If we are to take the idea of constitutional order at all seriously, we are pre-committed to the rule of law.
Adam Tomkins
Jonathan Swift was clear-sighted about the benefits and costs of free speech.
An understanding of basic rights should inform our democratic process, not shut it down.
British law struggles to find the right balance between the right to speech and the right to privacy.
The emphasis on scholarship and funding has devalued the teaching of law in the UK.
No single authoritative text defines British law, but the Bard can help us to understand it.
Adam Tomkins is the John Millar Professor of Public Law at the University of Glasgow and a Contributing Editor at Law & Liberty. Previously, Adam taught at Oxford and at King's College London. His expertise lies in British and comparative constitutional law. In addition to his academic career, he has been an advisor to the UK House of Lords, an advisor to the UK Government, and from 2016-21 was an elected member of the Scottish Parliament. His current research is focused on the law and history of free speech—his new book, On the Law of Speaking Freely, will be published by Hart in 2025.