Rajiv Shah
@rajivshah.bsky.social
Interested in law, politics, the constitution, and policy. Former special adviser in MOJ, AGO, and No 10.
@RajivShah90 at the other place
@RajivShah90 at the other place
Prince Albert refuses Assent to a Bill legalising abortion.
Goes further than Baudouin and Henri did in Belgium and Luxembourg (they didn't personally give Assent but didn't prevent enactment)
Huge assertion of royal power
Shifts things re Charles and the Assisted Dying Bill
Goes further than Baudouin and Henri did in Belgium and Luxembourg (they didn't personally give Assent but didn't prevent enactment)
Huge assertion of royal power
Shifts things re Charles and the Assisted Dying Bill
November 23, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Prince Albert refuses Assent to a Bill legalising abortion.
Goes further than Baudouin and Henri did in Belgium and Luxembourg (they didn't personally give Assent but didn't prevent enactment)
Huge assertion of royal power
Shifts things re Charles and the Assisted Dying Bill
Goes further than Baudouin and Henri did in Belgium and Luxembourg (they didn't personally give Assent but didn't prevent enactment)
Huge assertion of royal power
Shifts things re Charles and the Assisted Dying Bill
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
Simon Jenkins claims in the Guardian that it would be a 'democratic outrage' if the House of Lords were to block the Terminally Ill Adults Bill: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
That claim is constitutional nonsense, for the reasons I explain here: publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/06/20/w...
That claim is constitutional nonsense, for the reasons I explain here: publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/06/20/w...
Unelected Lords are blocking assisted dying – this is a democratic outrage | Simon Jenkins
Second chambers are a good idea, but they should not be able to overturn clear decisions reached by an elected body, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Simon Jenkins claims in the Guardian that it would be a 'democratic outrage' if the House of Lords were to block the Terminally Ill Adults Bill: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
That claim is constitutional nonsense, for the reasons I explain here: publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/06/20/w...
That claim is constitutional nonsense, for the reasons I explain here: publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/06/20/w...
The claim about slow pace is fake news
Commons Committee spent 12 hours on Clause 1 of the Bill. So far Lords has spent about 10 hours and normal rule is that Lords takes 150% of time of Commons
So one would expect Clause 1 to take circa 18 hours in Lords
Commons Committee spent 12 hours on Clause 1 of the Bill. So far Lords has spent about 10 hours and normal rule is that Lords takes 150% of time of Commons
So one would expect Clause 1 to take circa 18 hours in Lords
I welcome scrutiny from the House of Lords & respect the important job they have to do, but we must work together to ensure the Terminally Ill Adults Bill passes through Parliament in a timely fashion to giving dying people choice & dignity in their final days.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Peers trying to block assisted dying, claims MP behind bill Kim Leadbeater
Kim Leadbeater says the draft law is approaching a
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 11:22 PM
The claim about slow pace is fake news
Commons Committee spent 12 hours on Clause 1 of the Bill. So far Lords has spent about 10 hours and normal rule is that Lords takes 150% of time of Commons
So one would expect Clause 1 to take circa 18 hours in Lords
Commons Committee spent 12 hours on Clause 1 of the Bill. So far Lords has spent about 10 hours and normal rule is that Lords takes 150% of time of Commons
So one would expect Clause 1 to take circa 18 hours in Lords
Normally the Lords take 50% longer than the Commons did. This bill had 12 days in the Commons and so should get 18 days in the Lords but Falconer has only allocated 4 days, that's his problem not that of the peers wanting to scrutinise
On the second day of debate for the Assisted Dying Bill, over nearly five hours, peers debated only 21 amendments.
Meanwhile, 82 new amendments were added in the past week!
This isn’t scrutiny, it’s sabotage.
www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/2025/11/21/a...
Meanwhile, 82 new amendments were added in the past week!
This isn’t scrutiny, it’s sabotage.
www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/2025/11/21/a...
