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Under review

25 February 2016
Issue: 7688 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice
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Is the Wednesbury principle consigned to history? Alec Samuels reports

Is the Wednesbury principle, Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223, [1947] 2 All ER, CA, consigned to the dustbin of history? If not, what exactly does it mean today? Is the European principle of proportionality, derived from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), part of English law, and, if so, what exactly does it mean? The contemporary answers are to be found in R (Keyu) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs [2015] UKSC 69, [2015] 3 WLR 1665.

The short answer is that the action or decision of a public body may still be challenged by way of judicial review on the basis of common law irrationality and on the basis of the European principle of lack of proportionality.

The latest authoritative re-statement of the irrationality rule is to be found in the judgment of Lord Neuberger para 127, Lord Hughes and Lord Mance agreeing: “An executive decision can only be overruled by a court if (i) it was

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

A good book, a glass of chilled Albarino, and being creative for pleasure help Liz McGrath balance the rigours of complex bundles and being Head of Chambers

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Firm welcomes director in its financial services financial regulatory team

Gateley Legal—Sam Meiklejohn

Gateley Legal—Sam Meiklejohn Premium Content

Partner appointment in firm’s equity capital markets team

NEWS

Law school partners with charity to give free assistance to litigants in need

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Walkers and runners will take in some of London’s finest views at the 16th annual charity event

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