Edmund Burke and the Brexit debates

For the second week in a row, parliamentary business is dominated by the government’s ‘Brexit bill’. For many, this bill rekindles the dilemma – put so famously by Edmund Burke – of what an MP should do when their opinion differs from that of their constituents; an issue discussed here by our Director, Dr Paul Seaward… It didn’t take long for Edmund Burke to be … Continue reading Edmund Burke and the Brexit debates

Sir Edward Coke and the Bill of Rights: the royal prerogative and parliament in the seventeenth century

Last week the high court ruled on the process the government needs to follow in order to trigger article 50 and initiate Britain’s exit from the European Union. In today’s blog, Dr Robin Eagles discusses the background to the 17th century precedents the judges cited in their ruling… Last week’s judgment by the high court that Theresa May’s government was not able to use its … Continue reading Sir Edward Coke and the Bill of Rights: the royal prerogative and parliament in the seventeenth century