Shows
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsLIBOR, Farage’s Cure for Lawless Britain, and Palestine Action in the Dock: UK Justice Goes on TrialWhat happens when the criminal justice system gets it wrong and takes years to admit it? And what does it say about the state of UK law when protestors are labelled terrorists while populists call for military-built prisons?
From the Supreme Court’s critical judgment in the high-profile legal case against the LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) traders calling out systemic failure in the appeals process to the explosive policy platform launched by Reform UK, this episode of Double Jeopardy covers the legal and political stories reshaping public discourse. Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC...2025-07-3037 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsSuper Injunctions, Afghanistan, and UK LawIs it ever justified for the Government to secure a superinjunction in the face of a perceived risk to the life and limb of countless individuals caused by human error? A catastrophic data leak in February 2022 exposed over 18,000 Afghan applicants for resettlement in the UK to violent retribution by the Taliban and a superinjunction granted in August 2023 prevented Parliament and the public from knowing what had happened. Public law specialist, solicitor Daniel Carey has spent years litigating on behalf of Afghan allies left behind after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, confronting a bewildering and overwhelmed Government bureaucracy, flawed risk as...2025-07-2346 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsSir Brian Leveson and Criminal Justice: A Requiem For Jury Trials in England and Wales?The UK criminal justice system is facing an existential threat with court backlogs surging, trial complexity increasing, and decades of chronic underfunding pushing the system to the edge of collapse. Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by Sir Brian Leveson to discuss the findings of his landmark independent review of the criminal courts.
The discussion explores proposals to overhaul the structure of criminal trials, reduce pressure on the courts, and restore public trust touching on key issues such as:
Removing the right to elect trial by jury in certain cases
Expanding out...2025-07-1649 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsLucy Letby: Will She Waive Privilege as UK Prosecutors Widen the Net?The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is reviewing new allegations against Letby herself, alongside claims of corporate failings that could amount to corporate manslaughter. As police investigate, questions are mounting about accountability at the highest levels of the health system and beyond. As police escalate their investigation into the National Health Service (NHS) leadership, three former senior managers at the Countess of Chester Hospital have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
Focusing on one of the most high-profile legal cases in recent memory to broader political issues in Britain from the legality of Israel and US...2025-07-0942 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsBombing Iran: Self-Defence or a Lawless Attack?Has the United States & Israel broken international law by bombing Iran?
Or was it an act of Self-Defence?
Professor Marko Milanovic, a leading expert in international law joins Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC to assess the legality of the recent Israeli and US military actions against Iranian nuclear facilities.
From Article 51 of the UN Charter to the legacy of the Caroline Doctrine, the discussion dives deep into the legal justifications for self-defence, the meaning of "imminent threat," and whether international law permits pre-emptive force in the face of...2025-07-0232 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsWhen UK Law and Politics Collide: Abortion, Assisted Dying, and Bombing IranHow should members of Parliament decide matters of life and death? In the midst of passionate public debate, Parliament has begun to rewrite the legal boundaries around abortion and assisted dying, but what does that mean for the future of UK law? And has the United States broken international law by bombing Iran?
Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC explore the shifting lines of morality, medicine, legality and war in some of Britain’s most divisive debates. They examine the legal, ethical, and political fallout of recent reforms, including the decriminalisation of abortion and the...2025-06-2542 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsPolitics and Money in UK Justice: Juries, Abortion and the Double Jeopardy PostbagWhat happens when a justice system is asked to do more with less and at what cost to fairness, freedom, and the rule of law?
Crime and justice commentator Danny Shaw appears on the show to examine the political and legal fallout from the UK government’s spending review. With stretched police forces, an underfunded probation service, and mounting pressure on the courts and the prisons, how can Labour’s Manifesto commitment to “Take Back Our Streets” be fulfilled ?
Ken and Tim then turn to the bulging Double Jeopardy postbag and tackle lis...2025-06-1845 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsUK Politics and Bad Science: Investigating the Graveyard Spiral of Forensic Science in England and WalesIs Britain still a world leader in forensic science or are we sleepwalking into a criminal justice crisis?
Once considered the gold standard, the UK’s forensic science system is not working well for anyone – not for the police, not for the suppliers of services, not for the courts and, by extension, not for the public. Yet we all believe it to be a critical tool that we can rely upon to bring the guilty to justice and exonerate the innocent.
Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by two of...2025-06-1141 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDavid Gauke: Solving the UK Prison CrisisWhy does Britain lock up so many people and is there a better way?
The UK has the highest incarceration rate in Western Europe, yet reoffending remains rampant and prisons are at breaking point. What’s gone wrong in our approach to crime and punishment - and is the public ready for a smarter, more effective system?
