Staff profile

Aileen McHarg has been Professor of Public Law and Human Rights at Durham Law School since September 2019. Prior to joining Durham she held a Chair in Public Law at Strathclyde University, and before that posts at Glasgow and Bristol Universities.

Her main teaching and research interests lie in UK and Scottish constitutional and administrative law. She publishes widely in these fields, but has particular expertise in devolution and the UK's territorial constitution. Along with Prof Roger Masterman, she is joint general editor of Public Law.

Professor McHarg welcomes applications for PhD supervision. 

• Administrative law
• Devolution and the territorial constitution
• UK and Scottish constitutional law

• 2021: Joint General Editor of Public Law:
• 2021: Member of the UK Constitutional Monitoring Group:
• 2020: Research Excellence Framework, Law Sub-Panel Member:
• 2018: Member of the Scottish Government's Expert Panel on Environmental Charges and Other Measures:
• 2018: Co-Chair of the British-Irish Chapter of the International Society of Public Law:
• 2018: Editorial Board Member, Public Law:
• 2016: Executive Committee Member of the UK Constitutional Law Association:
• 2012: Member of the Law Society of Scotland's Constitutional Law Sub-Committee:
• 2010: Editorial Advisory Board Member, Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law:
• 2006: Member of the Academic Advisory Group to the International Bar Association's Section on Energy, Environment Resources and Infrastructure Law:

Book review

• Popular Sovereignty in Early Modern Constitutional Thought
  McHarg, A. (2019). Popular Sovereignty in Early Modern Constitutional Thought. Public Law, 2019(October), 804-806

Chapter in book

• Constitutional change and territorial consent: The Miller Case and the Sewel Convention
  McHarg, A. (in press). Constitutional change and territorial consent: The Miller Case and the Sewel Convention. In M. Elliott, J. Williams, & A. Young (Eds.), https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/the-uk-constitution-after-miller-9781509916405/. Hart Publishing
• Brexit and its Implications for Democratic Governance in the United Kingdom
  Mcharg, A. Brexit and its Implications for Democratic Governance in the United Kingdom. In Research Handbook on Law and Democracy. Edward Elgar Publishing
• The Silence of Constitutions: Gaps, “Abeyances” and Political Temperament in the Maintenance of Government by Michael Foley
  Mcharg, A. (2024). The Silence of Constitutions: Gaps, “Abeyances” and Political Temperament in the Maintenance of Government by Michael Foley. In Leading Works in Public Law. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429022135-6
• Constitutional Law and Secession in the United Kingdom
  McHarg, A. (2023). Constitutional Law and Secession in the United Kingdom. In A. Pavkovic, P. Radan, & R. Griffiths (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Self-Determination and Secession. Routledge
• Litigating Brexit
  McCorkindale, C., & McHarg, A. (2021). Litigating Brexit. In O. Doyle, A. McHarg, & J. E. K. Murkens (Eds.), The Brexit Challenge for Ireland and the United Kingdom: Constitutions Under Pressure (260-291). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108966399.014
• Constitutional Pathways to a Second Independence Referendum
  McCorkindale, C., & McHarg, A. (2021). Constitutional Pathways to a Second Independence Referendum. In E. Hepburn, M. Keating, & N. McEwen (Eds.), Scotland's New Choice: Independence After Brexit. Centre on Constitutional Change
• Giving Substance to Sovereignty: Parliamentary Sovereignty and Parliamentary Effectiveness
  McHarg, A. (2021). Giving Substance to Sovereignty: Parliamentary Sovereignty and Parliamentary Effectiveness. In B. Dickson, & C. McCormick (Eds.), The Judicial Mind: A Festschrift for Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore. Bloomsbury
• Energy Justice: Understanding the 'Ethical Turn' in Energy Law and Policy
  McHarg, A. (2020). Energy Justice: Understanding the 'Ethical Turn' in Energy Law and Policy. In I. G. del Guayo, D. Lee Zillman, M. F. G. D. Montoya, & J. Juan (Eds.), Energy justice and energy law. Oxford University Press
• The Declaration of Arbroath and Scots Law
  McHarg, A. (2020). The Declaration of Arbroath and Scots Law. In K. P. Muller (Ed.), Scotland and Arbroath 1320-2020 : 700 years of fighting for freedom, sovereignty and independence (423-442). Peter Lang. https://doi.org/10.3726/b16812
• Judgment: Salvesen v Riddell
  McHarg, A., & Nicolson, D. (2019). Judgment: Salvesen v Riddell. In S. Cowan, C. Kennedy, & V. Munro (Eds.), Scottish feminist judgments : (re)creating law from the outside in (410-412). Hart Publishing. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781509923298.ch-18.3
• Devolution in Scotland
  McHarg, A. (2019). Devolution in Scotland. In J. Jowell, & C. O'Cinneide (Eds.), The Changing Constitution. (9th). Oxford University Press
• The Future of the United Kingdom’s Territorial Constitution: Can the Union Survive?
  McHarg, A. (2019). The Future of the United Kingdom’s Territorial Constitution: Can the Union Survive?. In A. Lopez Basaguren, & L. Escajedo San Epifanio (Eds.), Claims for Secession and Federalism: a Comparative Study with a Special Focus on Spain. Springer Verlag
• Unity and Diversity in the United Kingdom’s Territorial Constitution
  McHarg, A. (2018). Unity and Diversity in the United Kingdom’s Territorial Constitution. In M. Elliott, J. Varuhas, & S. Stark (Eds.), The Unity of Public Law? Doctrinal, Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives (279-300). Hart Publishing. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781509915217.ch-014
• The Constitutional Case for Independence
  McHarg, A. (2016). The Constitutional Case for Independence. In A. McHarg, T. Mullen, A. Page, & N. Walker (Eds.), The Scottish Independence Referendum: Constitutional and Political Implications. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780198755517.003.0005

