John Jackson chairs the law firm Mishcon de Reya, is a director of openDemocracy and History Today and is on the committee of Unlock Democracy.

Recent articles

The environmental transformations the world is experiencing are more complicated - and in some respects may be more beneficial - than is often understood, says John Jackson.

The historic principles of Britain's constitution are unravelling and now the judges are rolling up their gowns. John Jackson, who himself challenged the Parliament Act of 1949 and took it to the law lords, dissects the issues and suggests that it is time for the people to get a grip on what is happening in their name.

Lord Bingham's evolution in thinking on the relationship between parliament and the rule of law has significant implications for our constitution.

The story of a British proposal to make local communities more sustainable may have lessons for the rest of Europe, says John Jackson.

What are the proper boundaries between law and politics in a democratic society, especially in time of war or national emergency? Who champions the rule of law? And where does law enforcement fit in? These questions are frequently posed in modern Britain amid fears about the power and accountability of the state, and against the background of war in Iraq and the "war on terror". But they are not new. John Jackson excavates a little-known case from 1917 - a tragedy of political might dominating justice – to illustrate a dilemma that exposes the very foundations of democracy.