Former Justice Secretary David Gauke, chair of the Independent Sentencing Review, joins Double Jeopardy to examine the findings and implications of the Review, a landmark report that lays bare the dysfunction of the current UK l...2025-06-0441 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsState Threats and Subversion: Keeping UK Politics CleanWhat if your political beliefs on Brexit, climate change or even gender identity were being subtly shaped by a foreign power?
From hostile state actors exploiting social media to the legal grey zone between terrorism and subversion, Jonathan Hall KC, the UK’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism and State Threat Legislation joins Double Jeopardy to unpack the expanding world of national security, free speech and democratic accountability.
Exploring whether new powers are needed or if Britain is on the brink of overreach with current political events involving Russian and Iranian interference, the proposa...2025-05-2841 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and Politics100th Episode of Double Jeopardy - Terminating the Cruelty of Victorian Era Abortion Laws: The Campaign to Decriminalise Abortion Across the UK
In three of the four nations of the UK, abortion remains a crime under legislation passed in 1861, subject to the exemptions from criminal liability in the Abortion Act 1967. Paradoxically, abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in 2019, so that it is now seen as a matter of healthcare rather than the criminal law. Recent prosecutions in England under section 58 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 have reignited debate over whether abortion belongs in the criminal courts at all – https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/13/i-hate-sitting-in-silence-now-nicola-packer-on-clearing-her-name-after-the-trauma-of-her-abortion-trial
https://doctorsforchoiceuk.com/abortionlaw#:~:text=UK%20abortion%20law%3A%20Ov...2025-05-2147 minDouble Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDebating the Rule of Law in the UK: Hermer versus WolfsonThe clash between David Wolfson KC’s “thin” interpretation of legal principle and Attorney General Richard Hermer’s “thick” is explained through the experienced legal eyes of Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC on this episode of Double Jeopardy.
They dig into the political implications of these contrasting views, the role of parliamentary sovereignty, how the UK navigates its obligations under international law, including the Chagos Island dispute and the role of the International Criminal Court, whether the Tories will commit to repeal of the Human Rights Act and leaving the ECHR and ask whether the r...2025-05-1445 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsReforming Criminal Appeals and Righting the Wrongs of UK JusticeGiven the gross miscarriages of justice exposed by the Post Office/Horizon scandal, the extraordinary delay in reversing the wrongful conviction of Andrew Malkinson due to repeated failures by the Criminal Cases Review Commission and the continuing calls for the case of Lucy Letby to be referred back to the Court of Appeal, is the criminal appeal system in need of fundamental reform? Connecting the dots between recent events, and the health of criminal justice in Britain is Professor Penney Lewis who joins Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC to explain, in accessible terms, ins...2025-05-0745 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsAuthoritarians Against Lawyers: Political Attacks on the Rule of LawAs support for populist movements grows, judicial independence and the rule of law are increasingly under attack. Lawyers around the world are becoming front-line defenders of democracy - and paying the price. Double Jeopardy hosts Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC explain the situation with expert legal commentary and legal system insights. Renowned international lawyer Robert Amsterdam joins the conversation to explore the vital - and increasingly precarious -role of legal professionals in democratic societies. Amsterdam reflects on his own extraordinary journey through high-profile legal cases, from political prosecutions to international corporate disputes. 2025-04-3039 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsWomanhood Defined: The UK Supreme Court Puts Biology and Science at the Heart of UK Discrimination and Human Rights Law and Transforms the Approach of UK Politics to Adult Human FemalesWhat does the law say about who counts as a woman - and who gets to decide? Unpacking the UK Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the definition of “woman” under the Equality Act 2010 and Gender Recognition Act is guest Karon Monaghan KC, one of the UK’s leading employment and discrimination law barristers. See here for a link to the judgment. The discussion of this high-profile legal case tackles the legal system’s treatment of trans rights, women’s rights, and single-sex spaces, revealing the tensions at the heart of UK politics, human rights and equality law...2025-04-2338 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsFake News on Asylum, The Battle to Define Human Rights Law, and Labour’s New UK PoliticsWhat happens when political leaders and media outlets misrepresent court decisions, and how does this impact judicial independence and public trust in the UK legal system?A range of high-stakes UK law and UK politics issues that have dominated headlines recently are tackled in this listener-driven postbag edition of Double Jeopardy. Hosts Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC begin with a scathing analysis of media misreporting on high-profile legal cases, including sensational headlines about immigration rulings that bear little resemblance to actual judicial decisions. Their discussion highlights the consequences of misinformation and the critical need f...2025-04-1636 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDisclosure, Artificial Intelligence, and Modernising UK Criminal Justice: Will the Fisher Report Have Any Real Impact on Collapsed Trials and the Crumbling UK Justice System?What happens when the very foundation of criminal justice - the prosecution disclosure process to the defence - fails to meet modern demands? This episode focuses on the Fisher Report, a groundbreaking review that addresses the critical issues surrounding prosecution disclosure in complex criminal trials, a key issue in the ongoing criminal justice crisis in the UK. Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by Ian Winter KC , a leading criminal silk, and the conversation explores how too many miscarriages of justice should force reform of the UK Justice System, wit...2025-04-0938 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsTwo Tier Justice, Mass Migration, and a Pound Shop Trump in the UK ParliamentIs the UK heading toward a constitutional clash over crime and justice? Exploring a wide range of pressing issues, from the government’s proposed emergency legislation to override revised sentencing guidelines, to the implications of an international summit on organised migration crime. Examining the complexities of asylum claims, the growing controversy around Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, and how media narratives are shaping public perception of the UK legal system. As expert legal commentators, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC explore the mounting tension at the heart of UK law and politics - wher...2025-04-0240 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsLucy Letby’s Victims Strike Back: Identification Evidence, Miscarriages of Justice and Legal System Insights into How UK Juries Reach their VerdictsExploring the high-profile Lucy Letby case, and the dangers of relying too heavily on identification evidence, this episode of Double Jeopardy raises critical concerns about the ban on jury research and how it hampers efforts to improve the criminal justice system through controlled academic study. As expert legal commentators, Tim Owen KC and Ken Macdonald KC unpack the importance of pre-sentence reports in sentencing decisions - highlighting how vital they are in a time of crisis within UK prisons. They also consider how public scrutiny and media pressure impact legal representation in high-stakes cases....2025-03-2632 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJudicial Independence, Human Rights Law and Political Hypocrisy: Breaking Down the 6 Page Letter from the Sentencing Council ChairIs UK criminal justice really heading towards a two-tier sentencing system? A fierce debate has erupted over the Sentencing Council’s new guidance on pre-sentence reports, which highlights the need for greater consideration of certain defendant groups, including ethnic minorities. Critics argue that this risks creating an uneven playing field, while supporters insist it’s a necessary step toward fairness in sentencing. The Justice Secretary’s reaction has only added fuel to the fire - prompting a scathing six-page rebuke from Lord Justice William Davis, the Chair of the Sentencing Council. You can find his letter ...2025-03-1927 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsAmending the Assisted Dying Bill and the Sentencing Council Under AttackShould terminally ill adults have the right to decide how and when they die? The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is discussed by Jake Richards MP and hosts Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC. They talk about the legislative process, from the intricacies of the committee stage to the broader implications of the private members' bill system. The discussion also focuses on the historical evolution of social change, counter arguments, and the critical safeguards built into the bill. Jake, who is the...2025-03-1250 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsLabour’s Criminal Justice: Performance or Reality?Is tougher legislation the answer to crime, or is it just more political posturing? The Government’s monster new Crime and Policing Bill promises to crack down on antisocial behaviour, knife crime, and retail theft. But is any of this really necessary, or is it just another example of performative lawmaking? This episode unpacks the bill’s sweeping powers, the political motivations behind it, and asks whether existing laws already cover these issues. With police resources stretched thinly, what impact will these changes have on frontline policing and publ...2025-03-0531 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsWhy Sentencing is Out of ControlWhy is UK penal policy failing so badly? This week, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by former Secretary of State for Justice David Gauke, who has just published Part 1 of his Independent Review into Sentencing. In the face of falling crime, why do we have the highest prison population in Western Europe, and why can’t we reduce our expensive addiction to incarceration? The discussion looks at how other countries have embarked on a process of prison closures, and questions why a decades long penal arms...2025-02-2632 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsImmigration, Asylum and Liberal DemocracyA high-profile immigration case takes centre stage at Prime Minister’s Questions, sparking debate over refugee law and the reality of power politics in an age of populism. In this episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC dissect Kemi Badenoch’s focus on a controversial ruling involving a Palestinian family. They go on to consider the UN Convention on Refugees, and ask whether it remains viable in a new age of mass displacement and population movement.How should governments respond to migration and asylum, when both...2025-02-1927 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsLucy Letby: The Experts Break CoverKen Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC explore the latest developments in the case of Lucy Letby, as her new barrister holds a second press conference revealing the conclusion of 14 experts that every baby died either as a result of natural causes or because of medical neglect. Do these new medical opinions ‘demolish’ the evidence of the prosecution experts, as her new barrister claims? Or, as some allege, has this new analysis taken place in a vacuum, ignoring all the circumstantial evidence presented to the jury confirming the Crown’s expert testimony that these infants were deli...2025-02-1233 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsThe Stolen Honour of Andrew MalkinsonKen Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by guest Chris Henley KC, to explore the