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.
 

Nigel D. White is professor of public international law and deputy head of school, faculty of social sciences, University of Nottingham. His expertise lies in the fields of United Nations law, peacekeeping law, sanctions, arms control law, the regulation of private security contractors, war powers, and military justice. He has written extensively on these topics in leading academic journals. His publications include Democracy Goes to War and The Law of International Organisations.