Edited book

• The Brexit Challenge for Ireland and the United Kingdom: Constitutions Under Pressure
  Doyle, O., McHarg, A., & Murkens, J. E. K. (Eds.). (2021). The Brexit Challenge for Ireland and the United Kingdom: Constitutions Under Pressure. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108966399

Journal Article

• The Prospects for Scottish Independence in the Aftermath of Brexit
  McHarg, A. (online). The Prospects for Scottish Independence in the Aftermath of Brexit
• Beyond Freedom of Information Legislation: Navigating Access to Government Data for Independent Research in the UK
  Aidinlis, S. (2023). Beyond Freedom of Information Legislation: Navigating Access to Government Data for Independent Research in the UK. Public Law,
• Sleeping with an Elephant: Devolution and the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020
  Dougan, M., Hunt, J., McEwen, N., & McHarg, A. (2022). Sleeping with an Elephant: Devolution and the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020. Law Quarterly Review, 138, 650-676
• Indyref: Off Limits for Now
  McHarg, A., & Tomkins, A. (2022). Indyref: Off Limits for Now. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 2022(December),
• Can Holyrood Bind its Successors?
  McHarg, A. (2021). Can Holyrood Bind its Successors?. Edinburgh Law Review, 25(2), 245-252. https://doi.org/10.3366/elr.2021.0700
• The Supreme Court's Prorogation Judgment: Guardian of the Constitution or Architect of the Constitution?
  McHarg, A. (2020). The Supreme Court's Prorogation Judgment: Guardian of the Constitution or Architect of the Constitution?. Edinburgh Law Review, 24(1), 88-95. https://doi.org/10.3366/elr.2020.0603
• Tackling the Covid-19 Pandemic in Scotland
  McCorkindale, C., & McHarg, A. (2020). Tackling the Covid-19 Pandemic in Scotland. https://doi.org/10.2436/rcdp.i0.2020.3560
• The Model of Territorial Decentralisation in the United Kingdom
  McHarg, A. (2020). The Model of Territorial Decentralisation in the United Kingdom. Gruppo di Pisa, 2, 65 -88
• How to Conceptualise Energy Law and Policy for an Interdisciplinary Audience: the Case of Post-Brexit UK
  Cairney, P., McHarg, A., McEwen, N., & Turner, K. (2019). How to Conceptualise Energy Law and Policy for an Interdisciplinary Audience: the Case of Post-Brexit UK. Energy Policy, 129, 459-466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.02.022
• The Supreme Court and Devolution: The Scottish Continuity Bill Reference
  McHarg, A., & McCorkindale, C. (2019). The Supreme Court and Devolution: The Scottish Continuity Bill Reference. Juridical Review, 2019(2), 190-197
• Navigating without maps : constitutional silence and the management of the Brexit crisis
  McHarg, A. (2018). Navigating without maps : constitutional silence and the management of the Brexit crisis. International Journal of Constitutional Law, 16(3), 952-968. https://doi.org/10.1093/icon/moy068
• The Courts, Devolution and Constitutional Review
  McCorkindale, C., McHarg, A., & Scott, P. (2018). The Courts, Devolution and Constitutional Review. University of Queensland law journal, 36(2), 289-310
• Administrative discretion, administrative rule-making and judicial review
  McHarg, A. (2017). Administrative discretion, administrative rule-making and judicial review. Current Legal Problems, 70(1), 267-303. https://doi.org/10.1093/clp/cux011
• Brexit and Scotland
  McHarg, A., & Mitchell, J. (2017). Brexit and Scotland. British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 19(3), 512 - 526. https://doi.org/10.1177/1369148117711674