terrible miscarriage of justice which led to Andrew Malkinson spending 17 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit. Looking at Chris’s report into the scandal, they examine the failures of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and its atrocious mishandling of crucial DNA evidence. What lay behind the CCRC’s reluctance to revisit this wrongful conviction, and why did it betray its founding mission? They also consider the danger of relying on identificat...2025-02-0538 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsSouthport, Terrorism and Whole Life TariffsKen Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC review the Southport murder trial, following Axel Rudakubana's sentencing to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 52 years for the murders of three girls in Southport in July 2024. The discussion examines the implications of recent legislative changes surrounding whole life orders for young people, the public's reaction to severe sentencing, and the challenges of defining terrorism within the legal framework. The episode concludes by considering the effectiveness of the Prevent program in identifying potential threats and the difficulties of media reporting in high-profile cas...2025-01-2930 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsListening to CriminalsIn this episode, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC examine the powerful arguments for using telephone intercept evidence in UK criminal trials. Why are the security services so opposed to a reform that would obviously give a major boost to convicting terrorists and serious criminals, and why have successive governments failed to overcome this opposition? For context, Ken and Tim look at the 2020 joint French/Dutch police operation which led to the demise of EncroChat (the so-called “WhatsApp for professional criminals”) and the many successful prosecutions that followed in the UK a...2025-01-2227 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsForeign Interference in the Age of TikTok and MuskIn this episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC engage in a thought-provoking discussion with their guest, Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation and state threats. Together, they examine the implications of Elon Musk's influence on UK politics, the challenges posed by foreign interference, and the far-reaching impact of the National Security Act. The conversation explores emerging power dynamics between tech companies and nation states, raising critical questions about potential security threats posed by companies like X, Meta and TikTok. In the light of rece...2025-01-1531 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsSpies, Royals and Elon MuskIn the latest episode of Double Jeopardy, hosts Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC discuss the implications of the recent Chinese spy case involving Yang Tengbo and Prince Andrew. Looking at the role of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, they consider the sensitive role of national security in immigration law, Britain's evolving view of business relationships with China, and MI5's safety first approach to foreign influence. Sticking with national security, they discuss the trial of the GCHQ analyst Katherine Gun, who was accused of leaking a classified document to the pre...2025-01-0837 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJudges and the Power of Life and DeathAs the House of Commons casts an historic vote on assisted dying, the debate over this deeply contentious issue isn’t going away. If anything, the vote has ignited even stronger passions on both sides, particularly about the judiciary’s role in navigating such morally charged territory, making decisions over life and death. In the latest episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen dissect this dilemma, the impact of religious beliefs on the legislative process, and the delicate balance judges must maintain when dealing with life-and-death decisions. The discussion then wi...2024-12-0433 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDefending Diversity and Defining a WomanBarristers’ Core Duty Eight currently requires members of the Bar not to discriminate unlawfully against any person. However, the Bar Standards Board now wishes to go further and create a new duty requiring barristers positively to advance equality, diversity and inclusion in their professional lives. In this episode of Double Jeopardy, hosts Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen look at the row this proposal has sparked. Joining them is Karon Monaghan KC, a barrister specialising in equality and human rights law from Matrix Chambers, who provides insight into the implications of the proposed change, arguing that it do...2024-11-0634 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsNo Money for Justice and Chris Kaba: Part 2With every aspect of our criminal justice system – the police, courts, prison system and probation service – in a state of apparently permanent crisis thanks to 15 years of systemic underfunding, there seems little hope of fundamental change any time soon. Amidst the turmoil, Danny Shaw - a prominent voice in reporting and analysing criminal justice issues for 31 years at the BBC and, more recently, as an advisor to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper - now finds himself shaping the very policies he once analysed. His unique experience, from the newsroom to influencing Labour’s criminal justice agenda, sets the stage fo...2024-10-3043 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsLaw, Psychiatry and MurderIn recent episodes of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen have focused on the massive publicity surrounding the trial of Lucy Letby, and on the barrage of criticism of the expert medical evidence used by the prosecution to prove that babies were deliberately harmed by Lucy Letby, rather than dying of natural causes in circumstances where premature babies are uniquely vulnerable to medical crisis. In this episode Ken and Tim are joined by Dr Richard Latham, an NHS consultant forensic psychiatrist and expert witness who has huge experience of complex psycho-legal issues in criminal tr...2024-10-1648 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsNaomi Campbell’s