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Defence and the UK Constitution
An overview of the United Kingdom’s constitution and defense policy.
Defense and security policy lies at the heart of the British state but can appear entirely untrammeled by the constitution. In fact, when political and military leaders exercise their executive powers, the UK Parliament and the judiciary have limited oversight, let alone control, over their actions. Defence and the UK Constitution introduces key constitutional issues to a general audience and pinpoints the differences between the “legal constitution” and the “political constitution,” with reference to the lack of accountability within modern British security structures. Nigel White traces this imbalance back to the 1680 Bill of Rights and examines the evolution of war and emergency powers, placing them within the context of international law.
Advocating for a rebalancing of the efficient and democratic, as well as the legal and political, elements of the constitution, this short work aims to address the inherent “defense paradox” in the UK constitution and to indicate which constitutional changes are needed to safeguard Britain’s democratic principles and limit excessive uses of discretionary power.
Defense and security policy lies at the heart of the British state but can appear entirely untrammeled by the constitution. In fact, when political and military leaders exercise their executive powers, the UK Parliament and the judiciary have limited oversight, let alone control, over their actions. Defence and the UK Constitution introduces key constitutional issues to a general audience and pinpoints the differences between the “legal constitution” and the “political constitution,” with reference to the lack of accountability within modern British security structures. Nigel White traces this imbalance back to the 1680 Bill of Rights and examines the evolution of war and emergency powers, placing them within the context of international law.
Advocating for a rebalancing of the efficient and democratic, as well as the legal and political, elements of the constitution, this short work aims to address the inherent “defense paradox” in the UK constitution and to indicate which constitutional changes are needed to safeguard Britain’s democratic principles and limit excessive uses of discretionary power.
90 pages, Paperback
Published December 3, 2025
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February 1, 2026
Interesting read. Not sure I agree with all of its conclusions, such as the idea that the U.K. should submit its decision making on laws of aggression to the ICJ (yikes! - strategic self handicapping much), but findings on the royal prerogatives granting essentially unlimited power for the U.K. government to deploy military forces both at home and abroad without parliamentary approval are very compelling. A VERY interesting read!
Just a note - while the book says that the U.K. helped intercept drones and missiles heading for Israel in October 2024, I think the author is instead referencing the defensive coalition formed to repel the April 2024 attack by Iran against Israel.
Just a note - while the book says that the U.K. helped intercept drones and missiles heading for Israel in October 2024, I think the author is instead referencing the defensive coalition formed to repel the April 2024 attack by Iran against Israel.
Displaying 1 of 1 review