Giles co-authored the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act with Justin, and I was delighted to work with him on other projects too. I was, frankly, terrified of Giles’ razor-sharp intelligence but soothed by his kindness and great good humour. God, we will miss him.
Sorry, no. Starmer may be as lacking in wisdom, competence, principle and direction as his critics say, but he can't be bracketed with Johnson—the standout worst recent PM. Nor can May, Sunak or even the bonkers and increasingly unpleasant but apparently sincere Truss be put on the Johnson level.
Such very very sad news.
Giles was so generous with his time and information, and patiently signposted me several times when I worked with families who would often have housing issues as well as needing help with benefits - he will be much missed.
Devastated by this news. Giles was one of the greats in housing law. He made a difference to thousands of individual clients & to millions more by achieving Homes (Fitness for human habitation) Act. A great legacy but too young for a legacy.
I can’t recall when I was more upset by the death of someone I’d never met than of that of Giles Peaker.
Last night I heard the very sad news about @nearlylegal.co.uk the much respected and admired Giles Peaker. He was a one of a kind housing lawyer, and I spoke to him only last month at the annual SHLA conference. A thoroughly decent human being. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/legenda...
What makes you say Rayner would be better?
Thanks for all the cobblers so far! We do find it necessary every now and then to restore the soul.
I understand people finding him underwhelming and unimpressive (I share that feeling to some extent). I also understand disagreeing with his policies, for example on immigration, and some of the language he’s used on occasions (“island of strangers”). I understand Labour despair about the polls.
This is just really awful news and the second I’ve seen in recent days.
Giles was one of the first people I interacted with on social media.
Seriously clever, empathetic.
Love to his family and friends.
nearlylegal.co.uk/2026/04/gile...
This is incredibly sad news. Giles has been at the very heart of the UK online legal community from the beginning. He had unparalleled expertise, was the scourge of bad landlords, the most effective public communicator of legal concepts and always made time to help those who needed it.
As on social media, so in real life. Vale Giles Peaker (@nearlylegal.co.uk ) of @anthonygoldlaw.bsky.social a leading lawyer who changed the law and his clients' lives for the better & still found time to educate us all and make us smile. Gosh he will be missed.
The last post of Giles Peaker. I very much admired him. RIP and condolences to all his friends and family
I’m deeply saddened at the tragic loss of Giles Peaker. Giles was not only an exceptionally talented housing lawyer but a real force for good in the world who played an integral role in the development of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act. My heartfelt condolences to all who loved him.
They thought the problem was failure to deliver on simple answers, whereas (I believe) the problem was the simple, undeliverable answers themselves. My vote’s going to go to serious people, and against the simplists.
Maybe my point is better put this way: the Brexit period of government offering simple answers and not delivering is over. People wanted change from that, but many of those people still hanker after simple answers that the current government isn’t giving.
I also think a lot of people, according to polls anyway, are still addicted to simple answers, which is what Reform, Tories and Greens are offering. I think one reason why I’m more sympathetic to Starmer and Labour than many is that whatever their flaws I recognise that they are at least serious.
I think 1—holding someone to a higher standard is different from, and less fair than, simply expecting that they will do better; 2—I think the government is so unpopular because things are very difficult for a lot of people, and the Brexit era of simple answers to complex problems is over.
Devastated to learn that Giles died at the weekend. He leaves shoes impossible to fill. One of life’s warriors, dedicated to righting wrongs in an area of law so full of wrongs that his enormous brain and energy was constantly put to use. Thoughts with his family, loved ones and friends. xxx
Very sad to hear of the death of Giles Peaker @Nearly legal. I had followed him for a long time both here and in the other place. I always enjoyed his posts and admired his legal expertise. And he was a skilled photographer too. Gone too soon. nearlylegal.co.uk/2026/04/gile...
I am horrified to hear of the death of Giles Peaker or @nearlylegal.co.uk as he was better known to most people. Housing law was his world, and he changed it for the better. I shall miss him.
This is awful news. One of the original legal bloggers and one of the very best. nearlylegal.co.uk/2026/04/gile...
Awful news about Giles Peaker, @nearlylegal.co.uk, a brilliant legal blogger and a real pioneer.
A great figure in using the internet for the public understanding of law.
I am very much saddened to report that my friend, @nearlylegal.co.uk passed away this weekend.
nearlylegal.co.uk/2026/04/gile...
No, I don't think it is at all. I hold all parties to the same standard as I hold Labour. Why wouldn't I?
A closeup of some bluebells
"It happened on the 19th April, 1964. It was bluebell time in Kent..."
Hinz v Berry [1970] 2 QB 40
You knew who was going to win about half way through this series of The Apprentice.
I think when a place has no music at all (I'm thinking mainly of pubs but it applies to restaurants too) lots of customers actually like that, but don't notice that the absence of music is a big part of what they like, so just think it's a "nice atmosphere".
You may be interested in this campaign by @manchestermill.bsky.social | Three courts dates in three months – and how you can help manchestermill.co.uk/three-courts...
Yes, quite! I think F451 has the feel of a film Hitchcock sort of might have made. Had he stayed in England, been interested in sci-fi and been a different person, I suppose.