Graeme Cowie

This Insight looks at how Covid-19 public health restrictions are put in place by the Government, and Parliament’s role in scrutinising those decisions.

MPs will debate three petitions on Monday 5 October 2020 in Westminster Hall at 6pm. The first two call for a public inquiry to take place into the 2016 referendum on EU membership. One of these calls for Brexit to be deferred in the meantime. The third petition calls for the post-Brexit transition period to be deferred to allow more time for the UK-EU future relationship negotiations.

This Insight explains what the current law of prorogation is, why some experts think it should be reformed, and what some of the options for reform might be.

The UK Supreme Court held that Parliament had been unlawfully prorogued in September 2019. This paper explains the judgment, and the background to it. It also considers the implications of the judgment for future exercises of the prerogative power, and the policy debate on reforming this area of UK constitutional law.

This briefing paper sets out the background to the UK Internal Market Bill. The Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 9 September. It has concluded its Commons stages and is under consideration in the House of Lords.

A briefing paper explaining the Inquiries Act 2005, issues arising from the holding of statutory public inquiries, and notes on statutory inquiries that are currently open.

This Commons Library Briefing Paper discusses business closure and re-opening across the UK. It considered which businesses were required to close under the four lockdown regulations and how each of the four nations are lifting these regulations. As well as looking at which businesses can re-open it outlines the steps that they must take to do so safely.

This Insight explores a consultation concerning the circumstances in which UK courts and tribunals might depart from retained EU case law.

A motion on "The EU's Mandate for Negotiating a New Partnership with the UK" has been scheduled for debate on Thursday 4 June 2020 in the Main Chamber.

This paper provides an overview of the constitutional status and functions of the law officers of the United Kingdom. This includes the law officers of the UK Government and those that advise the three devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This briefing paper sets out the background to the Trade Bill 2019-21. This Bill has its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 20 May 2020.

A briefing paper on the Sewel Convention

The coronavirus has had an impact on negotiations between the UK Government and the EU. This Insight examines the legal and procedural hurdles to any extension of the post-Brexit transition period.