Double Jeopardy - UK Law and Politics Podcast Por Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC arte de portada

Double Jeopardy - UK Law and Politics

Double Jeopardy - UK Law and Politics

De: Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC
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Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain’s legal and political present and future. -What happens when law and politics collide? -How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? -What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? -And who really holds power in Britain’s legal and political system? Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays. Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, human rights and the British Constitution. Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, and a leading voice on civil liberties. Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape. Episode topics have included: -How UK politics is shaping the legal system and British politics explained – from judicial review of government decisions to the erosion of civil liberties. -The toxic confrontation between gender critical feminists and trans activists over what defines a woman in law. -The extent to which special measures intended to support vulnerable witnesses are making it harder to prosecute rape and other serious sexual offences. -Inside the most controversial legal cases – including human rights battles over immigration law, terrorism and national security, the Assisted Dying Bill and the gross miscarriage of justice in the Andrew Malkinson case. -Britain’s never ending criminal justice crisis – from overfilled prisons to policing policies that test the rule of law, threats to jury trial and the massive backlog of Crown Court cases. -Lucy Letby’s convictions, the media’s role, the Court of Appeal’s detailed rejection of her appeal and the fresh evidence which may demonstrate fundamental problems with the safety of the convictions. Episodes feature discussions with the most influential voices in law, politics, and justice, including: -Professor Kathleen Stock – leading gender critical feminist and Professor of Philosophy hounded out of her job at Sussex University discusses science, gender and the importance of free speech. -Joshua Rozenberg - Legal commentator and broadcaster reviewed major legal and political developments, including judicial independence, rule of law, and shifts in UK legal norms. -Baroness Brenda Hale – Former President of the Supreme Court discuss human rights, politicians and populist attacks on the judiciary. -Danny Shaw - Former BBC Home Affairs Correspondent explored the government’s Crime and Policing Bill, political motives behind law-and-order messaging, and public trust in the justice system. -Melanie Phillips – Times columnist and public commentator discussed the developing constitutional crisis in Israel arising from the Netenyahu government’s plans to trim the powers and role of Israel’s Supreme Court. If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you’ll enjoy Double Jeopardy. If you would like to sponsor the podcast, contact us at info@thepodcastguys.co.uk. Ciencia Política Política y Gobierno
Episodios
  • Why Did The Chinese Spying Case Really Collapse? Double Jeopardy Receives a Leaked Copy of the Defence’s Expert Report and an Exclusive Interview With Its Author, Professor Kerry Brown (who was not the source of the leak!)

    Why Did The Chinese Spying Case Really Collapse? Double Jeopardy Receives a Leaked Copy of the Defence’s Expert Report and an Exclusive Interview With Its Author, Professor Kerry Brown (who was not the source of the leak!)
    Oct 22 2025
    With the China spying case continuing to generate headlines, mystery and yet more uncertainty surrounding the true reason for the DPP’s decision to drop charges against Chris Cash and Chris Berry under the Official Secrets Act 1911, and Double Jeopardy having been sent an anonymously leaked copy of his expert witness statement, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC secure an exclusive interview with Professor Kerry Brown, the former UK diplomat, academic and China expert who was due to be a defence witness on behalf of Chris Berry had the case gone to trial. Ken and Tim discuss with Prof Brown a number of the issues he was due to cover at the trial – the recent history of UK/China relations; the networks in Britain engaged with China; the structure of decision-making in China; whether Chris Berry could conceivably have met the second most powerful man in China, Cai Qi, as the Security Services had “assessed”, in the course of his alleged spying activities; analysis of the likely security and intelligence value of the information passed between Cash, Berry and the alleged Chinese State Security agent “Alex”; and, finally, the concept of China as an “enemy” State. Bearing in mind the force, clarity and weight which was bound to be attached to Prof Brown’s defence report, Ken and Tim suggest that the timing of the service of his report and the DPP’s decision to drop the case appears to be more than a coincidence. Was service of the Brown report on 29th August 2025 the trigger for the meeting convened on 1st September (Chaired by National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and attended by 20 senior mandarins and spy chiefs as well as Doug Wilson, director-general of the attorney general’s office) where the general theme was how the UK’s relationship with China was going to be damaged by the case and where the main “action point”, according to Caroline Wheeler’s well briefed article in the Times, was for the AG’s office to relay these concerns to the DPP? The duo conclude by agreeing that unless and until the written advice given to the DPP by prosecuting counsel, Tom Little KC, as to why the case was dropped is published following a waiver of privilege by the Attorney General, the mystery surrounding this case will continue. ----------- Covering the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain’s legal and political future.  Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.  Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.  Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.  Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.  If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you’ll love Double Jeopardy.
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    49 m
  • Can Jenrick Go Any Lower? Plus Palestine Action, Chinese Spying and Burning the Koran

