Dr Robert Craig
BCL, LLB, AKC
Expertise
Interested in UK Constitutional Law especially Royal Prerogative. Also working on nuclear regulation, the (il)legality of lockdown, Magna Carta, ouster clauses, the Post Office scandal and defendant anonymity until conviction.
Current positions
Senior 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. He recently published Royal Law: Prerogative Foundations (Hart Publishing: 2025), his first monograph.
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. See 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 News 24 and CNN, providing expert commentary on both Miller cases as they were being heard in the Supreme Court. postmasters in the Post Office scandal.
He has recently published a report for Policy Exchange on the regulation of civil nuclear power arguing for two reforms that could expedite construction of new nuclear plants.
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. See 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 News 24 and CNN, providing expert commentary on both Miller cases as they were being heard in the Supreme Court. postmasters in the Post Office scandal.
He has recently published a report for Policy Exchange on the regulation of civil nuclear power arguing for two reforms that could expedite construction of new nuclear plants.
Research interests
My primary focus is on constitutional law, in particular royal prerogative. I also have interests in:
- Legal philosophy and particularly legal positivism
- Parliamentary sovereignty
- Political constitutionalism
- The two Miller cases
- Ouster clauses
- Rule of law, human rights and judicial review
- The Post Office scandal
- Magna Carta
- Defendant anonymity until conviction
- Open justice
- Nuclear regulatory policy
- Lockdown and vaccine mandates
Publications
Selected publications
15/05/2025Royal Law:
Royal Law:
Restoring confidence
Modern Law Review
Casting Aside Clanking Medieval Chains: Prerogative, Statute and Article 50 after the EU Referendum
Modern Law Review
Recent publications
01/01/2026Local islands of law
Public Law
A taxonomy of judicial review of royal prerogative in the United Kingdom
Nurtured & Bound
Magna Carta
Leading Works in the History of the Constitution
'The Doctrine of Confidence: The Selection of Party Leaders in Westminster', in Strengthening the Political Constitution
Policy Exchange
Written evidence to Energy Security and Net Zero Committee: 'Revisiting the nuclear roadmap'
Teaching
Law & State (Unit Coordinator)
MA Public Law
Constitutional Rights
Jurisprudence
