Dr Rob Palmer Profile picture
Law lecturer. Constitutional & political theory. Int. environmental law & HRs. Brexit broke the UK. Ecologist. Archery. Martial arts. Neurodivergent.
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Mar 17, 2023 20 tweets 4 min read
@LizWebsterLD is drawing attention the UK's potential assession to the Indo-Pacific trade bloc: the CPTPP 👇

The UK is vying to become the 1st European member.

This thread highlights the criticisms of the CPTPP, which no one in the UK has voted to join.

1. Overall, the CPTPP has been a subject of significant debate and controversy, with both supporters and critics arguing about its potential benefits and drawbacks. The question is will the UK be required to put it to parliament?

2.
Jul 29, 2022 16 tweets 4 min read
Close, Victoria? Think we've already fallen. Brexit enabled the neo-Tories to tear up the Charter of Fundamental Rights including workers rights. They're now diluting our commitment to the ECHR.

That's not the end of it... let me explain what I mean & how fascism is here:

1. The CFR contains a chapter (Solidarity) that protected workers rights. This included the 'right of collective bargaining and action' & 'fair and just working conditions' (among others) with an underlying 'freedom to choose an occupation and right to engage in work'...

2.
Jul 14, 2022 8 tweets 2 min read
Exclusive: Health minister, Maria Caulfield, misled Parliament over ambulance crisis yesterday

Boris Johnson's culture of misleading parliament is still rife as he remains in No. 10. He must go now or the rot won't stop.

Thread 1/

hsj.co.uk/quality-and-pe… 1. Caulfield stated “we have procured a contract” for surge support for ambulance services. The reality is that no such contract has been secured.

There's also doubt about 2 other points Caulfield made in a debate about the current high pressure on ambulance services.

2/
Jan 29, 2022 6 tweets 2 min read
Been saying this for a while. It's an illusion. The sub judice rule doesn't apply. There are no charges and no chance for a jury to be prejudiced. Using the word 'prejudice' has created a pretence to avoid scrutiny.

Small 🧵 Never before has this type of report prejudiced a police investigation. There's no legal rule to prevent a factual report being published about matters under investigation by the police either.

2.
Oct 18, 2021 9 tweets 2 min read
The constitutional crisis created by the Ref2016 has not gone away - it's getting worse.

With Raab now serving as Dept. PM, Sec. of State for Justice & Lord Chancellor it's not just democracy & the rule of law that is under threat.

Things are getting scary....

[Thread] 1/ For a liberal democratic govt to function properly, it's essential to have separation of powers so that the power is distributed to separate branches within the govt. This is one of the most basic concepts underlying the majority of modern democracies.

2/
Jun 30, 2020 17 tweets 6 min read
We need to put this 👇 #FakeNews about kids being less likely to catch or spread COVID-19 to bed.

@thecarolemalone stated it with confidence on #JeremyVine today

BUT:

Last week schools made up nearly 20% of outbreaks: schools are now 2nd after carehomes

Thread 1/ This graph shows the increase in outbreaks in schools. A PHE Report (24/06) shows schools now rank above hospitals for infections. The reopening of schools is a contributing factor to an overall increase in detections outside hospitals, as outbreaks start to rise again

2/
May 26, 2020 14 tweets 4 min read
Let's take a forensic look at #DominicCummnings conduct during lockdown. S.3 of the Ministerial Code deals with appointments of special advisers and refers to the 'Code of Conduct for Special Advisers', which states they 'must not take public part in political controversy'. 1/14 Paragraph 14 (SAs Code) is unambiguous: 'Special advisers must not take public part in political controversy, through any form of statement whether in speeches or letters to the press, or in books, social media, articles or leaflets'. They must avoid personal attacks. 2/14
Oct 23, 2019 14 tweets 4 min read
A reminder of the mendacious info supplied by the Leave campaign that persuaded millions of ppl to vote against their interests

'Benefit from better care owing to reallocated funds from the EU budget!' Yes, the big red bus!!

Just 1 of the lies in this propaganda video:

1/ Lie No. 2: Controlled immigration will result in reduced waiting times 'for you and your loved ones'....

Anyone remind them that more immigration comes from outside the EU? 😂🤣

2/
Sep 17, 2019 18 tweets 3 min read
Ahead of Cherry and Miller (No 2) in the UKSC, I should comment on the argument of whether the crucial matters are judiciable or not. IMO they are but that needs a little explaining. This thread says why I think that it's a matter for the courts to decide.

1/18 The pivotal issue is whether the advice given to the Queen by the govt concerning the prorogation of Parliament (for 5 weeks) is lawful. Prorogation needs to be split into 2: the prorogation itself (a prerogative power) & the ancillary advice tendered to the Queen.

2/18
Sep 12, 2019 6 tweets 2 min read
We already knew it but former UKSC judge, Lord Sumption has confirmed we're in a constitutional crisis: The govt is using prerogative powers w/out a majority in the commons. Ministers can't use such powers w/out a majority. It's a 'serious situation'.

1/6
channel4.com/news/lord-sump… ‘The FACT is that our entire system depends on Ministers being responsible to Parliament & NOT directly to the people’. If Ministers exercise Crown powers w/out being responsible to Parliament ‘they are effectively responsible to nobody’ (Lord Sumption)

2/6
Aug 17, 2019 10 tweets 3 min read
Many academics are relying on an assessment of the normal rules of the constitution but we're facing a novel situation where solutions that 1st seem absurd can turn out to be the prefered route as the constitutional crisis unfolds. We're not dealing with black letter law.

1/10 There's a conflict between 2 differing concepts of democracy. The Westminster concept draws on Parliament’s democratic competence, the Parliamentary sovereignty & the convention that a govt holds power only to the extent that it has the confidence of the HoC.

2/10
Aug 8, 2019 14 tweets 4 min read
The Art 7 TEU procedure was designed to deter member states from advancing policies that threaten democratic institutions.

As we are witnessing a 'rule of law rot' spreading across the EU, it's time the EC Legal Service stopped this inherent threat among MS's govts.

1/14 The EP decided to trigger art 7 TEU procedures against Poland (Dec 17) & Hungary (Sept 18) for persistent breaches of the EU’s founding values; in particular, in relation to the rule-of-law situation in those countries. We have the same concerns being raised in the UK.

2/14
Jul 20, 2019 6 tweets 1 min read
The uncomfortable truth is fascism has come to these isles. For a country that has traditionally been more receptive to ideas of racial equality, it's devastating that Parliament has abandoned progressive, inclusive politics & is about to become an illiberal democracy. 1/6 Parliament is mainstreaming 'colour-blind' forms of racism in a bid to denigrate outsiders & create the climate for nativism (our own ppl first). This has been made possible by fascist tendencies infiltrating Westminster via extreme-right electoral parties. 2/6
May 30, 2019 7 tweets 3 min read
Dear @RoryStewartUK

Your leadership challenge must scrutinised; especially in light of this 👇 'ridiculous' comment.

It is clear that you put party b4 country and have no respect or understanding of the Rule of Law.

1/ thread

#RevokeRemainRebuild @brexit_sham @BylineTimes This private prosecution landed in Westminster Magistrates Court long b4 any prospect of a Tory leadership race - it still hasn't officially begun, so it's impossible to just 'get this done'. Is disingenuity a precursor to your challenge?

2/
Apr 15, 2019 12 tweets 3 min read
Conspiracy theory? Conspiracy is no more than a group of people working together towards a common goal.

With widespread concerns of the right's intention to takeover democracy running amok, we need to look at the Orwellian control the govt has over the BBC.

#RevokeA50Now 1/ This is not an attack on the BBC but an insight to how the placement of certain pro-govt individuals has turned its news & political depts into little more than an instrument for govt propaganda controlling what information is available to the public and how it is presented. 2/
Mar 9, 2019 6 tweets 3 min read
Please consider this observation @theresa_may

You've been willfully unyielding about implementing a Brexit that was never advertised during the ref campaign.

Brexiteers have thrived on schadenfreude of remain side's deeply felt loss.

WE DONT WANT IT DONE.

#RevokeA50 #TIG Millions will never accept Leaving the European Family on the basis of a mandate procured by corrupt and illegal practices.

You're just going to have to accept that by implementing Brexit you'll have to squarely confront the blame for dividing and destroying a great country.
Mar 4, 2019 7 tweets 2 min read
I went to my GP & realised that there is an obvious divide between the British people... and...

... it has sod all to do with Brexit.

I'm going to tell you this story below:

1

#RevokeA50 #TIG After checking in on the system I walked into the full waiting room following the couple in front of me 10 feet behind.

The couple went to sit where there were 4 spare seats in a row. A 'lady' saw them walking to the seats. She clearly didn't want them there to sit there.

2.
Feb 20, 2019 5 tweets 2 min read
The PM is in court TOMORROW

So it's the eve of the @UKEUchallenge showdown with @theresa_may in the Appellate courts in the morning.

Fantastic news it's being live-streamed.

This thread 👇 & the articles below will help you prepare for what be happening

#REVOKEArticle50NOW brexitshambles.com/dr-robert-c-pa…
Feb 6, 2019 5 tweets 2 min read
LEAVE LIES keep returning to keep the Brexit fantasy alive amongst Britons that are too busy or lazy to fact-check what Brexiteers & MPs say in public & the media.

A lie that won't die is using Art24 GATT in the event of no deal.

As things stand its rubbish

#peoplesvote 1/5 The dangerous fallacy that the UK can leave the EU on 29/3 with no deal & carry on trading as normal for up to 10 years must be ķilled off...

...by us.

It is the foundations of Pro-Brexit protagonist's claims that it is safe for the UK to crash out on WTO tariffs.

2/5
Jan 11, 2019 19 tweets 4 min read
Here's the effects of the UNLAWFUL OVERSPEND by Vote Leave. It's based on what's known about VL's campaign methods & their effectiveness.

The EC found in July that both VL & BeLeave breached spending limits, beyond reasonable doubt.

#RevokeArticle50 #PeoplesVote
1. Vote Leave: The EC concluded that Mr Halsall & VL committed offences under s. 118(2)(c) PPERA 2000. Halsall incurred spending of £449,079.34 which he knew or ought reasonably to have known was in excess of the statutory spending limit for VL.

2.
Jan 11, 2019 10 tweets 3 min read
Dominic Cummings relied heavily 'conversion rates' to shake-up the establisment & hijack our democracy.

Here's a breakdown of how he used them to manipulate a significant percentage of the British public to win the 2016 ref.

#PeoplesVote #RevokeArticle50

1. The 'conversion rate' (CR) is the proportion of the online audience that clicks on an online ad. It is commonly accepted that CRs are approx. 10% of the ppl who see a political ad. The idea is to get ppl to the 'landing page' (the site to which that ads are directed).

2.