Philanthropy and Robert Jenrick’s StupidityAs political rhetoric in the UK takes an alarming turn, Robert Jenrick’s recent statements link the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to British soldiers committing unlawful killings abroad. These claims have drawn fierce criticism, with experts warning that such accusations not only distort reality but also endanger military personnel in the field.In this latest episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen take a deeper look into the risks Jenrick’s assertions pose, not just for the reputation of the UK's armed forces, but for international law and military operations. The c...2024-10-0928 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsIan Burnett on Punishment, and the Disgrace of Mohamed Al-FayedIn the latest episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined by Lord Burnett of Maldon, the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, to talk about punishment and the British addiction to prison.As one of five co-authors of a significant report on the subject (published by the Howard League in September) Lord Burnett shares his insights on the need for change in our approach to sentencing, the challenges within our overcrowded prisons, and the societal implications of the current punitive system. Together, the trio explore key questions such...2024-10-0255 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDiversity, Orwell and the Death of SatireIn this latest episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined by Akua Reindorf KC, a discrimination law expert at Cloisters Chambers, to discuss the Bar Standards Board's proposal to change a core duty of barristers from the requirement that they ‘should not unlawfully discriminate’ (which would be illegal), to a positive duty that they must ‘advance equality, diversity and inclusion in their practices’ (which is not a legal requirement). The trio explore the implications of this change, and of the challenges it presents, not least because of the contested nature of EDI ideol...2024-09-2432 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsRape Trials in Peril and the Sentencing of Huw EdwardsIn this latest episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined by Sarah Vine, Barrister At Law at Doughty Street Chambers, to discuss the sensitive and difficult issue of the way in which trials of rape and other serious sexual offences are conducted.
The trio discuss the complexities surrounding trials of sexual offences, particularly focusing on the special measures introduced to support vulnerable witnesses. They explore the implications of these measures, including Section 28 evidence and the unintended consequences that have arisen, such as lower conviction rates.
...2024-09-1837 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsRape Trials in Peril and the Sentencing of Huw EdwardsIn this latest episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined by Sarah Vine, a KC at Doughty Street Chambers, to discuss the sensitive and difficult issue of the way in which trials of rape and other serious sexual offences are conducted. The trio discuss the complexities surrounding trials of sexual offences, particularly focusing on the special measures introduced to support vulnerable witnesses. They explore the implications of these measures, including Section 28 evidence, and the unintended consequences that have arisen, such as lower conviction rates. The conversation closes with...2024-09-1839 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsTommy Robinson's Tax Returns & Grenfell DelaysIn this latest episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined by Dan Neidle, Founder of Tax Policy Associates, to explore the finances of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, the far-right street agitator and self-styled journalist who calls himself Tommy Robinson. The trio explore how Yaxley-Lennon has monetised his presence on the internet through ‘donations’ and ‘gifts’ from his followers, which are then passed through multiple off-the-shelf companies. Ken, Tim and Dan investigate the tax implications of these ‘donations’, and the potential tax liabilities that Yaxley-Lennon may face now that HMRC has reportedly opened an investigation into him. To close the ep...2024-09-1132 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsHate, Bigotry and Bleaching the InternetHidden under the cloak of online anonymity, individuals in the UK have been charged and convicted of inciting and encouraging criminal behaviour without actively getting involved themselves. Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen analyse the debate triggered in the wake of the August 2024 riots across the UK; should we and how do we regulate the internet more closely without infringing the fundamental right to freedom of expression?Ken and Tim debate the differences between the US and European approaches to regulating the internet, with a focus on Section 230 of the US Federal Commu...2024-09-0336 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsLucy Letby Part 2: The ResponseThe case of Lucy Letby is one of the most controversial cases in British legal history. As is well known, the neonatal nurse is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences for the murder of seven infants and the attempted murder of eight others. Her application for leave to appeal her convictions returned at her first trial was firmly rejected by the Court of Appeal on 2nd July 2024 as unarguable. In this episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen respond to comments and criticisms received after discussing the Lucy Letby case in the most recent episode ‘Lucy Letby...2024-08-2730 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsRiots: The Full Force of the Law?