Assisted Dying Bill at risk of being talked out by House of Lords - My Death, My Decision
On the second day of debate for the Committee of the Whole House for the Terminally Ill Adults Bill, peers debated only one group, representing 21 amendments. Meanwhile, 82 new amendments were added b...
www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Normally the Lords take 50% longer than the Commons did. This bill had 12 days in the Commons and so should get 18 days in the Lords but Falconer has only allocated 4 days, that's his problem not that of the peers wanting to scrutinise
Measured and sensible suggested reform to Art 3 suggested by the Home Office
"Degrading treatment" includes being slapped in the face by a police officer. Totally unacceptable behaviour but that should not be an absolute bar to deportation
"Degrading treatment" includes being slapped in the face by a police officer. Totally unacceptable behaviour but that should not be an absolute bar to deportation
November 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Measured and sensible suggested reform to Art 3 suggested by the Home Office
"Degrading treatment" includes being slapped in the face by a police officer. Totally unacceptable behaviour but that should not be an absolute bar to deportation
"Degrading treatment" includes being slapped in the face by a police officer. Totally unacceptable behaviour but that should not be an absolute bar to deportation
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
"The majority said they felt such a deep burden."
Ahead of the examination of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by committee in the House of Lords, Rev Canon Jonathan Lloyd talks about his experience of working as a priest in Canada - where 'assisted dying' is legal.
Ahead of the examination of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by committee in the House of Lords, Rev Canon Jonathan Lloyd talks about his experience of working as a priest in Canada - where 'assisted dying' is legal.
November 13, 2025 at 2:37 PM
"The majority said they felt such a deep burden."
Ahead of the examination of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by committee in the House of Lords, Rev Canon Jonathan Lloyd talks about his experience of working as a priest in Canada - where 'assisted dying' is legal.
Ahead of the examination of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by committee in the House of Lords, Rev Canon Jonathan Lloyd talks about his experience of working as a priest in Canada - where 'assisted dying' is legal.
The Lords held a very thorough 5hr debate on the devolution implications of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill and the use of the Mental Capacity Act. Under Falconer's timetable they would have spent only 1/2hr on each.
Worth remembering when accusations of filibustering are made
Worth remembering when accusations of filibustering are made
Of course the sheer number of amendments could be used by opponents - as if regularly the case with private members bills - to run down the clock and filibuster the bill.
Opponents remain concerned about a) the overall aim of the bill, but b) its practicalities.
Opponents remain concerned about a) the overall aim of the bill, but b) its practicalities.
November 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The Lords held a very thorough 5hr debate on the devolution implications of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill and the use of the Mental Capacity Act. Under Falconer's timetable they would have spent only 1/2hr on each.
Worth remembering when accusations of filibustering are made
Worth remembering when accusations of filibustering are made
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
Obviously, all of this can be used to try and slow things down. Equally, this is a bill on a contentious and emotive topic, and given the Lords' role as revising chamber, it's also not surprising that there are a vast number of amendments.
November 13, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Obviously, all of this can be used to try and slow things down. Equally, this is a bill on a contentious and emotive topic, and given the Lords' role as revising chamber, it's also not surprising that there are a vast number of amendments.
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
Keir Starmer is so bad at politics he has started a leadership contest without actually starting the leadership contest.
November 11, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Keir Starmer is so bad at politics he has started a leadership contest without actually starting the leadership contest.
This government is not even 18 months old and we are at "Operation Save Big Dog" stage
He needs to go
He needs to go
My analysis - how did No10 radicalise this cohort of loyal, centrist, careerist Labour MPs who are now all out for regime change?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Thin majorities and chaotic strategy push Labour MPs toward regime change
Frustration with Starmer’s lack of visibility unlikely to be quelled by No 10 efforts to show up leadership challengers
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:24 PM
This government is not even 18 months old and we are at "Operation Save Big Dog" stage
He needs to go
He needs to go
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
We had a discussion a while ago as to why the (UK) government can't indefinitely prorogue Parliament.
The US is illustrating why.
The government needs Acts to raise taxes and authorise spending.
/1
The US is illustrating why.
The government needs Acts to raise taxes and authorise spending.
/1
Trump's mechanism to pay the troops during the shutdown is by far the most illegal budgetary action he's taken as POTUS, potentially setting the stage to break everything.
It's also needless because Congress would easily pass a troop pay bill if Johnson were willing to gavel in.
Long thread.
It's also needless because Congress would easily pass a troop pay bill if Johnson were willing to gavel in.
Long thread.
October 15, 2025 at 9:30 PM
We had a discussion a while ago as to why the (UK) government can't indefinitely prorogue Parliament.
