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14 October 2010 / Francis Neate , Ian Pease
Issue: 7437 / Categories: Opinion , Constitutional law
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The rule of war

It’s the “nearest we are likely to approach to a universal secular religion”, thus writes the late, great and sorely missed Tom (Lord) Bingham in his book The Rule of Law. If that’s true, how assiduously are we keeping the faith?

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, say Ian Pease &
Francis Neate

It’s the “nearest we are likely to approach to a universal secular religion”, thus writes the late, great and sorely missed Tom (Lord) Bingham in his book The Rule of Law. If that’s true, how assiduously are we keeping the faith? Ian Pease & Francis Neate debate below how the rule of law can be upheld in that most critical of decisions—that to go to war.

I-wreck the rule of law

On 20 March 2003 the UK entered one of the most controversial wars of modern times. Prior to the commencement of the second Iraq war there had been a weekend of protests with hundreds of rallies in about sixty countries. Prime Minister Tony Blair was unmoved, stating that he did not “seek unpopularity

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

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Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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