“UK riots shops boarded up as England braces for rioting. Thousands of officers on standby as police plan for up to 100 disturbances and 30 counter protests’In this episode of Double Jeopardy Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen sit down to discuss the planned riots in response to the tragic Southport incident looking at how Keir Starmer is responding, the role of the courts and the suggestion we need to use anti-terrorism laws to deal with the rioters.Ken and Tim also touch on the 2011 riots which spread from a protest abou...2024-08-0826 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsSarah Lunnon: Just Stop Protesting?After spending the best part of 15 years in party politics, Sarah Lunnon now believes that responding to the climate emergency needs a new democracy, a revolution rather than reform.In this episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined by Sarah Lunnon, former Green Party Councillor and Co-founder of Just Stop Oil, to discuss the lengthy sentences recently handed down on 5 Just Stop Oil activists for their actions in attempting to create gridlock in London and the South of England in November 2022 and the impact these sentences may have on future p...2024-08-0130 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsFiona Rutherford: Justice into the FutureThe justice system in the UK has faced many challenges over the past 14 years, most notably funding cuts and a lack of resources.In this episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined by Fiona Rutherford the Chief Executive of JUSTICE to discuss the state of the justice system in the UK. They reflect on the past 14 years, discussing what has gone right, what has gone wrong and what to expect in the future. They cover topics such as the motivations for becoming a lawyer, the c...2024-07-2437 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsStarmer’s First Move - Ending Our Addiction to Prison?Mark Fairhurst, the National Chairman of the Prison Officers Association, returns to Double Jeopardy to further discuss the prison crisis, now a focal point in the first week of the new Labour government.Guided by hosts Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen, the conversation addresses the emergency measures announced by the new Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, aimed at addressing critical prison overcrowding. Amongst discussing historical context and years of inaction, the podcast also talks about the broader systemic changes needed, including probation service, mental health support and the role of the j...2024-07-1530 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDavid Gauke: Conservative Reckoning, Labour Change?Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined by David Gauke, Former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. In 2019 he resigned, saying he could no longer serve under Boris Johnson and risk a no-deal Brexit. After expulsion from the Conservative party, he said ‘at last I have something in common with Domonic Cummings.’ It was a poignant remark. There are plenty more of these in this episode as Ken and Tim look back on the role of the ‘Gaukeward Squad’, the group of Tory rebels who voted against the government on the issue of Brexit, in shaping British politics...2024-06-2653 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJustice Under Labour?In this episode, of Double Jeopardy hosts Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the various aspects of Labour Party's manifesto which was launched on the 13th June 2024 ahead of the Election which is taking place on the 4th July 2024.This episode looks at the intricacies and implications of the proposed law and order policies. The manifesto, which is turning heads and sparking discussions nationwide, shows an ambitious plan to “take back our streets”, with substantial pledges for enhancing neighbourhood policing and clamping down hard on crime and antisocial behaviour as well as the promise to “...2024-06-1429 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsMark Fairhurst: Britain’s Prison ShameIn this episode of Double Jeopardy Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen talk to Mark Fairhurst, National Chairman of the Prison Officers Association, about the long standing and apparently never ending crisis afflicting the UK prison system.This episode presents an in-depth discussion on the overcrowding epidemic and its root causes including the tabloid driven addiction to ever longer sentences and the failure of all Governments to develop and promote community based alternatives to custody. The result is that the UK has the highest per capita rate of imprisonment in Western Europe and a disastrous r...2024-06-0549 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsAngus McCullough KC: The Undermining of Secret JusticeKen Macdonald and Tim Owen welcome back Angus McCullough KC, who has extensive experience in public and private law and who was the most experienced Special Advocate until his decision to step down in October 2023 in protest at the Government's failure to implement urgent changes to the system of secret justice (as recommended in December 2022 by the former High Court Judge Sir Duncan Ouseley).This episode is dedicated to discussing the controversy surrounding the Closed Material Procedure (CMP) introduced by the Justice and Security Act 2013. The debate this law sparked around the management of sensitive information during...2024-05-2236 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJessica Simor KC: Judicial Activism in the Age of Global WarmingKen Macdonald and Tim Owen speak to Jessica Simor KC, an acclaimed specialist in public and regulatory law, EU law, competition law and human rights law. The episode discusses the issue of whether litigation, whether before the European Court of Human Rights or domestic courts can be effective in addressing the challenge presented by climate change. They highlight two landmark cases in which Jessica Simor acted - one against the Swiss government and one against the UK government. The Swiss case saw a group of elderly Swiss women, bringing the case that they suffered personal heal...2024-05-1442 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJonathan Jones KC: Will the Rwanda Bill Work?Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen react to the passage of the ‘Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024' with Jonathan Jones KC, former Head of the Government Legal Department and Senior Consultant in Public and Constitutional Law at Linklaters.
2024-04-3032 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsNick Ephgrave - Meet the New DirectorIn his first broadcast interview, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss fraud, whistleblowers and disclosure with new Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Nick Ephgrave QPM.