The US is illustrating why.
The government needs Acts to raise taxes and authorise spending.
/1
The US is illustrating why.
The government needs Acts to raise taxes and authorise spending.
/1
It's deeply unfortunate - but telling - that defenders of the ECHR say torture when they talk about Article 3, when it is actually so much more and allows arguments about anxiety to be made
Yet to see anyone willing to defend fact a risk of slap on the face can block removal (Bouyid v Belgium)
Yet to see anyone willing to defend fact a risk of slap on the face can block removal (Bouyid v Belgium)
September 27, 2025 at 10:59 AM
It's deeply unfortunate - but telling - that defenders of the ECHR say torture when they talk about Article 3, when it is actually so much more and allows arguments about anxiety to be made
Yet to see anyone willing to defend fact a risk of slap on the face can block removal (Bouyid v Belgium)
Yet to see anyone willing to defend fact a risk of slap on the face can block removal (Bouyid v Belgium)
On BBC2 Living Next to Putin, it was reported that Poland pushes back (without processing) asylum seekers who arrived from Belarus.
Yet Donald Tusk remains a European darling. Why? (Cf the criticisms of the Tories for Rwanda)
Yet Donald Tusk remains a European darling. Why? (Cf the criticisms of the Tories for Rwanda)
September 14, 2025 at 7:33 PM
On BBC2 Living Next to Putin, it was reported that Poland pushes back (without processing) asylum seekers who arrived from Belarus.
Yet Donald Tusk remains a European darling. Why? (Cf the criticisms of the Tories for Rwanda)
Yet Donald Tusk remains a European darling. Why? (Cf the criticisms of the Tories for Rwanda)
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
I strongly encourage UK MPs and peers to look at what has happened in New Zealand since the introduction of assisted dying. Safeguards are rarely ever as strong as advocates suggest, and the “slippery slope” is a real risk
writes Simon O'Connor, former chair of the NZ parliament's health committee
writes Simon O'Connor, former chair of the NZ parliament's health committee
New Zealand shows why UK politicians must be wary about assisted dying reassurances
I strongly encourage British parliamentarians to look at what has happened in New Zealand since the introduction of assisted dying.
www.politicshome.com
September 12, 2025 at 7:54 AM
I strongly encourage UK MPs and peers to look at what has happened in New Zealand since the introduction of assisted dying. Safeguards are rarely ever as strong as advocates suggest, and the “slippery slope” is a real risk
writes Simon O'Connor, former chair of the NZ parliament's health committee
writes Simon O'Connor, former chair of the NZ parliament's health committee
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
It’s not too late: the House of Lords can still protect disabled people from this dangerous assisted dying bill | Lucy Webster
It’s not too late: the House of Lords can still protect disabled people from this dangerous assisted dying bill | Lucy Webster
MPs passed it without sufficient safeguarding. If there is any point to the upper chamber, it is to give the legislation the open debate we need, says political journalist and author Lucy Webster
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM
It’s not too late: the House of Lords can still protect disabled people from this dangerous assisted dying bill | Lucy Webster
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
Assisted dying bill is a ‘licence to kill’, Theresa May says
Assisted dying bill is a ‘licence to kill’, Theresa May says
Former prime minister makes comments as Lords debate legislation for England and Wales for first time
*
UK politics live – latest updates
The bill to legalise assisted dying is a “licence to kill” that puts vulnerable people at risk, Theresa May has said, as the legislation was debated in the House of Lords for the first time.
The former prime minister said she opposed the bill because she said people in England and Wales with disabilities, chronic illnesses or mental health conditions could feel under pressure to end their lives, and “because there is a risk that legalising assisted dying reinforces the dangerous notion that some lives are less worth living than others”. She added: “I have a friend who calls it ‘the licence to kill bill’.” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Assisted dying bill is a ‘licence to kill’, Theresa May says
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
It is “constitutionally appropriate” for the House of Lords to scrutinise the assisted dying bill “and, if so minded, vote to amend or reject it”, the Lords constitution committee says in a report issued ahead of today’s second reading debate.
rozenberg.substack.com/p/lords-free...
rozenberg.substack.com/p/lords-free...
