MPs call for anniversary debate on ‘new Magna Carta’ – BBC News

‘The 800th anniversary of Magna Carta next year is the right time for a fresh debate on the pros and cons of a written constitution, MPs have said.’

Full story

BBC News, 10th July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Whose Magna Carta is it anyway? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Yesterday was Magna Carta Day. It is now only 364 days until the 800th anniversary of the sealing of England’s oldest charter of rights, and one of the world’s most influential legal documents.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog,

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The disunited kingdom: England, Ireland and Scotland – CrimeLine

Posted November 7th, 2013 in constitutional history, devolution, Ireland, news, Scotland, speeches by tracey

“A Lecture to the Denning Society, at Lincoln’s Inn by Lord Sumption on 5 November 2013.”

Full lecture

CrimeLine, 6th November 2013

Source: www.crimeline.info

One million Commonwealth citizens ‘should lose the right to vote in UK’ – The Independent

Posted August 29th, 2013 in citizenship, constitutional history, elections, news, reports by sally

“Around one million Commonwealth citizens will be allowed to vote in the next general election despite not having qualified for British citizenship, in a practice that “should be brought to an end immediately”, a report has argued.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th August 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

European court of human rights is not perfect, but it’s still precious – The Guardian

Posted April 19th, 2012 in constitutional history, courts, human rights, news by tracey

“When imagined post-Nuremberg, the human rights convention and Strasbourg court was never supposed to be a substitute for national protection of human rights.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jonathan Sumption shows a certain naivety – The Guardian

“The supreme court’s newest recruit worries that judges are making policy. But parliament always has the last word.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supreme court appointee says role of British judges is too politicised – The Guardian

“Jonathan Sumption QC believes that UK judiciary is too closely involved in making decisions best left for parliament.”

F.A. Mann Lecture, Lincoln’s Inn,  8th November 2011

Full text of lecture

The Guardian, 9th November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Warning over Henry VIII style law powers – The Independent

“Plans for sweeping new Henry VIII-style powers would enable ministers to rewrite the statute book without consulting Parliament, a report warned today.”

Full story

The Independent, 3rd November 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Reveal Prince Charles’s input on planning law, government urged – The Guardian

“The government is facing growing pressure to reveal how the Prince of Wales has used his power of consent over draft legislation after it emerged ministers asked him to approve planning and construction laws because they might directly affect the private £700m property empire that provides his annual income.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inner Temple: Magna Carta dinner – Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls

Posted June 16th, 2011 in Church of England, constitutional history, London, speeches by sally

Inner Temple: Magna Carta dinner (PDF)

Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls

Judiciary of England and Wales, 14th June 2011

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

The battle over government that has raged since Magna Carta – The Independent

Posted July 4th, 2007 in constitutional history, special report by sally

“Yesterday Mr Brown referred to the British Constitution as ‘unwritten’. That is misleading. A more accurate description would be “un-codified”. In common with the citizens of other countries, subjects of the British Crown enjoy certain legally prescribed rights and freedoms. And like the governments of other nations, British administrations are bound by the chains of law and convention.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th July 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk