Jonathan Sumption

Weighed in the balance

We sanctify some expressions, and in the process empty them of meaning.

issue 13 February 2010

  • The Rule of Law

    Tom Bingham

    Allen Lane, pp. 213

We sanctify some expressions, and in the process empty them of meaning. ‘Democracy’, ‘freedom’ or ‘equality’ are all used in ways that beg more questions than they answer. As Orwell pointed out, those who reject the concepts have a habit of appropriating the words. And so it is with the ‘rule of law’.

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