Is Chris Philp’s tweet about the different outcomes in the Lucy Connolly/Ricky Jones cases simply moronic and embarrassing or something more sinister? What do the ITV and Panorama documentaries tell us about the safety of Lucy Letby’s convictions? What could potentially derail some of Sir Brian Leveson’s proposals for radical reform of the right to trial by jury? What impact will the Supreme Court’s decision to quash the convictions of Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo have on the future prosecution of complex financial crimes?
In this edition of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen dig into listener questions and unpack some of the most contentious legal issues shaping headlines in the UK. From Lucy Connolly to Lucy Letby, widespread criticisms of the Leveson Review’s recommendations and the fallout from the Supreme Court’s decision in R v Hayes & Palombo, the hosts provide candid, insider perspectives on how the justice system works, and sometimes falters.
Listeners interested in reading the response of the Criminal Bar Association to the Leveson Review (Part 1) can click here - https://www.criminalbar.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CBA-Position-on-the-Independent-Review-of-the-Criminal-Courts-Part-1-.pdf
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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 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, 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.
Double Jeopardy - UK Law and Politics