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NLJ this week: The private, the public & political parties

09 February 2024
Issue: 8058 / Categories: Legal News , Constitutional law
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Our current prime minister was ‘elected’ by about 160,000 Conservative Party members, yet members of the public have no right to know basic information about them

This includes how many live abroad and whether their identities were verified by the party. Should we be able to know this? How does the role of political parties sit within our constitutional rights and responsibilities?

Writing in this week’s NLJ, Dr Graham Zellick KC delves into the issue of whether political parties should be viewed as public bodies rather than private associations. They were held to be the latter by the High Court in a recent judicial review brought by Tortoise Media against the Conservative Party.

Zellick, a former Professor of Public Law at Queen Mary & Westfield College as well as a former Electoral Commissioner, writes: ‘Fordham J may have been adhering to the authorities, and his analysis and reasoning are indeed plausible, but they fly in the face of political and constitutional reality.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

Maria Karaiskos KC, recently appointed as the first female head of Church Court Chambers, discusses breaking down barriers, the lure of the courtroom, and the power of storytelling

1 Hare Court—Peter Mitchell KC & Amber Sheridan

1 Hare Court—Peter Mitchell KC & Amber Sheridan

Leading family law set strengthens ranks with high-profile additions

Thackray Williams—Jennifer Nicol

Thackray Williams—Jennifer Nicol

Firm bolsters commercial team with senior employment partner hire

NEWS
Writing in NLJ this week, Kelvin Rutledge KC of Cornerstone Barristers and Genevieve Screeche-Powell of Field Court Chambers examine the Court of Appeal’s rejection of a discrimination challenge to Tower Hamlets’ housing database
Michael Zander KC, Emeritus Professor at LSE, tracks the turbulent passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Lords in this week's issue of NLJ. Two marathon debates drew contributions from nearly 200 peers, split between support, opposition and conditional approval
Alistair Mills of Landmark Chambers reflects on the Human Rights Act 1998 a quarter-century after it came into force, in this week's issue of NLJ
In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ, Stephen Gold surveys a raft of procedural changes and quirky disputes shaping civil practice. His message is clear: civil practitioners must brace for continual tweaks, unexpected contentions and rising costs in everyday litigation
Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar 2025 and joint head of chambers at 4PB, sets out in this week's NLJ how the profession will respond to Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Bar
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