Warwick academic wins prestigious Bernard Crick Prize for research examining how tragedy shapes law and politics

Dr Alex Powell, Associate Professor in Law, has been awarded the Bernard Crick Prize for the best article in Political Quarterly for his co-authored research that explores the growing influence of victim-led campaigns on UK lawmaking.

Dr Powell received the award as part of the 2026 Orwell Prize ceremony, which celebrates work that comes closest to George Orwell’s ambition ‘to make political writing into an art’, and was held at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London.

The award recognises research into the growing phenomenon of laws named after victims of tragedy or injustice, including Martyn’s Law, Sarah’s Law, and Awaab’s Law. These campaigns have become an increasingly prominent feature of public life, often attracting significant public support and media attention, while driving legal and policy reform.

In the article, ‘Stop in the Law of the Name! Nominative Lawmaking, Populism and Justice’, co-authored by Professors Lee Jarvis (Adelaide University) and Michael Lister (Oxford Brookes University), offers the first detailed investigation into “nominative laws” – laws named after people – and its growing political significance.

Reflecting on the award and his research, Dr Alex Powell, Associate Professor of Law, University of Warwick, said:

“We are deeply grateful to receive the Bernard Crick Prize. What began as a relatively simple observation, that more and more laws seemed to be named after individuals, quickly developed into a much broader set of questions about politics, justice, and society.

“The stories behind these laws are often deeply moving and have led to important social change. At the same time, our research suggests that there are reasons for concern regarding the impact that this method of making law can have on fundamentals like parliamentary scrutiny in law making."

The research shows that such laws have become a prominent feature of public life, shaping policy across areas including criminal justice, housing, health, and social welfare to either establish new rights, create new obligations, provide greater protections, or introduce stronger punishments.

According to the award-winning study, nominative laws reflect a wider societal shift in which the experiences of ordinary citizens play an increasingly visible role in public life. In an age of social media, and an increasingly populist political landscape, personal stories can have a profound impact on political agendas and legislative outcomes.

In this rapidly changing world, the rise of nominative laws tells a much bigger story about modern democracy. While these campaigns can help accelerate political action, amplify the voices of ordinary citizens, and ensure victims are remembered; they also raise important questions about how societies pursue justice, how political decisions are made, and how public debate is conducted.

The research highlights that naming laws after people is a powerful form of public remembrance, ensuring those who have suffered harm are permanently recognised within the legal and political record. Yet, the academics also argue that lawmakers must remain mindful of the need for robust scrutiny and debate, even when responding to cases that carry significant emotional force.

The Bernard Crick Prize is awarded annually for the best article published in The Political Quarterly, one of Britain's leading journals of political and public affairs. The award forms part of the Orwell Prize programme, which celebrates outstanding political writing and analysis.

A blog post written by the authors about ‘Stop in the Law of the Name!’ is available on The Political Quarterly website and an interview with the authors is also available online.

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

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Article

Lee Jarvis, Michael Lister, and Alex Powell, (2025), Stop in the Law of the Name! Nominative Lawmaking, Populism and Justice, The Political Quarterly, vol 96, pp 627-634

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.13568

Images Credit

• Ian Brodie
• Abstract photo: Dr Alex Powell
• (Left to right): Lord Darroch (Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Orwell Foundation), Professor Michael Lister, Professor Francesca Klug (Crick Prize judge), Dr Alex Powell

About the Bernard Crick Prize

The Bernard Crick Prize, named in honour of the prominent British political theorist Sir Bernard Crick, is selected annually by The Political Quarterly board members with the support of the editors.

About the Orwell Prizes

Every year, The Orwell Foundation awards prizes to the writing and reporting which best meets the spirit of George Orwell's own ambition 'to make political writing into an art'. More information is available online.

About the University of Warwick

Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.

2 July 2026