Newspaper/Magazine Article

• Analysis
  McHarg, A. Analysis

Other (Digital/Visual Media)

• Devolution: A View from Scotland
  McHarg, A. Devolution: A View from Scotland
• The Defence of Parliamentary Democracy
  McHarg, A. The Defence of Parliamentary Democracy
• The Art of Judicial Disguise
  McHarg, A. The Art of Judicial Disguise
• The Future of the Territorial Constitution Under Labour? The Report of the Commission on the UK's Future
  McHarg, A. The Future of the Territorial Constitution Under Labour? The Report of the Commission on the UK's Future
• The Contested Boundaries of Devolved Legislative Competence: Towards Better Devolution Settlements
  McHarg, A. The Contested Boundaries of Devolved Legislative Competence: Towards Better Devolution Settlements
• The Territorial Constitution and the 2024 UK General Election
  McHarg, A., & McCorkindale, C. (2024). The Territorial Constitution and the 2024 UK General Election. [UK Constitutional Law Blog]
• Rescuing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill? The Scottish Government's Challenge to the Section 35 Order
  McCorkindale, C., & McHarg, A. (2023). Rescuing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill? The Scottish Government's Challenge to the Section 35 Order
• Securing Scotland's Independence: Moving Beyond Process?
  McHarg, A. (2022). Securing Scotland's Independence: Moving Beyond Process?. [Centre on Constitutional Change Blog]
• The Resilience of the (Old) British Constitution
  McHarg, A., & Young, A. (2021). The Resilience of the (Old) British Constitution
• The Continuity Bill is Dead - Long Live the Continuity Bill: Regulatory Alignment and Divergence in Scotland Post-Brexit
  McCorkindale, C., McHarg, A., & Mullen, T. (2020). The Continuity Bill is Dead - Long Live the Continuity Bill: Regulatory Alignment and Divergence in Scotland Post-Brexit
• UK Internal Market, Devolution and the Union
  Dougan, M., Hayward, K., Hunt, J., McEwen, N., McHarg, A., & Wincott, D. (2020). UK Internal Market, Devolution and the Union
• Constitutional Pathways to a Second Scottish Independence Referendum
  McCorkindale, C., & McHarg, A. (2020). Constitutional Pathways to a Second Scottish Independence Referendum
• Brexit and Renewables in Scotland
  McEwen, N., McHarg, A., Munro, F., Cairney, P., Turner, K., & Katris, A. (2019). Brexit and Renewables in Scotland
• Devolution at Twenty: Embedding a New Constitutional Paradigm
  McHarg, A. (2019). Devolution at Twenty: Embedding a New Constitutional Paradigm

Other (Print)

• The Independence Supreme Court Case Explained - and What Might Happen
  McHarg, A. (2022). The Independence Supreme Court Case Explained - and What Might Happen