A briefing paper which "maps" (or summarises) the main elements of the United Kingdom's uncodified constitution.

A briefing paper which "maps" (or summarises) the main elements of the United Kingdom's uncodified constitution.

A short research briefing on the principle of parliamentary sovereignty, its origins and contemporary application.

A short research briefing on the principle of parliamentary sovereignty, its origins and contemporary application.

A briefing paper focusing on policy matters which remain "reserved" to Westminster following the devolution of certain executive and legislative powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A briefing paper focusing on policy matters which remain "reserved" to Westminster following the devolution of certain executive and legislative powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Lords motion to take note of the importance of the rule of law. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the importance of the rule of law. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, it is with some trepidation that I rise to speak for the first time in this magnificent Chamber. How fortunate we are to spend so many of our working hours surrounded by such historical splendour.

I begin by thanking a great many people. First and foremost, I am eternally...

My Lords, it is with some trepidation that I rise to speak for the first time in this magnificent Chamber. How fortunate we are to spend so many of our working hours surrounded by such historical splendour.

I begin by thanking a great many people. First and foremost, I am eternally...

I too welcome the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny, to her ministerial position and congratulate her on an excellent speech.

What is the importance of the rule of law? In brief, it is a national standard of minimum rights for a free and democratic United Kingdom and an...

I too welcome the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny, to her ministerial position and congratulate her on an excellent speech.

What is the importance of the rule of law? In brief, it is a national standard of minimum rights for a free and democratic United Kingdom and an...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith, on her excellent maiden speech. I also greatly look forward to the maiden speech of the noble Baroness, Lady Laing.

The noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith, rightly identified many of the core ingredients of the rule of law. However,...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith, on her excellent maiden speech. I also greatly look forward to the maiden speech of the noble Baroness, Lady Laing.

The noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith, rightly identified many of the core ingredients of the rule of law. However,...

My Lords, I start of course by congratulating my noble and learned friend Lady Smith of Cluny on her wonderful maiden speech. I enjoyed it thoroughly, as I think the House did too. I would also like to say that I look forward very much to the maiden speech that...

My Lords, I start of course by congratulating my noble and learned friend Lady Smith of Cluny on her wonderful maiden speech. I enjoyed it thoroughly, as I think the House did too. I would also like to say that I look forward very much to the maiden speech that...

My Lords, I too congratulate the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny, on her excellent opening remarks; I wish her every success in her new role. With the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General in the other place, they make a very impressive trio of...

My Lords, I too congratulate the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny, on her excellent opening remarks; I wish her every success in her new role. With the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General in the other place, they make a very impressive trio of...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny, and the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie, on their excellent speeches. I welcome them to the House and look forward to working with them.

The rule of law is the foundation stone of democratic, open and peaceful...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny, and the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie, on their excellent speeches. I welcome them to the House and look forward to working with them.

The rule of law is the foundation stone of democratic, open and peaceful...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith, for bringing this debate forward and congratulate her on her outstanding maiden speech. I also congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie, on hers.

While I feel an utter novice in this area, especially following such informed...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith, for bringing this debate forward and congratulate her on her outstanding maiden speech. I also congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie, on hers.

While I feel an utter novice in this area, especially following such informed...

My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble and learned Baroness the Advocate-General for Scotland and to my noble friend Lady Laing on outstanding maiden speeches.

I will address something that has not been directly touched on so far, which is the importance of the role and the integrity of...

My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble and learned Baroness the Advocate-General for Scotland and to my noble friend Lady Laing on outstanding maiden speeches.

I will address something that has not been directly touched on so far, which is the importance of the role and the integrity of...

My Lords, the rule of law is a pillar of our constitution, proudly proclaimed and promoted across the world. We criticise autocracies

and dictatorships which deprive people of that due process which enables them to access their rights, yet we have problems. I was very reassured by the commitments made...

My Lords, the rule of law is a pillar of our constitution, proudly proclaimed and promoted across the world. We criticise autocracies

and dictatorships which deprive people of that due process which enables them to access their rights, yet we have problems. I was very reassured by the commitments made...

My Lords, I join the whole House in welcoming the noble and learned Baroness to her place. I seek to give the House an assurance of two things that she already knows. First, as Advocate-General for Scotland, she enjoys the support of a dedicated, professional and, in every way, excellent...

My Lords, I join the whole House in welcoming the noble and learned Baroness to her place. I seek to give the House an assurance of two things that she already knows. First, as Advocate-General for Scotland, she enjoys the support of a dedicated, professional and, in every way, excellent...

My Lords, I, like other speakers, begin by welcoming this important debate and the remarkable speeches we have heard. In addition, I congratulate the noble and learned Baroness the Advocate-General on both her appointment to her role and the splendid maiden speech she gave us.

We are talking about something that...

My Lords, I, like other speakers, begin by welcoming this important debate and the remarkable speeches we have heard. In addition, I congratulate the noble and learned Baroness the Advocate-General on both her appointment to her role and the splendid maiden speech she gave us.

We are talking about something that...

My Lords, I have been listening to some very high-level exchanges, including two extremely distinguished maiden speeches. I am one of the minority of non-lawyers participating in this debate today, so I am afraid I shall be operating at a less rarefied level. For the purposes of this debate at...

My Lords, I have been listening to some very high-level exchanges, including two extremely distinguished maiden speeches. I am one of the minority of non-lawyers participating in this debate today, so I am afraid I shall be operating at a less rarefied level. For the purposes of this debate at...

My Lords, I join noble Lords in congratulating the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny—the Advocate-General for Scotland —and the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie, on their magnificent maiden speeches. They were truly great contributions to begin their long service in your Lordships’ House. I also congratulate...

My Lords, I join noble Lords in congratulating the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny—the Advocate-General for Scotland —and the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie, on their magnificent maiden speeches. They were truly great contributions to begin their long service in your Lordships’ House. I also congratulate...

My Lords, I add my welcome to the Advocate-General and congratulate her on a powerful and moving maiden speech. Having cut my teeth as a judicial assistant to Lord Rodger of Earlsferry when he was a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary of this House, I have particular respect for Scottish...

My Lords, I add my welcome to the Advocate-General and congratulate her on a powerful and moving maiden speech. Having cut my teeth as a judicial assistant to Lord Rodger of Earlsferry when he was a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary of this House, I have particular respect for Scottish...

My Lords, I join others in welcoming the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny, and congratulate her on both initiating this important debate and her wonderful maiden speech. I also welcome and congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie, on her maiden speech. I will focus on...

My Lords, I join others in welcoming the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith of Cluny, and congratulate her on both initiating this important debate and her wonderful maiden speech. I also welcome and congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie, on her maiden speech. I will focus on...

My Lords, with your Lordships’ leave, I would like to make a short intervention in the gap. I join all other Members of the House in congratulating our two maiden speakers on their excellent speeches—first, the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie. As she told us, Elderslie was the birthplace...

My Lords, with your Lordships’ leave, I would like to make a short intervention in the gap. I join all other Members of the House in congratulating our two maiden speakers on their excellent speeches—first, the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie. As she told us, Elderslie was the birthplace...