Dr Robert Taylor

Biography

Robert is a Reader in Public Law.  He joined the School of Law as a lecturer in September 2014.  Prior to this, Robert studied at Durham Law School, graduating with a LLB (Hons) in 2008, an MJur in 2011, and a PhD in 2014.  In 2016, Robert became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Robert is a leading researcher in UK Public Law and his work has been published in Public Law, the Modern Law Review and the Edinburgh Law Review.  In 2020-21, Robert completed a Scottish Parliament Academic Fellowship on Brexit Statutory Instruments.  He has been an expert witness at the European Scrutiny Committee at the UK Parliament: he gave evidence on 18 May 2022 on the potential impact of the proposed Brexit Freedoms Bill on retained EU law in Scotland, and he gave further evidence on 6 December 2023 on the progress and mechanics of reform of retained EU law.  From 2021-22, Robert was a visiting scholar at Edinburgh Law School researching the constitutional foundations of the Union between England and Scotland.

Robert is the Director of the Aberdeen Centre for Constitutional and Public International Law (ACCPIL).

Research Overview

Robert’s research interests lie in the realm of UK Public Law, in particular legal and political constitutionalism, devolution, parliamentary sovereignty, government accountability, delegated legislation, and constitutional conventions. 

His work challenges the assertion that the British constitution is undergoing a fundamental transformation from a political to a legal constitution by proposing and providing evidence of a new reconciliatory theory of constitutionalism: complementary constitutionalism.

Robert has published in leading law journals including Public Law, the Modern Law Review and the Edinburgh Law Review.

He would be interested in supervising students in the field of UK Public Law.

Internet Publications

R.B. Taylor, 'The prorogation ruling has strengthened the political accountability of those in power', LSE Brexit (26th September 2019)

R.B. Taylor, 'Brexit and collective responsibility: why the Convention is still working', LSE Brexit (20th May 2019)

R.B. Taylor and A.L.M. Wilson, 'Revoking Article 50 after the ECJ's ruling', The UK in a Changing Europe (11th Dec 2018)

R.B. Taylor and A.L.M. Wilson, 'Seeking and Implementing a Referral on Revocability of Article 50 Following Wightman', U.K. Const. L. Blog (26th Sept 2018)

R.B. Taylor and A.L.M. Wilson, 'Brexit and Seeking an Article 50 Referral: Forthcoming Article by Robert Brett Taylor and Adelyn L M Wilson', Aberdeen University School of Law Blog (13th August 2018)

R.B. Taylor and A.L.M. Wilson, 'Outer House arguments over lawfulness of abortion treatment at home', Scottish Legal News (18th May 2018)

R.B. Taylor, 'The West Lothian Question, EVEL and the 2017 General Election', U.K. Const. L. Blog (13th Jun 2017)

R.B. Taylor, 'The Brexit Case: The Reasoning, Implications, and Potential Consequences of the High Court's Judgment', Aberdeen Uni Law (6th Nov 2016)

R.B. Taylor, 'Constitutional Conventions, Article 50 and Brexit’, U.K. Const. L. Blog (15th Jul 2016)

R.B. Taylor, 'The Strathclyde Review: The House of Lords and Financial Privilege', Aberdeen Uni Law (26th Jan 2016)

R.B. Taylor, 'The House of Lords and Constitutional Conventions: The Case for Legislative Reform’, U.K. Const. L. Blog (16th Nov 2015)

Newspaper Articles

R.B. Taylor, 'Remains unclear if UK will survive stand-off' The Press and Journal (7th April, 2017)

R.B. Taylor, 'Scotland could be heard loud and clear' The Press and Journal (21st December, 2016)

R.B. Taylor, 'What next after Brexit High Court Ruling?' The Press and Journal (4th November 2016)

Recorded Academic Presentations

R.B. Taylor, 'Brexit: Where does power lie under the UK Constitution?' University of Bergen, April 2019

R.B. Taylor, 'Brexit: Where are we now?' Institute fur Wirtschaftsrecht, Martin-Luther-Universitat, Halle-Wittenberg, January 2017

Recorded Parliamentary Evidence

Retained EU Law: The Progress and Mechanics of Reform (6 December 2023)

Retained EU Law: Where Next? (18 May 2022)