Some statutes acquire popular names as they work their way through Parliament. Sometimes these names are about the substance of the law, sometimes they recognize the creator of a particular law, and sometimes they are meant to garner political support for a law by giving it a catchy name or by invoking public outrage or sympathy. Texts, newspapers, and other sources often use the popular name to refer to these laws.
To find a list of UK statutes with popular names, as well as their official names and citations, refer to Appendix A, "Some Popular Titles of Statutes" of Craies on Statute Law.
To find concise summaries of the history of some of these statutes, look up the popular name in the Oxford Companion to Law.
References
- "Appendix A: Some Popular Titles of Statutes". By S.G.G. Edgar, Craies on Statute Law – on-site at Courthouse Libraries
- The Oxford Companion to Law by David M. Walker – on-site at Courthouse Libraries