To find out why this says ‘previous Prime Minister’, check out my latest blog post: sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/07/28/a...

Great to see the Women Through the Ages display from Cadw outside Cardiff Central today! To see individual photos, see my Instagram: www.instagram.com/p/DbYYib4lw9...

New Blog Post: A quick note on the constitutional significance of Andy Burnham’s religion: open.substack.com/pub/sandberg...

Andy Burnham’s Religion and the Constitution: A Note

After being quoted in a Guardian article about how Andy Burnham’s Catholic faith might affect his new role as Prime Minister, I thought it might be useful to share the fuller information I sent to the...

open.substack.com

Russell Sandberg aptly identifies that, while Christian nationalist politics do not have the same influence in Britain as in the US, the Church's constitutional privileges could feasibly provide a foothold for a rollback of rights: @sandbergrlaw.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

The UK has its first Catholic PM – but don’t expect a US-style religious culture war to follow

Trump administration has clashed with Vatican on social issues but Burnham’s faith is shaped by different principles

theguardian.com

To truly challenge Christian nationalism, those privileges and the Church's intertwinement with our state institutions must be brought into question.👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/07...

Church “must not withdraw from politics”, CofE paper says

Paper warns "never" use term "Christian nationalism" when "teaching the faithful" or "talking on behalf of the Church" Read More »

secularism.org.uk

Delighted to be quoted in this article ⬇️

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2w ago

The UK has its first Catholic PM – but don’t expect a US-style religious culture war to follow

The UK has its first Catholic PM – but don’t expect a US-style religious culture war to follow

The UK has its first Catholic PM – but don’t expect a US-style religious culture war to follow

Trump administration has clashed with Vatican on social issues but Burnham’s faith is shaped by different principles

theguardian.com

I’m delighted to be cited in this @theguardian.com article about how Andy Burnham’s Catholic faith will affect his new role as Prime Minister : www.theguardian.com/politics/202... #andyburnham #religion #catholicism

The UK has its first Catholic PM – but don’t expect a US-style religious culture war to follow

Trump administration has clashed with Vatican on social issues but Burnham’s faith is shaped by different principles

theguardian.com

Still time to add this into the Handbook, @sandbergrlaw.bsky.social ? ;)

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2w ago

The king emerges from Tardis as Commonwealth Games face battle for time and space

The CofE’s established status is often viewed through a lens of nostalgia. However, the often fuzzy legal and political ramifications and benefits that come from the Church’s established status could be used to justify and provide a foundation for Christian nationalist policies.

National Secular Society@natsecsoc.bsky.social · 2w ago

Church of England documents have styled its established status as a basis for "a healthy sense of patriotism" & advised disusing the term 'Christian nationalism'. But to challenge religious identity politics, the Church's unjust privileges must be re-examined👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/07...

Church of England documents have styled its established status as a basis for "a healthy sense of patriotism" & advised disusing the term 'Christian nationalism'. But to challenge religious identity politics, the Church's unjust privileges must be re-examined👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/07...

Church “must not withdraw from politics”, CofE paper says

Paper warns "never" use term "Christian nationalism" when "teaching the faithful" or "talking on behalf of the Church" Read More »

secularism.org.uk

The Charity Commission has apologised after being found in contempt of parliament for trying to suppress reports of its mishandling of claims of abuse at religious charities. The findings raise grave concerns over transparency and public accountability👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/07...

Charity Commission in contempt of Parliament over abuse cases

Regulator's attempt to suppress criticism of its handling of abuse claims at religious charities "wholly unacceptable", say MPs Read More »

secularism.org.uk

Great to see the support of the @natsecsoc.bsky.social for the Government’s proposals on wedding law reform.

National Secular Society@natsecsoc.bsky.social · 3w ago

We've long said that archaic and unfair wedding laws in England and Wales require reform to increase freedom of religion or belief for all couples. That's why we've welcomed plans to remove restrictions on where, and by whom, weddings can be conducted👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/07...

Plans look pretty good! I'm especially pleased that the Government supports including independent celebrants into the new legal framework for weddings. 🥂

National Secular Society@natsecsoc.bsky.social · 3w ago

We've long said that archaic and unfair wedding laws in England and Wales require reform to increase freedom of religion or belief for all couples. That's why we've welcomed plans to remove restrictions on where, and by whom, weddings can be conducted👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/07...

Disagree with this. Parliamentary time and focus is unlikely to allow for wedding reform to be done twice. Makes much more sense to have comprehensive reform.

Humanists UK@humanists.uk · 3w ago

The Government should now act with urgency. It can fast-track legal recognition by Order while wider marriage law reform continues. There is no good reason to make couples wait any longer. humanists.uk/2026/07/16/g...

This is one of several reasons why reform of marriage law is needed. As today’s consultation paper proposes, there is a need for wholesale reform which would include humanist weddings alongside those conducted by independent celebrants.

Humanists UK@humanists.uk · 3w ago

BREAKING NEWS! The Government has set out plans to legally recognise humanist marriages as it released its long-awaited consultation on marriage reform. The consultation contains an official UK Government prediction that one in five weddings could be humanist when legal recognition is granted 🧵

Interesting piece in the @lawsocietygazette.bsky.social by Profs Erika Rackley and Sharon Thompson www.lawgazette.co.uk/commentary-a...

Feminist constellations in law

As the multitude of women's professional networks and collaborations demonstrate, we are stronger together.

lawgazette.co.uk

The UK Government’s consultation paper on weddings law reform is to be broadly welcomed. It would provide much needed modernisation of the law to reflect the way people marry today See my new blog post: sandbergrlaw.substack.com/p/consultati... sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/07/16/c...

Delighted to receive from Waterstones a signed copy of the new novel from @chrischibnall.bsky.social - his first novel was exceptional so I’m very much looking forward to reading this!

Delighted to be attending and speaking at the book launch today of this awesome new monograph by my Cardiff colleague Professor Daniel Newman. Thrilled to have this as part of our Transforming Legal Histories series with Routledge www.routledge.com/Law-and-Just...

New blog post looking at the new consultation on the draft syllabus for RE in Northern Ireland and the forthcoming consultation on including RE in the National Curriculum in England. Read it ⬇️ Substack: open.substack.com/pub/sandberg... Blog: sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/07/06/c...

It’s always great to receive a new book from Ian Ward but it’s even better when the book is in our Transforming Legal Histories series. This is a must read - it will transform how you think about legal history. Delighted to have it in the series! www.routledge.com/Law-History-...

“This consultation,” wrote David Lammy, “proposes some of the biggest reforms to family law in decades — bringing the law into the 21st century, helping families feel better off and increasing protections.” Top marks if you already know what he’s talking about. rozenberg.substack.com/p/justice-fo...

Justice for the unmarried

Whisper it quietly, though

rozenberg.substack.com

Delighted to receive this excellent new book from my Cardiff law colleague and friend Professor Sharon Thompson. Given that the Government is currently consulting on reforming the law on the end of relationships, this is a timely must read! bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-road-to-... #FamilyLaw

Those interested in the recent Government consultation on ‘A Fairer End to Relationships’ should check out details of this new book by my colleague Professor Sharon Thompson which is being published by Bristol University Press soon: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asset/13869/...

Well, at least one Russell in Wales is currently writing #DoctorWho ! Sad that there will be no Christmas special but great to see plans for a new era. And co-editing the first academic handbook on Who continues to be a delight thanks to an awesome group of contributors!

Great news from Northern Ireland that the latest hurdle has been cleared in terms of abolishing the law on blasphemy there: humanists.uk/2026/06/09/s... For discussion of its abolition in England and Wales see this article: orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/18...

Success! MLAs vote to repeal blasphemy laws in Northern Ireland

Today, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) voted 57 to 24 in favour of repealing blasphemy laws in Northern Ireland. Alliance MLA Connie Egan tabled the amendment to the Justice Bill, which is ...

humanists.uk

The new Masters of the Universe movie has the power! This is great fun - exactly what a blockbuster should be! Loud, mad, confident and hilarious. Amazing fight scenes and all brightly lit. Glorious music pulsating throughout. Awesome references to the cartoon and previous film. I loved it!

Why would the Government’s planned cohabitation rights reform help to deal with concerns about religious courts and tribunals? Check out my new blog post: lawandreligionuk.com/2026/06/08/c...

My new blog post for @lawandreligionuk.bsky.social argues that new Government proposals to provide rights to cohabitants on separation will make a real difference in relation to unregistered religious marriages: lawandreligionuk.com/2026/06/08/c...