    Can Jenrick Go Any Lower? Plus Palestine Action, Chinese Spying and Burning the Koran
    Oct 15 2025
    In the wake of Robert Jenrick’s speech to the Conservative Party Conference likening Attorney General Lord Hermer KC to a “Mafia lawyer”, accusing him and Keir Starmer of treason in relation to the Chagos Islands agreement and calling for the sacking of “activist” Judges together with the return of political appointments to our judiciary, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC ask whether Jenrick’s disgusting, populist bile make him the Stephen Miller of UK politics. They also debate the Government’s kneejerk response to further demonstrations in support of Palestine Action in the form of Shabana Mahmood’s promise to legislate to ban protests on the basis of “cumulative disruption” to the community, despite there being ample powers under existing laws to do just that. The duo then revisit the continuing mystery of why the DPP felt he had to abandon the criminal trial of Christopher Berry and Christoper Cash on charges of spying for China under the Official Secrets Act 1911 before finishing with praise for the judgment of Mr Justice Bennathan in acquitting a Turkish man for burning a Koran outside the Turkish Consulate in Knightsbridge earlier this year in protest at the Islamisation policies of the Erdogan government. Who said freedom of speech is dead in the UK? See the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights Report on the downright lies, lazy misrepresentations and repeated distortions in media reporting of the ECHR and the case law on the issue of deportation of foreign criminals under Article 8 - https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-09/European%20Convention%20on%20Human%20Rights%20… --- Covering the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain’s legal and political future.  What happens when politics and law collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain’s legal and political system?  Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.  Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.  Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.  Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.  Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.  If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you’ll love Double Jeopardy.
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    36 m
  • ECHR Rights, Cruelty, Chinese Whispers, and the Tyranny of Tech Bros in UK Politics

    ECHR Rights, Cruelty, Chinese Whispers, and the Tyranny of Tech Bros in UK Politics
    Oct 8 2025
    After a brief explanation for the non-appearance of last week’s episode (severe back pain and hard-core painkillers) Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC review Reform’s rapidly evaporating policy agenda, Keir Starmer’s rhetorical revival and Kemi Badenoch’s predictable decision to dump the European Convention on Human Rights and repeal the Human Rights Act having taken legal advice from Lord Wolfson KC. They then revisit the mysterious – and as yet unexplained – decision by the DPP to abandon the prosecution of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry on charges of spying for China two weeks before their Old Bailey trial was due to start. Was it really because UK National Security adviser Jonathan Powell directed that China could not be characterised in open court as “an enemy” under the Official Secrets Act 1911, thereby shafting the prosecution’s case at the eleventh hour? Or was it to avoid the embarrassment of a hopelessly weak case being exposed by the defence? Finally, Ken celebrates Ed Miliband’s Conference call for Elon Musk “to get the hell out of our politics” and doubles down on his contempt for the Silicon Valley tech tyrants who seek to lecture us about free speech and cancel culture. --- Covering the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain’s legal and political future.  What happens when politics and law collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain’s legal and political system?  Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.  Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.  Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.  Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.  Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.  If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you’ll love Double Jeopardy.
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    45 m
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