The rule of law in the UK faces significant pressure in 2025, with family court delays, weakened institutional oversight, and growing debate over legal frameworks. This blog summarises five major reports that offer insight and propose reforms.
One of the clearest signals of pressure on the rule of law in the UK is the growing difficulty accessing timely justice. A 2025 found that public law cases in family courts – where local authorities seek to protect children – are taking up to two years. This is nearly four times the statutory 26-week target.
The key reasons behind the delays include:
Cuts to legal aid
A rise in unrepresented litigants
Shortages of judges and social workers
The consequences are severe: children at risk, families without clear outcomes, and an overloaded justice system struggling to meet its legal obligations.
The campaign backs this up, highlighting public confusion about how to access justice and growing concern about fairness and transparency in legal processes.
A has raised serious concerns about whether ministers are properly upholding their legal obligations. The report warns that government legal officers must prioritise legality over political expediency and serve as stewards of the rule of law.
The committee recommends:
Strengthening legal guidance at the ministerial level
Protecting the judiciary from unfair criticism
Clarifying the constitutional responsibilities of law officers
This aligns with a broader call for institutional accountability across government departments and a renewed emphasis on constitutional balance.
In the , the Attorney General set out a roadmap for reinforcing the rule of law in the UK. His remarks highlighted Parliament’s responsibility to protect legal norms, not just rely on the courts.
Key proposals included:
Enhancing legal education in civic society
Reinforcing Parliament’s constitutional guardianship role
Rebuilding international leadership on rule of law standards
Read a full summary from the .
A 2024 report by argues that the UK’s current human rights framework, particularly the Human Rights Act 1998, has in some cases obstructed the will of Parliament. For example, legal challenges have complicated efforts to remove individuals under immigration enforcement.
The authors call for:
Clarifying the limits of judicial review
Reasserting parliamentary sovereignty in domestic law
Reforming how courts interpret human rights obligations
At the same time, an academic paper from the questions the assumption that parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law are distinct and autonomous. It argues that treating them separately has led to inconsistencies in legal reasoning and interpretation.
One of the most comprehensive reviews comes from JUSTICE. Its 2024 report, , outlines systemic pressures and offers a practical reform agenda.
JUSTICE’s key recommendations include:
Restoring early access to legal aid
Protecting judicial review from legislative restriction
Safeguarding checks and balances across institutions
Promoting legal literacy and public trust in the system
The report warns that without targeted reform, the UK risks normalising executive dominance and eroding key legal protections.
Across these reports, a shared message emerges: the UK’s commitment to the rule of law remains strong in principle, but it is under visible and growing pressure in practice.
The rule of law is more than legal process – it is the bedrock of democratic legitimacy and public confidence. In 2025, defending it is a shared responsibility.
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