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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 4h

For folk suddenly interested in purposive and ambulatory interpretation of legislative text, it’s perhaps worth reading this excellent note from a colleague abroad. It’s complicated etc.

academic.oup.com/ojls/article...

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 7h

Parliamentary scrutiny: what is it and why does it matter?

Meg Russell and @lisajames.bsky.social outline why parliamentary scrutiny matters, the different forms that it takes and how it can be made more effective.

Read it 👇

What is parliamentary scrutiny and why does it matter?

Constitution Unit briefing by Meg Russell and Lisa James, second edition, published October 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 7h

The rule of law: what is it and why does it matter?

@lisajames.bsky.social and Jan van Zyl Smit summarise what the rule of law entails, why it matters and how it can be upheld in the UK.

Read it 👇

The rule of law: what is it and why does it matter?

Constitution Unit briefing by Lisa James and Jan van Zyl Smit, second edition, published October 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 7h

Checks and balances: what are they and why do they matter?

@lisajames.bsky.social, @alanrenwick.bsky.social and Meg Russell say why checks and balances matter in a democracy. They also set out some of the key checks and balances operating in the UK and explain how they can be protected.

Read it 👇

Checks and balances: what are they and why do they matter?

Constitution Unit briefing by Lisa James, Alan Renwick and Meg Russell, second edition, published October 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 7h

What is democratic backsliding and is the UK at risk?

Meg Russell, @alanrenwick.bsky.social and @lisajames.bsky.social explain what democratic backsliding is, how it can come about and how it can be guarded against.

Read it 👇

What is democratic backsliding and is the UK at risk?

Constitution Unit briefing by Meg Russell, Alan Renwick and Lisa James, second edition, published October 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 7h

Protecting constitutional principles: what are they and why do they matter?

Meg Russell, @alanrenwick.bsky.social and @lisajames.bsky.social explain the key constitutional principles underpinning democratic politics and how they can be safeguarded.

Read it 👇

Protecting constitutional principles: what are they and why do they matter?

Constitution Unit briefing by Meg Russell, Alan Renwick and Lisa James, second edition, published October 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 7h

NEW: How does politics work in Northern Ireland?

@lisajames.bsky.social, @conorjkelly.bsky.social and @alanrenwick.bsky.social explain Northern Ireland's politics and political structures, including power-sharing, the impact of Brexit and debates over Northern Ireland's future.

Read it 👇

How does politics work in Northern Ireland?

Constitution Unit briefing by Lisa James, Conor J. Kelly and Alan Renwick, published October 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 7h

NEW: The territorial constitution: what is it and why does it matter?

@lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social explain the relationship between the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the key tensions that can arise and debates about the Union's future.

Read it 👇

The territorial constitution: what is it and why does it matter?

Constitution Unit briefing by Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, published October 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 7h

NEW: Free and fair elections: what are they and how does the UK compare?

@alanrenwick.bsky.social and @lisajames.bsky.social outline what makes elections free and fair, assess how the UK compares and highlight ways in which UK electoral processes could be strengthened.

Read it 👇

Free and fair elections: what are they and how does the UK compare?

Constitution Unit briefing by Alan Renwick and Lisa James, published October 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 7h

It is briefings day!

We are releasing newly updated versions of our briefings, plus three new ones!

The series covers topics from the constitutional principles that underpin democracy to the role of citizens' assemblies.

Use this mega-thread to browse them.

And find out more 👇

Constitution Unit publishes new briefings on constitutional principles and the health of democracy

The Constitution Unit has today published new and updated briefings as part of its Constitutional Principles and the Health of Democracy project.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

Andrew Geddis @acgeddis.bsky.social · 7h

Unless, of course, that underlying purpose also has changed over time from "putting conditions on use of a resource you need state permission to access" to "ensuring a certain quality of public discourse in order to uphold a self-governing democracy" (or similar)?

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

Andrew Geddis @acgeddis.bsky.social · 7h

Agreed. I think the issue may be that the medium the BA 1989 was originally enacted to regulate (limited frequencies that you required a govt licence to access) is so very, very different from the interwebz that the new interpretation appears to depart from legislative purpose ...

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

Eddie Clark @dreddieclark.bsky.social · 7h

this principle is how eg the offence of using a "document" to defraud can apply to using an electronic, unprinted file or even computer code to defraud even though neither of those were in the minds of legislators - & barely existed - when the Crimes Act was passed in the 60s.

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

Eddie Clark @dreddieclark.bsky.social · 7h

I make no comment about the BSA's jurisdiction vis a vis streaming video and audio except to note that the general principle they are relying on to say "the meaning of "broadcasting" can change over time" is completely orthodox & recognised in the Legislation Act.

This is the 'ambulatory aporoach'.

S 11 of the Legislation Act: Legislation applies to circumstances as they arise.

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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 9h

#rantsandreckons on the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill to the Governance and Administration committee. 🤓

www.linkedin.com/posts/drdean...

#rantsandreckons | Dean Knight

#rantsandreckons on the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill to the Governance and Administration committee. 🤓

www.linkedin.com

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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 9h

Great speech by @philtwyford.bsky.social in the House now on the worrying changes to academic freedom in the university sector. Nails it.

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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 13h

#rantsandreckons 🐝

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

ICON•S @icon-s.bsky.social · 1d

📢The 2026 ICON•S Annual Conference Call for Submissions is out!

Join us in #Dublin from June 29 – July 1, 2026!

Read the 🧵for details ⬇️

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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 2d

#ossobuco

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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 2d

❤️

Strictly Obiter @strictlyobiter.bsky.social · 2d

Pre-ordered Hanna Wilberg's Administrative Law in Aotearoa New Zealand. Very excited to read it and really important it's been written. These years Joseph's text is venerable (complimentary) and venerable (derogatory).

www.bloomsbury.com/au/administr...

Administrative Law in Aotearoa New Zealand

This book on administrative law in Aotearoa New Zealand fills a gap with its fresh scholarly account of the law in this area, focusing on analysis of structures…

www.bloomsbury.com

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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 4d

✅

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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 5d

Good news. There are further hearings. And I’ve managed to secure 5 minutes…

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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 5d

Sigh.

selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/6/02d9e31a...

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Reposted by Dr Dean Knight

The Wellington Skellington (Spooky) @wellingtonskeleton.space · 5d

The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on the Regulatory Standards Bill, and the report has just been published. Haven't read it yet, but looks like the Government is, unsurpisingly, pressing ahead with it. #NZPOL
selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/6/02d9e31a...

Text reads:

"Regulatory Standards Bill Government Bill As reported from the Finance and Expenditure Committee Commentary Recommendation The Finance and Expenditure Committee has examined the Regulatory Standards Bill and recommends by majority that it be passed. We recommend all amendments by majority."

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Dr Dean Knight @drdeanknight.bsky.social · 5d

And my article on local govt’s purpose annexed to my submission.

openaccess.wgtn.ac.nz/articles/jou...

Rhetoric or Reality? Recasting Local Government's Purpose and Role

No description supplied

openaccess.wgtn.ac.nz

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