PeatWorrier
@peatworrier.bsky.social
Prolixity from Dr Andrew Tickell. Law & Scottish politics. Senior lecturer in law at GCU Law, Jacobin scribbler, Sunday National columnist, and jaded flâneur.
I don't know if I would enjoy eating this, but it does *look* cool. www.theguardian.com/food/2025/de...
December 16, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I don't know if I would enjoy eating this, but it does *look* cool. www.theguardian.com/food/2025/de...
So Holyrood has voted to recriminalise theft. This follows legislation recriminalising assaults & threats towards retail workers, again with lower sentences than already available. Predictable, pointless, & inevitably supported by the overwhelming majority. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
New dog theft law passed by Scottish Parliament
It will include a maximum prison sentence of five years and the possibility of an unlimited fine.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 8:44 PM
So Holyrood has voted to recriminalise theft. This follows legislation recriminalising assaults & threats towards retail workers, again with lower sentences than already available. Predictable, pointless, & inevitably supported by the overwhelming majority. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
An odd Sheriff Appeal Court case, involving a chap caught speeding at 103 miles per hour, in a car with no tread on his tyres, prosecuted in Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, and handed an absolute discharge by the judge. Crown appeal against sentence allowed. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/mo4mx3...
www.scotcourts.gov.uk
December 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM
An odd Sheriff Appeal Court case, involving a chap caught speeding at 103 miles per hour, in a car with no tread on his tyres, prosecuted in Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, and handed an absolute discharge by the judge. Crown appeal against sentence allowed. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/mo4mx3...
Dispiriting, if that's the phase, to see Holyrood's Equalities Committee voting down amendments which would give children the legal right to withdraw from religious observance - mobilising amongst other arguments, claims that it'd cost too much(!) Kids have Article 9 rights too.
December 16, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Dispiriting, if that's the phase, to see Holyrood's Equalities Committee voting down amendments which would give children the legal right to withdraw from religious observance - mobilising amongst other arguments, claims that it'd cost too much(!) Kids have Article 9 rights too.
Reposted by PeatWorrier
Good to see Mr Trump citing Liz Truss as an authority in his silly lawsuit against the BBC.
December 16, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Good to see Mr Trump citing Liz Truss as an authority in his silly lawsuit against the BBC.
Auditor General finds 'unacceptable governance' at Historic Environment Scotland audit.scot/news/unaccep...
Unacceptable governance at Historic Environment Scotland | Audit Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) must put strong controls in place to prevent fraud and ensure value for money after unacceptable weaknesses were found in
audit.scot
December 16, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Auditor General finds 'unacceptable governance' at Historic Environment Scotland audit.scot/news/unaccep...
Susanne Tanner KC publishes her review of the Crown’s Approach to Sexual Offences in Scotland, making 197 recommendations. www.copfs.gov.uk/media/0uulow...
www.copfs.gov.uk
December 15, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Susanne Tanner KC publishes her review of the Crown’s Approach to Sexual Offences in Scotland, making 197 recommendations. www.copfs.gov.uk/media/0uulow...
Reposted by PeatWorrier
New Scottish Parliament poll, Ipsos 27 Nov - 3 Dec (vs 12-18 Jun):
List:
SNP ~ 28% (+2)
Lab ~ 18% (-4)
RUK ~ 17% (+1)
Grn ~ 17% (+2)
Con ~ 12% (+2)
LD ~ 7% (-1)
Constituency:
SNP ~ 35% (+1)
RUK ~ 18% (+4)
Lab ~ 16% (-7)
Con ~ 11% (+1)
Grn ~ 9% (nc)
LD ~ 9% (nc)
List:
SNP ~ 28% (+2)
Lab ~ 18% (-4)
RUK ~ 17% (+1)
Grn ~ 17% (+2)
Con ~ 12% (+2)
LD ~ 7% (-1)
Constituency:
SNP ~ 35% (+1)
RUK ~ 18% (+4)
Lab ~ 16% (-7)
Con ~ 11% (+1)
Grn ~ 9% (nc)
LD ~ 9% (nc)
December 10, 2025 at 12:13 PM
New Scottish Parliament poll, Ipsos 27 Nov - 3 Dec (vs 12-18 Jun):
List:
SNP ~ 28% (+2)
Lab ~ 18% (-4)
RUK ~ 17% (+1)
Grn ~ 17% (+2)
Con ~ 12% (+2)
LD ~ 7% (-1)
Constituency:
SNP ~ 35% (+1)
RUK ~ 18% (+4)
Lab ~ 16% (-7)
Con ~ 11% (+1)
Grn ~ 9% (nc)
LD ~ 9% (nc)
List:
SNP ~ 28% (+2)
Lab ~ 18% (-4)
RUK ~ 17% (+1)
Grn ~ 17% (+2)
Con ~ 12% (+2)
LD ~ 7% (-1)
Constituency:
SNP ~ 35% (+1)
RUK ~ 18% (+4)
Lab ~ 16% (-7)
Con ~ 11% (+1)
Grn ~ 9% (nc)
LD ~ 9% (nc)
[insert joke about the breathtakingly indefensible here] www.gov.uk/government/n...
