2023 confirmed that the United Kingdom (UK) Executive's chameleonic tendency with respect to national security oversight has entered a new phase. This tendency-particularly visible since 9/11-isfor the Executive to change its stance on national security oversight depending on its context. Since that time, where this tendency has arisen, it has principally concerned judicial oversight. When seeking legislation containing new national security powers, the Executive has emphasised its commitment to rigorous judicial and quasi-judicial oversight with respect to national security powers. However, at the same time, the Executive has in other contexts undermined judicial oversight by questioning the legitimacy of the close judicial scrutiny of its national security activity. Recent years have crystallised a further phase in such chameleonic behaviour. In this, the Executive has repeatedly cited the importance of parliamentary oversight provided by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) in seeking new national security powers, at the same time as being more openly obstructive of the ISC's work.
Daniella; id_orcid 0000-0002-3260-5771 Lock (Mon,) studied this question.