In December, he refused to license a new grammar school in Kent while – with characteristic ambiguity – suggesting this refusal was merely a technicality.
The DfE reportedly views the setback as a mere technicality that will be put right by the forthcoming education bill.
Scott lost her suit on a technicality, however, and, given the witch-hunting atmosphere of the times, the case certainly harmed her.
Karma was to treat Knegt kindly – in the Olympics a few weeks later he was knocked out of the men's 1,000m in the semi-finals, reinstated on a technicality and promptly hustled his way to Holland's first ever short-track Olympic medal, a bronze.
It may be the MPs and peers regard such privacy rights rulings as "technical" but that only highlights the root of the problem: that they regard privacy as a technicality.
The fact that Topsy-Turvy had no nominations in the categories of acting, direction or cinematography hints at an Academy prejudice that this is Masterpiece Theater stuff, which but for a technicality would go in the foreign language section.
Natasha Lamb, director of shareholder engagement at Arjuna Capital, called the ruling bizarre, confusing and based on a technicality.
Truth was, I snogged plenty of girls at school discos – but I did like musicals, so I guess they had me on a technicality.
The federal 11th circuit court of appeals has also declined to hear the case because of a legal technicality that puts Hill in a Catch-22.
When Jonny, the younger brother, was hit with a 15-second penalty on a technicality in his changeover between the swimming and cycling it seemed his chance of a medal was gone.
But when that recognition is withheld, whether because of a technicality or political expediency, it can feel like the final insult.
