The English constitution is based on no principles at all.

Dicey in the ninetieth century. Dicey argued that there were two limbs to parliamentary sovereignty, namely the positive and the negative limb. The positive limb is based on the principle that parliament is omnipotent and reserves the right to make or unmake any law that they so choose. As Jennings suggests Parliament could legislate that a man was a woman or that all blue eyed babies must be put to death or ban smoking on the streets of Paris. Whether the latter would be effective or not would be another matter, but it would still be legally valid. Indeed Parliament has a number of wide powers at its discretion; Parliament can make retrospective law as was the case in Burmah Oil v Lord Advocate and the law can even have an extra-territoral effect, however, as stated in Treacy it is presumed not to unless expressly provided for. The only thing that Parliament cannot do as stipulated in Ellen Street Estates, is to bind subsequent Parliament to the manner, form or content of legalisation as to do so would limit future Parliament sovereignty. The negative limb of Diceys theory stipulates that no one, including the courts can question the sovereignty of Parliament, Indeed if Parliament passes a law by a majority in according with the correct procedure it cannot be questioned by anyone, as Blackstone stated “what Parliament doth no one on earth can undo,” However, although Parliament has wide array of power, this does not mean that they can act as they please. Indeed they are bound by the principle of the rule of law. The rule of law derives from the natural law theory and suggests that there is a higher or divine sense of law, which everyone including Parliament must adhere to. The basic theory of the rule of law is summarised by Diceys three principles. Firstly, no one can be punished except for a breach of law. Secondly, everyone is subject to the same law irrespective of their status and thirdly the law relating to constitution stems from the judiciary and not from a bill of rights.  Diceys theory is not applied in its entirety any longer, as Parliament has a number of rights at its disposal which the British civilians do not, for example, the ability to enforce taxation and a number of suspects can be detained by the police without actually breaking the law it nevertheless it remains one of the fundamental parts of the British constitution and an important check on Parliament. The British constitution is based on the principle of constitutional conventions