strengthen defence research, build critical skills and support the UK's future defence capability.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
This, in particular. Increasingly of the view that government policy towards universities is the test case of whether it really has a wider economic policy.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 16/07/2026
This is an absolutely superb passage in this piece - and of much wider significance than just this particular context.
Extract from the linked blog post which reads: "That reasoning carries a hidden premise. It assumes that political accountability is not merely the proper forum for these decisions but a forum that actually operates, so that judicial restraint transfers scrutiny elsewhere rather than extinguishing it."
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 14/07/2026
I probably used up my rule-of-law-moaning-about-boring-everyday-stuff quota with the airport thing earlier. Anyway, TV licensing is also a rule of law problem. First-line enforcement for decades has been via make-believe nonsense but people have stopped believing.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 14/07/2026
These ideas has been floating around various online discussions for years. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater... OK, Freeman doesn't need the oxygen, or indeed credit for "spotting" the "loophole(s)". But - there is nonetheless a rule of law problem (with a public law dimension) here...
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Manchester Airport's £100 parking charges 'may not be legal', says Mr Loophole
Anyone who fails to pay by midnight the following is stung by a huge fine
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 13/07/2026
And here is a view of the extent of the smoke today (from space) zoom.earth/maps/satelli...
A screengrab of a satellite view, taken today, of NW England (and North Wales) showing a plume of smoke from near Glossop, across Manchester and Cheshire, over Liverpool and dispersing widely over the Irish Sea.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 13/07/2026
The @fdaunion.bsky.social statement on the Olly Robbins Judicial Review unpacks the grounds (🥳): 1. PM lacks (statutory) power to dismiss 2. Unfair process (because no process) 3. Irrationality (revealed in stated reasons)
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 12/07/2026
A huge swathe of the North West under the pall of the smoke from the Dovestone fire this evening. (The fire is far left, Manchester skyline in the centre.)
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 11/07/2026
Has this been legislated (but not yet published)? Or is it an on-the-fly flex? (under which power?) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Yes, I know I'm a bore. But the government legislated to ease the applicable legal framework only this year ... and they're still making it look very messy to use
bbc.co.uk
World Cup: England fans can stay in pub for full Norway game - even if kick-off delayed
The extended hours means fans can watch the entire game, even if the start is delayed.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 09/07/2026
This is an interestingly worded denial www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Screenshot from news story, where a "spokesman for Jenrick" denies  that "Robert knowingly accepted impermissible donations"
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 09/07/2026
Quite the shift in tone from Starmer's "crackdown" on the backbenches.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 08/07/2026
Surely now there is a real possibility that Farage doesn't stand after all in the Clacton by-election? It's not like he is bound by expressing that intention yesterday. He may well say the establishment chickened out, he has nothing left to prove etc.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 08/07/2026
This is a great thread. The rules governing all this are (i) unnecessarily weird and (ii) easy to change.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 24/06/2026
Indeed. There's an important kernel of rule of law truth in there too though: the *current* system is already a rule of law failure. (a good policy aim would be to at least come up with a solution/reform which good advocates who care about the rule of law are capable of defending impressively...)
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 24/06/2026
Will be interesting to see the wider devolutionary agenda this is said to be part of. (the comparison to Trump/Mar-a-Lago is completely gratuitous though) www.ft.com/content/f304...
ft.com
Andy Burnham looks to move part of Number 10 operations to Manchester
Plan marks radical attempt to shift power beyond Westminster
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Mark Elliott @profmarkelliott.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
That AI isn't yet "good enough" to mark students' essays ought to be beside the point. Outsourcing such tasks to AI is fundamentally incompatible with the intellectual engagement between student and professor that should be central to higher education. /1 www.cam.ac.uk/stories/ai-u...
cam.ac.uk
AI not yet good enough to mark university essays, rewarding ‘style over substance’
Top AI systems show bias towards rewarding overly complex prose styles and only match human examiners for grade bands around half the time, research finds.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 19/05/2026
Nearly time for the @ukcla.bsky.social Early Career Workshop in Constitutional Law and Theory It's always a very supportive environment and I'm looking forward to being on this year's panel. Abstracts still being accepted. Do submit if you are hesitating... ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/04/27/c...
ukconstitutionallaw.org
Call for Papers: UKCLA Early Career Workshop in Constitutional Law and Theory, University of Bristol
Bristol University’s Centre for European and Public Law (CEPL), and Liverpool University’s Public Law Unit are pleased to announce a one-day workshop for PhD candidates and early-career researchers…
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 18/05/2026
And we're really looking forward to hearing from David later today! Absolutely the right moment for this talk, from this author. (Mike isn't on here. I'll tell him you were looking for him)
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 07/05/2026
The Supreme Court in Dillon went out of its way not to confirm that EU(W) s7A is effective as a ground for disapplying primary legislation I didn't see any explicit doubting (I'll look again more carefully). But I see enough to make me think someone involved thinks this point is at least arguable
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 05/05/2026
This case also has ramifications for the clauses to be inserted into the Representation of the People Bill to give effect to Rycroft's recommendations on overseas and crypto donations Important contextual differences - but it's a good indication that Parliament needs to make its intention clear...
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David Mead @seethingmead.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
I have curated this year's @publiclaw.bsky.social Special Analysis section "The Public Order Act 1986 at Forty", with six excellent contributions which together, I/we hope, offer an insight into the rich tapestry of contemporary protest law and policing in the UK, through that historical lens.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 01/04/2026
All our American friends used to caution that you can't predict votes from oral argument... (Admittedly before judges said things like "yeah yeah what about the constitution?") But I'm seeing a lot of predictions already - like scorelines. Has something fundamental changed about predictability?
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Mikki Brock @mikkibrock.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
I don't see this said enough: the widespread use of generative AI is not only making our jobs as educators harder logistically, but also emotionally. It is genuinely sad to be suspicious of students when you have spent so much time building a pedagogy based on trust and not being a cop. It sucks.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 27/03/2026
This statement includes the finding that the behaviour described by the Democracy Volunteers observers (the only source of the allegations) did not even amount to the offence about which they were complaining, and which they told the press they had witnessed. www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater...
gmp.police.uk
Criminal investigation concludes into 'family voting' allegation at Gorton and Denton by-election
We’ve concluded our investigation into alleged ‘family voting’ at last month’s Gorton and Denton by-election, finding no evidence of any intent to influence or refrain any person from voting.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 25/03/2026
The government have promptly announced the implementation of two of the recommendations in today's Rycroft Review: 1. an annual cap on overseas donations 2. a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations In both cases, I think the government should adopt a bolder legislative strategy (a thread...)
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 24/03/2026
A challenge to the student visa brake in the 5th March changes to the Immigration Rules: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... Only involves students from 2/4 countries concerned (Sudan & Afghanistan, for now). Unlike the EDM, if successful this *can* lead to invalidation of the rule.
theguardian.com
Six students challenge Home Office visa ban on four countries
Sudanese and Afghan students with offers to study in UK say government’s ‘emergency brake’ is discriminatory
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Jon Featonby @jonfeatonby.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
This BBC article on votes on settlement changes misses some important points. Firstly, the changes do require legislation in the form of changes to the immigration rules. Secondly, a vote is more than symbolic. And the third point is probably the most important…. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Labour MPs threaten vote to show opposition to Mahmood's migration plans
Opponents are considering using parliamentary procedure to force a vote to highlight their concerns.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 20/03/2026
On the other hand, this podcast gets it right - and features not only a great discussion of the significance of all this, including as an example of wider issues, but also links to resources: www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam... 👏👏 @jonfeatonby.bsky.social and @hansardsociety.bsky.social
hansardsociety.org.uk
Who really decides Immigration Rules: Parliament or the Home Secretary? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 137
Who really controls immigration law when Ministers can rewrite key rules with minimal parliamentary scrutiny? Jonathan Featonby of the Refugee Council explains the Home Secretary’s far-reaching powers...
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 20/03/2026
A couple of quibbles with this BBC report on the prospect of a vote on changes to the Immigration Rules. 1. The changes DO require legislation. 2. A vote isn't purely symbolic. It's not much, but it's more than that. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... (detail unpacked in mini-thread...)
extract from the article, which reads "The Home Office has said these changes do not require legislation – and therefore would not need to be put to a vote - but opponents are considering using parliamentary procedure to force a non-binding vote to highlight their concerns."
