Baron Ranger (Raminder Singh Ranger), R (on the application of) v The Prime Minister

Facts

The claimant, Baron Ranger, held a CBE conferred by Queen Elizabeth II under the royal prerogative. On 18 January 2024 the Honours Forfeiture Committee told him it was considering whether the honour should be revoked, identifying nine allegations and stating that it was minded to recommend that he had brought the honours system into disrepute. He made written representations on 19 January 2024. On 19 September 2024 the Committee's Chair wrote to the Prime Minister recommending revocation; the Prime Minister accepted that recommendation on 7 October 2024, and the King formally annulled the CBE on 15 October 2024. The claimant was told of the outcome on 28 October 2024. He did not challenge the King's decision but sought judicial review of the Prime Minister's recommendation, on common law grounds and under the Human Rights Act 1998, including an Article 10 ECHR complaint. The Prime Minister did not contest the form of the claim but argued that decisions to revoke honours are wholly non-justiciable. On 11 February 2026 HHJ Anthony Dunne, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, directed that justiciability be heard as a preliminary issue, irrespective of the particular grounds. The merits, and the facts of the forfeiture process in the claimant's case, were not before the court. The preliminary issue was heard on 11 June 2026.