Lords free to reject bill
Assisted dying bill lacks detail, peers say, and clause is ‘highly skeletal’
rozenberg.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:02 AM
It is “constitutionally appropriate” for the House of Lords to scrutinise the assisted dying bill “and, if so minded, vote to amend or reject it”, the Lords constitution committee says in a report issued ahead of today’s second reading debate.
rozenberg.substack.com/p/lords-free...
rozenberg.substack.com/p/lords-free...
Excellent post pointing out the criticisms of the Constitution and Delegated Powers Committee
Stephen Tierney: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – a dangerous licence for executive law-making ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/09/12/s...
Stephen Tierney: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – a dangerous licence for executive law-making
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is now in the House of Lords. After months of frantic activity in the Commons there is an opportunity for Parliament to draw breath and for the upper ho…
ukconstitutionallaw.org
September 12, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Excellent post pointing out the criticisms of the Constitution and Delegated Powers Committee
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
Stephen Tierney: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – a dangerous licence for executive law-making ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/09/12/s...
Stephen Tierney: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – a dangerous licence for executive law-making
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is now in the House of Lords. After months of frantic activity in the Commons there is an opportunity for Parliament to draw breath and for the upper ho…
ukconstitutionallaw.org
September 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Stephen Tierney: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – a dangerous licence for executive law-making ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/09/12/s...
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
There's a lot that looks sensible in the No 10 reshuffle but I can't help thinking that Starmer getting rid of aides because of dleivery issues is a bit like blaming the Ocado man because you forgot to order the chicken
September 1, 2025 at 11:34 AM
There's a lot that looks sensible in the No 10 reshuffle but I can't help thinking that Starmer getting rid of aides because of dleivery issues is a bit like blaming the Ocado man because you forgot to order the chicken
The Guardian charges Farage of Trumpism but the Trump admin is still complying with the Torture Convention: for those who are at a real risk of torture in their country of origin, Trump is sending them to South Sudan.
August 27, 2025 at 6:35 AM
The Guardian charges Farage of Trumpism but the Trump admin is still complying with the Torture Convention: for those who are at a real risk of torture in their country of origin, Trump is sending them to South Sudan.
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
I support assisted dying in principle...
But legalising it under THESE circumstances... is voting to kill thousands of poor people, who can't afford decent end-of-life care. #AssistedDyingBill
But legalising it under THESE circumstances... is voting to kill thousands of poor people, who can't afford decent end-of-life care. #AssistedDyingBill
June 20, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I support assisted dying in principle...
But legalising it under THESE circumstances... is voting to kill thousands of poor people, who can't afford decent end-of-life care. #AssistedDyingBill
But legalising it under THESE circumstances... is voting to kill thousands of poor people, who can't afford decent end-of-life care. #AssistedDyingBill
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
I didn’t support the Assisted Dying Bill at Second Reading, a decision I reached after a great deal of thought.
Since then, several reasonable safeguards have been rejected, which has only deepened my concerns about this Bill.
I’ll be voting against at Third Reading today.
Since then, several reasonable safeguards have been rejected, which has only deepened my concerns about this Bill.
I’ll be voting against at Third Reading today.
I’ll be voting against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill today.
This deeply sensitive issue demands rigorous safeguards and investment in palliative care to protect vulnerable people.
My full statement here:
This deeply sensitive issue demands rigorous safeguards and investment in palliative care to protect vulnerable people.
My full statement here:
June 20, 2025 at 9:23 AM
I didn’t support the Assisted Dying Bill at Second Reading, a decision I reached after a great deal of thought.
Since then, several reasonable safeguards have been rejected, which has only deepened my concerns about this Bill.
I’ll be voting against at Third Reading today.
Since then, several reasonable safeguards have been rejected, which has only deepened my concerns about this Bill.
I’ll be voting against at Third Reading today.
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
Allowing assisted dying while savagely cutting PIP is telling disabled people they're allowed to die with dignity but not to live with dignity
June 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Allowing assisted dying while savagely cutting PIP is telling disabled people they're allowed to die with dignity but not to live with dignity
Reposted by Rajiv Shah
Strong statement from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. “We cannot support the Terminally Ill Adults Bill as it stands”
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default...
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default...
May 13, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Strong statement from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. “We cannot support the Terminally Ill Adults Bill as it stands”
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default...
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default...