2024-04-2353 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJohn Bowers KC - The Power of CorruptionKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss Boris Johnson and the degradation of the British State with author of ‘Downward Spiral’, John Bowers KC.
2024-04-1045 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsHannah Quirk - The Problem with Criminal JusticeKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the need for a Royal Commission into Criminal Justice with Editor of the Criminal Law Review, Dr Hannah Quirk
2024-03-2746 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJo Phoenix - Gender and the Ducking StoolKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss cancellation and the politics of gender with criminologist Professor Jo Phoenix.
2024-03-0746 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsPatrick Green KC - Mr Bates Beats the Post OfficeKen Macdonald and Tim Owen talk to victorious leading counsel for the post masters and mistresses, Patrick Green KC
2024-01-1941 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJonathan Jones - Stopping the Boats?Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the Safety of Rwanda Bill and a parliament in wonderland with former Head of the Government Legal Department, Sir Jonathan Jones KC.
2024-01-1240 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsI. Stephanie Boyce - Leading the Law SocietyKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss access to law and legal aid deserts with past President of the Law Society, I. Stephanie Boyce
2023-12-1937 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJonathan Hall KC - Gaza and the Right to ProtestKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss demonstrations, terror and the spectre of hate with Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Jonathan Hall KC.
2023-12-0439 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsFrances Crook - Political Power and Penal FailureKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss political reform and the disaster of Britain’s prisons with Convenor of the Commission on Political Power, Frances Crook
2023-11-2939 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsAlex Chalk KC - Speaking for the GovernmentKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss sentencing, prisons and lefty lawyers with Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, Alex Chalk KC
2023-11-1337 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsAngus McCullough KC - When Justice is SecretIn a special edition, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss secret trials and promises to Parliament with leading Special Advocate, Angus McCullough KC
2023-11-0335 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsIan Winter KC - Can the SFO Work?Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences with leading fraud Barrister, Ian Winter KC.
2023-10-2754 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsStuart Russell - AI in a World of RiskKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the threat and promise of Artificial Intelligence with world-leading Computer Scientist, Professor Stuart Russell
2023-10-1251 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsEdward Garnier KC - When Justice FailsKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss Andrew Malkinson and miscarriages of justice with former Solicitor General Lord Edward Garnier KC
2023-09-2844 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsRobert Spano - The United Kingdom v Human RightsKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the UK’s prickly relationship to the European Court of Human Rights with former President of the Court, Robert Spano
2023-09-1450 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsMelanie Phillips - Israel and the Politics of LawKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the constitutional crisis in Israel with Times columnist and public commentator Melanie Phillips
2023-08-0147 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsGavin Millar KC - Huw Edwards and the Limits of PrivacyKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss newspaper ethics, private lives and the outing of Huw Edwards with leading media barrister Gavin Millar KC
2023-07-2054 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsRichard Moorhead - Lawyers Behaving Badly?Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen debate ethics, the cab rank rule and regulating ex-Judges with Professor of Law and Professional Ethics Richard Moorhead
2023-07-1152 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDan Neidle - I’m the TaxmanKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss lawyers undermining the rule of law, the fall of Nadhim Zahawi, and the morality of paying tax with founder of Tax Policy Associates, Dan Neidle.
2023-06-2749 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsAndy Verity- Telling the Truth about LIBORKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss bankers, cover ups and a quest for justice with BBC Economics Correspondent, Andy Verity.
2023-06-1645 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsRichard Ekins - Judges and Political PowerKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss judges, power and parliamentary sovereignty with head of Policy Exchange's Judicial Power Project, Professor Richard Ekins KC (Hon)
2023-05-021h 06
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsMaya Foa - The Death Penalty, National Security and TerrorKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss spies committing crimes and how to get rid of the death penalty with Director of Reprieve, Maya Foa
2023-04-2158 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDr Bryn Harris - Free Speech, Harm and the InternetKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the Online Safety Bill and its threat to free speech on the internet with Chief Legal Counsel to the Free Speech Union, Dr Bryn Harris
2023-04-0753 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsHarvey Redgrave - The Met in MeltdownKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss Louise Casey’s incendiary report on the Metropolitan Police with crime and policing expert Harvey Redgrave
2023-03-2449 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsJoshua Rozenberg - Reporting the LawKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the decline of legal reporting, populism and small boats with leading legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg
2023-03-1349 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsKaron Monaghan KC - Sex, Lies and Women’s RightsKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the Scottish Gender Bill and its potential impact on women’s rights with leading equality and discrimination barrister Karon Monaghan KC
2023-03-0247 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsSir Nicholas Blake - Small Boats, Dog Whistles and the LawKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the refugee crisis and its legal and political implications with leading immigration and asylum lawyer and former High Court judge, Sir Nicholas Blake.