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 18/03/2026
This is an important point The Immigration Rules are a striking violation of the principle that delegated legislation not be used for major policy changes And strictly speaking: changes are not even subject to typical negative procedure but their own sui generis, weaker, negative scrutiny process
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 24/02/2026
He also said we're on the brink of civil war, Reform share the MAGA world view, civil service needs dismantling, he doesn't talk to people not in his camp - and more. Interviewer's (sanewashing) reaction? He's an imp, he looks less right wing than when he was a tory, maybe even ready for power.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 24/02/2026
Chamberlain J - refuses interim relief in Rupert Lowe's application for judicial review of Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme but also - as the parliamentary privilege point is "complicated" and novel, it's not "clear that there is no serious question to be tried" so - full hearing in March
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 21/02/2026
This rather presupposes that the King sees himself as having some kind of power - which in this instance he has decided not to deploy - to obstruct Parliament when it wants to legislate... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Text from linked news story, which reads:  "Royal sources indicated on Saturday that King Charles would not stand in the way of parliament if it wanted to ensure the former prince could never ascend to the throne"
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 13/02/2026
Some quick thoughts on Ammori (apologies if I miss stuff, or misstate things) The court finds the proscription unlawful at 3 junctures here 1. The failure to apply the policy (common law) 2. The "legal basis" and 3. The "fair balance" stages of the proportionality test for human rights (HRA)
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 12/02/2026
The Representation of the People Bill has been introduced to Parliament and published: bills.parliament.uk/bills/4080
bills.parliament.uk
Representation of the People Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament
Current version of Representation of the People Bill with latest news, sponsors, and progress through Houses
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 07/02/2026
This (the Telegraph, not Andrew's riposte) is constitutional mischief making. Changes of PM do not trigger general elections, even if accompanied by a change of policy direction (even a real one, like, say, Sunak's - let alone, like in this case, one found in the imagination of an unnamed source)
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 06/02/2026
Looks like the effectiveness of electoral law may be facing a test: manchestermill.co.uk/exclusive-re... @manchestermill.bsky.social really does some extraordinary work.
manchestermill.co.uk
Exclusive: Reform UK just broke electoral law in Gorton and Denton
People across the constituency thought they were getting a letter from a concerned pensioner, they didn’t know she was working for Reform
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
On access by Palantir (and other companies) to the UK's national security infrastructure, this recent paper sets out developments in contracting out UK national security protection and raises questions about what this means for the UK's operational independence: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Public power and private hands: outsourcing in UK national security law
Published in King's Law Journal (Vol. 36, No. 3, 2025)
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 04/02/2026
I rather like the drafting of this Bill - which explains the tangle of primary and secondary legislation it is revoking as it goes along. Neatly avoids the risk of over-complication, good for the public understanding of law, good for the rule of law. Kudos to the drafters whoever they are.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 11/12/2025
Ooh - there's a rare non-parliamentary-sovereignty usage of "manner and form" in here. (Amongst other, more significant, virtues)
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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Call for papers for a workshop on Economic Aspects of the Constitution: www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_...
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 01/10/2025
"Permanently" I wonder how? (Strictly speaking it's neither in the text of Milliband's speech nor the Labour manifesto. But still) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Labour plans new law to ban fracking permanently
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says Labour will take on Reform UK over shale gas and
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 01/10/2025
File this alongside "all primary schools must offer swimming lessons"... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Every GP practice must now offer online booking
Move comes despite opposition from union, with ministers saying NHS needs to embrace digital tech.
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Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Just a reminder that from tomorrow, 30th September 2025, the process for accessing legal advice from GMIAU will be changing. To help, here is an updated guide outlining how professionals can make referrals to GMIAU under the new system. Please use and share with anyone who may need it.
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Adam Tucker @adam.publiclaw.space · 25/09/2025
Visas are a means, not an end. So this also requires policies which would give these people a reason to want/need that visa - mould an attractive working environment, ensure stability for them and their families, foster a public culture which isn't relentlessly anti-immigrant. Etc.
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