December 10, 2025 at 6:34 PM
[insert joke about the breathtakingly indefensible here] www.gov.uk/government/n...
⚖️ In X v Lord Advocate, the Supreme Court considers whether the Crown is vicariously liable for civil wrongs allegedly committed by a member of the judiciary, in respect of allegations a sheriff harassed a legal professional. The short answer is: no. www.supremecourt.uk/cases/judgme...
X (Appellant) v The Lord Advocate (Respondent) - UK Supreme Court
www.supremecourt.uk
December 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
⚖️ In X v Lord Advocate, the Supreme Court considers whether the Crown is vicariously liable for civil wrongs allegedly committed by a member of the judiciary, in respect of allegations a sheriff harassed a legal professional. The short answer is: no. www.supremecourt.uk/cases/judgme...
Join our gilded dystopia. There's no butter. www.ft.com/content/bb78...
‘Hair salons and saunas’: Perks are the new frontier in the battle for top lawyers
The world’s biggest law firms are raising the bar on staff benefits
www.ft.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Join our gilded dystopia. There's no butter. www.ft.com/content/bb78...
Glasgow City Council win Court of Session appeal against judicial review finding they were in breach of their obligations under the Housing Act www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/d0hfxi...
www.scotcourts.gov.uk
December 4, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Glasgow City Council win Court of Session appeal against judicial review finding they were in breach of their obligations under the Housing Act www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/d0hfxi...
Interestingly if enacted these reforms will invert the historic position that trial by jury was more restricted in Scotland than in England. The maximum sentence available for judge-only cases in Scotland is currently 12 months. Anything more needs a jury. www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
David Lammy expected to water down plans to scrap most jury trials
Justice secretary suggests he will stick to Leveson’s recommended three-year sentence threshold in England and Wales, after ‘cabinet feedback’
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Interestingly if enacted these reforms will invert the historic position that trial by jury was more restricted in Scotland than in England. The maximum sentence available for judge-only cases in Scotland is currently 12 months. Anything more needs a jury. www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Random legal terminology query of the day. Would you pronounce "timeously" as "tim-ee-usly" or "time-ously," rhyming with mouse or house? Discuss.
December 2, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Random legal terminology query of the day. Would you pronounce "timeously" as "tim-ee-usly" or "time-ously," rhyming with mouse or house? Discuss.
"Because Anas Sarwar asked us to." This weekend's column on some of the political implications of Rachel Reeves' UK budget last week.
www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
Andrew Tickell: Rachel Reeves has left Anas Sarwar in even more trouble
IN the Budget last week, Rachel Reeves announced “£820 million to the Scottish Government over the spending period” and suggested that she’d…
www.thenational.scot
December 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM
"Because Anas Sarwar asked us to." This weekend's column on some of the political implications of Rachel Reeves' UK budget last week.
www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
Last week the Supreme Court found Northern Irish rules on religious observance in schools violated Article 9 of the ECHR. Through caution, negligence & sheer legal incuriosity, Jenny Gilruth is sleepwalking the Scottish Government into the same position. www.thenational.scot/comment/2564...
Andrew Tickell: Sleepwalking into a bill that robs children of right to disbelieve
The court calls her “JR87”. She’s now 11 years old, from a small community in Northern Ireland, and last week, she secured one of the most…
www.thenational.scot
November 25, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Last week the Supreme Court found Northern Irish rules on religious observance in schools violated Article 9 of the ECHR. Through caution, negligence & sheer legal incuriosity, Jenny Gilruth is sleepwalking the Scottish Government into the same position. www.thenational.scot/comment/2564...