2023-02-1749 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsNick Vineall KC - Leading the BarKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss media assaults on lawyers, improving diversity at the Bar, and why lawyers shouldn’t be State investigators with new Bar Chair, Nick Vineall KC
2023-02-0246 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDavid Pannick KC - Defending The Law in ParliamentKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss lawmaking, Myra Hindley, Arsenal FC and the weakening of parliamentary scrutiny with celebrated barrister Lord David Pannick KC
2023-01-2647 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsSir Robert Buckland KC - Making Better LawKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss Dominic Raab and his Bill of Rights, reforming the office of Lord Chancellor, and why barristers were right to go on strike with former Secretary of State for Justice, Sir Robert Buckland KC
2023-01-1653 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsBad Law for the New Year, with Sir Jonathan Jones KCKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss Rishi Sunak’s post-festive legal headaches with Sir Jonathan Jones KC, former head of the Government Legal Department
2023-01-0532 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsHelena Kennedy KC - Fifty Years FightingKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss injustice, progress and the days of police impunity with legal legend Helena Kennedy KC
2022-12-2851 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsClare Montgomery KC - Getting Away With FraudKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss fraud, corruption and a failure of justice with leading barrister Clare Montgomery KC
2022-12-1250 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsAndrea Coomber KC - The Prison AddictionKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss prison, parole and a relentless punishment arms race with Andrea Coomber KC, CEO of the Howard League for Penal Reform.
2022-11-2454 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsBrenda Hale - Judicial Independence and its EnemiesKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss rights, politicians and populist attacks on the judges with Baroness Hale of Richmond, former President of the UK Supreme Court.
2022-11-1751 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsHugh Tomlinson KC - What’s in a SLAPP?Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss SLAPPs, oligarchs, press regulation and the legend that was George Carman QC with leading media lawyer Hugh Tomlinson KC.
2022-11-0852 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsHakeem Belo-Osagie - Africa Rising: Politics, Law and Sympathy For RussiaKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss Africa’s rise, and why many Africans sympathise with Russia, with Harvard academic Hakeem Belo-Osagie.
2022-10-2749 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsChaosKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the chaos in Westminster, the resignation of Suella Braverman, and the threat of further cuts to the justice system.
2022-10-2020 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDominic Grieve KC - When Governments Trash the LawKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the dangerous erosion of the rule of law under post Brexit Conservative governments with former Attorney General Dominic Grieve.
2022-10-1350 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsThe US Supreme Court - Going Rogue?Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the rightward lunge of the US Supreme Court with Lissa Muscatine, former Director of Speechwriting at the White House, Special Assistant to President Clinton and Senior Advisor to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
2022-10-0648 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsTruss on Rights and Johnson on TrialKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the collapse of the Bill of Rights legislation and the inquiry into Boris Johnson’s contempt of Parliament with Murray Hunt, Director of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law.
2022-09-2648 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsDinah Rose KC - Appointing Supreme Court Justices. Is the System Working?Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss the mysterious way Supreme Court Justices are appointed with Dinah Rose KC
2022-09-1533 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsPia Sarma, Chief Lawyer at the Times - Privacy, Press Freedom and the Rights of OligarchsKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss press freedom and the right to privacy with Pia Sarma, the Editorial Legal Director, Times newspapers.
2022-09-0550 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsEpisode 6: Jo Sidhu QC - Barristers, Strikes and the Crisis in Criminal JusticeKen Macdonald and Tim Owen talk to Jo Sidhu QC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, about barristers on strike, the position of the judiciary, and the government’s siege on criminal justice.2022-08-0842 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsEnemies of the People, Cameras in Court, and Allison BaileyKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss Liz Truss, filming criminal trials, and the Allison Bailey judgment affirming legal protection for gender-critical views.
2022-07-2922 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsEdward Fitzgerald QC - Defending Very Bad PeopleKen Macdonald and Tim Owen talk to Edward Fitzgerald QC about crime, punishment, God, redemption and the ethics of defending bad people.
2022-07-2240 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsKathleen Stock - The Importance of Being RationalKen Macdonald and Tim Owen talk to philosopher Professor Kathleen Stock about science, gender and the importance of free speech.
2022-07-1458 min
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and PoliticsA special edition on the Conservative leadership election and what it could mean for rightsKen Macdonald and Tim Owen discuss what the Conservative leadership election may mean for rights and the rule of law.
2022-07-1016 min