BBC v Johns

Facts

The BBC argued that it was exempt from income tax, claiming to be a monopoly established by royal prerogative.

Judgment

The court disagreed, ruling that is not possible to create new prerogative powers, and tax exemptions could only be granted by legislation.

The case is famous for the dictum of Lord Diplock who states that it is ‘350 years and a civil war too late for the Queen’s courts to broaden the royal prerogative’.