In the Sheriff Appeal Court, an Edinburgh man's case against Natwest claiming £35,000 in damages for breaches of the Equality Act as a result of his "phobia of Pride-related paraphernalia" has been dismissed. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/ygvbue...
www.scotcourts.gov.uk
November 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
In the Sheriff Appeal Court, an Edinburgh man's case against Natwest claiming £35,000 in damages for breaches of the Equality Act as a result of his "phobia of Pride-related paraphernalia" has been dismissed. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/ygvbue...
It is a truth almost universally unacknowledged in our politics that politicians will simultaneously (a) complain about the cost of public inquiries and (b) demand several new ones should be created immediately. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2564541...
Kate Forbes to be quizzed by MSPs as costs of public inquiries spiral to £250 million
Kate Forbes is to be quizzed by MSPs as the cost of public inquiries in Scotland has spiralled by almost £30 million in nine month rising to a…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
It is a truth almost universally unacknowledged in our politics that politicians will simultaneously (a) complain about the cost of public inquiries and (b) demand several new ones should be created immediately. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2564541...
My first time back in the Netherlands since I studied international law in Utrecht back in 2006/07. Moderately drookit out in Amsterdam today, but all the better context to find a bruin café and wee plate of bitterballen.
November 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
My first time back in the Netherlands since I studied international law in Utrecht back in 2006/07. Moderately drookit out in Amsterdam today, but all the better context to find a bruin café and wee plate of bitterballen.
"In Scotland, unless and until the Scottish Parliament provides to the contrary, or further refines section 92, a trial of a natural person in solemn proceedings requires the presence of the accused..." www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/c4rnj4...
www.scotcourts.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 4:58 PM
"In Scotland, unless and until the Scottish Parliament provides to the contrary, or further refines section 92, a trial of a natural person in solemn proceedings requires the presence of the accused..." www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/c4rnj4...
⚖️ Important decision by the UK Supreme Court this morning, mandating a more "nuanced" approach to decision-making on admissibility of evidence in sexual offence cases. www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKS...
Daly v His Majesty's Advocate & Anor (Scotland) [2025] UKSC 38 (12 November 2025)
www.bailii.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
⚖️ Important decision by the UK Supreme Court this morning, mandating a more "nuanced" approach to decision-making on admissibility of evidence in sexual offence cases. www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKS...
How can Scotland have a "soft touch" approach to crime, and the biggest prison population in history, hitting just under 8,400 last month? This weekend's Herald on Sunday / Sunday National column on Anas Sarwar's pitch for the "tough on crime" vote. www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
www.thenational.scot
November 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
How can Scotland have a "soft touch" approach to crime, and the biggest prison population in history, hitting just under 8,400 last month? This weekend's Herald on Sunday / Sunday National column on Anas Sarwar's pitch for the "tough on crime" vote. www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
🍂 As the nights are now officially "fair drawing in," it feels like it is time to whip up the first dauphinoise potatoes and spiced red cabbage of the season (although probably not at the same time...)
November 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM
🍂 As the nights are now officially "fair drawing in," it feels like it is time to whip up the first dauphinoise potatoes and spiced red cabbage of the season (although probably not at the same time...)
Britain’s tarnished royal house has only done what became necessary and expedient after multiple attempts to temporise their way out of it, with the minimum possible concessions.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
Andrew Tickell: The real reason behind the stripping of former prince’s titles
The phrase 'these censures are deemed necessary' gives the game away. Notice the emphasis on necessity
www.thenational.scot
November 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Britain’s tarnished royal house has only done what became necessary and expedient after multiple attempts to temporise their way out of it, with the minimum possible concessions.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
⚖️ Having received royal assent today, the Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 is now finally law. Most provisions will only come into force when ministers make commencement orders - including the new complainer anonymity rules.
www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2025/12/...
www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2025/12/...
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025
www.legislation.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
⚖️ Having received royal assent today, the Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 is now finally law. Most provisions will only come into force when ministers make commencement orders - including the new complainer anonymity rules.
www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2025/12/...
www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2025/12/...