Dr Robert Craig
BCL, LLB, AKC
Expertise
Interested in UK Constitutional Law with a particular focus on royal prerogative. Also interested in the (il)legality of lockdowns, Magna Carta, ouster clauses, the post office scandal and defendant anonymity until conviction.
Current positions
Lecturer in Law
University of Bristol Law School
Contact
Press and media
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Biography
Robert Craig teaches Constitutional law, Public Law generally and Jurisprudence at Bristol University. His publications include ‘Casting Aside Clanking Medieval Chains: Prerogative, Statute and Article 50 after the EU Referendum’, [2016] 79(6) MLR, 1041-1063, in the Modern Law Review which was cited by Lord Reed in Miller at paragraph [201].
A second article was cited with approval in the case of Privacy International, again by the Supreme Court. ‘Ouster clauses, separation of powers and the intention of parliament: from Anisminic to Privacy International’ [2018] Public Law 570-584. (Dinah Rose QC in her written submissions to the Supreme Court at paragraph 129) and further cited with approval by Lord Carnwath (for the majority), [2019] UKSC 22, [39-40].
He has appeared regularly on BBC News24 and CNN, providing expert commentary on both Miller cases as they were being heard in the Supreme Court. His blog on using the Royal Prerogative to extend the Article 50 process was cited by the House of Commons Library, ‘Extending Article 50: could Brexit be delayed’, published on 9 January 2019.
His blog on Queen’s Consent was cited by Sir William Cash MP on the floor of the House of Commons. Jesse Norman MP, a current Government Minister, tweeted a blog he wrote on Royal Assent and thanked him for it saying it was ‘useful’.
He also given evidence to the Justice Select Committee in the House of Commons on the constitutional implications of the Bill proposing to exonerate the sub-postmasters in the Post Office scandal.
A second article was cited with approval in the case of Privacy International, again by the Supreme Court. ‘Ouster clauses, separation of powers and the intention of parliament: from Anisminic to Privacy International’ [2018] Public Law 570-584. (Dinah Rose QC in her written submissions to the Supreme Court at paragraph 129) and further cited with approval by Lord Carnwath (for the majority), [2019] UKSC 22, [39-40].
He has appeared regularly on BBC News24 and CNN, providing expert commentary on both Miller cases as they were being heard in the Supreme Court. His blog on using the Royal Prerogative to extend the Article 50 process was cited by the House of Commons Library, ‘Extending Article 50: could Brexit be delayed’, published on 9 January 2019.
His blog on Queen’s Consent was cited by Sir William Cash MP on the floor of the House of Commons. Jesse Norman MP, a current Government Minister, tweeted a blog he wrote on Royal Assent and thanked him for it saying it was ‘useful’.
He also given evidence to the Justice Select Committee in the House of Commons on the constitutional implications of the Bill proposing to exonerate the sub-postmasters in the Post Office scandal.
Research interests
Publications:
- ‘Of virus and vires: lockdowns, vaccine mandates and role of the courts’, [2023] 6 European Human Rights Law Review 579-607.
- ‘The Fixed-term Parliaments Act: Out, out brief candle’, in Richard Johnson and Yuan Yi Zhu (eds), Sceptical Perspectives on the Changing Constitution of the United Kingdom (Hart Publishing: 2023).
- ‘Defendant anonymity until charge, the presumption of innocence and the taxonomy of misuse of private information’, [2022] 14(2) Journal of Media Law 266-274.
- Craig & Phillipson, ‘Protecting National Security by Breaking the Law? Prerogative, Statute and the Powers of MI5’, [2022] 85(5) Modern Law Review 1274–1288.
- Craig & Phillipson, ‘Privacy, Reputation and Anonymity until Charge: ZXC goes to the Supreme Court’, [2021] 13(2), Journal of Media Law 153-185.
- ‘Open justice, free speech and privacy in the modern constitution. Khuja (formerly PNM) v Times Newspapers Limited’ [2019] 82(1) Modern Law Review 129-145.
- ‘Ouster clauses, separation of powers and the intention of parliament: from Anisminic to Privacy International’ [2018] Public Law 570-584. (cited by Dinah Rose QC in her written submissions to the Supreme Court at paragraph 129) and further cited with approval by Lord Carnwath (for the majority) in Supreme Court decision R (Privacy International) v Investigatory Powers Tribunal [2019] UKSC 22, [39-40].
- ‘Restoring confidence: Replacing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011’ [2018] 81(3) Modern Law Review 480-508.
- ‘A simple application of the frustration principle: Prerogative, Statute and Miller’, [2017] Public Law (Brexit Special Issue 2017), 25-47.
- ‘Casting Aside Clanking Medieval Chains: Prerogative, Statute and Article 50 after the EU Referendum’, [2016] 79(6) Modern Law Review, 1041-1063, cited by Lord Reed in R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union [2017] 2 WLR 583, at [201].
- ‘Black Spiders Weaving Webs: The Constitutional Implications of Executive Veto of Tribunal Determinations’ [2016] 79(1) Modern Law Review 166-182
Publications
Recent publications
27/03/2023The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Sceptical Perspectives on the Changing Constitution of the United Kingdom
Of Virus and Vires
European Human Rights Law Review
Defendant anonymity until charge, the presumption of innocence and the taxonomy of misuse of private information
Journal of Media Law
Privacy, Reputation and Anonymity until Charge: ZXC goes to the Supreme Court
Journal of Media Law
Protecting National Security by Breaking the Law? Prerogative, Statute and the Powers of MI5
Modern Law Review
Teaching
Law & State (Unit Coordinator)
MA Public Law
Constitutional Rights
Jurisprudence
