Warning over constitution reforms – BBC News
“The government’s attempts to reform the UK constitution risk failure if they are carried out in too ‘ad hoc and piecemeal’ a way, an MPs’ report said.”
BBC News, 29th July 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: constitutional reform
House of Lords reforms will remove hereditary principle – Ministry of Justice
“Reforms unveiled today by Jack Straw as part of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill will remove the hereditary principle from the House of Lords and allow for the disqualification of peers found guilty of serious criminal offences.”
Ministry of Justice, 20th July 2009
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Peers line up to block House of Lords reforms – The Independent
“Plans to turn the House of Lords into an elected chamber could be blocked by overwhelming opposition among peers, research for The Independent has revealed.”
The Independent, 20th July 2009
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Attorney general survives shake-up unscathed – The Guardian
“Plans to make the role of attorney general independent of government have been ditched by ministers, despite a two-year battle by constitutional reformers. They had wanted the role to be depoliticised, a move aimed at preventing criticism over a number of highly sensitive cases, including the advice given to government over the war in Iraq, and the decision to abandon the inquiry into BAE Systems.”
The Guardian, 17th July 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Speech at Lord Mayor’s Annual Judges’ Dinner – Ministry of Justice
“This speech is a good opportunity to take stock – four years after the Constitutional Reform Act fundamentally changed the relationship between the judiciary and the Executive, and a matter of months before the UK Supreme Court opens, heralding a new era in the separation of powers.”
Ministry of Justice, 14th July 2009
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Michael Wills urges cabinet not to backtrack on attorney general – The Guardian
“Britain’s constitutional affairs minister, Michael Wills, is urging his fellow ministers not to backtrack over ending the dual role of the attorney general as politician and legal adviser to the government. It is vital to separate the roles in order to maintain public confidence in the way critical decisions are reached, he says.”
The Guardian, 17th June 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Constitution reforms ‘need work’ – BBC News
“Ministers need to think more about plans to reform the UK constitution before they are ready to become law, MPs and peers have said.”
BBC News, 31st July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Ministers accused of retreat on role of attorney general – The Guardian
“Gordon Brown’s plans for constitutional reforms to make the government more accountable to parliament and the public have been turned into a ‘ragbag of retreats’ by the justice secretary, Jack Straw, according to a dissenting report by a minority on a cross-party group of MPs and peers.”
The Guardian, 31st July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Parliament approves Bill ratifying EU reform treaty – The Independent
“The Bill to implement the EU’s Lisbon reform treaty cleared its final hurdle last night when the House of Lords rejected calls to delay it following last week’s ‘no’ vote in Ireland.”
The Independent, 19th June 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Constitutional reform: Brown’s plans ‘disappointingly limited’, say MPs – The Guardian
“Gordon Brown’s plans for constitutional reform were today (3 June) described as ‘disappointingly limited’ by a Labour-dominated committee of MPs.”
The Guardian, 3rd June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Reform in a teacup? – Law Society’s Gazette
“The government’s ‘constitutional renewal’ proposals offer piecemeal reforms of key British institution.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd April 2008
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Kick-starting a national debate on a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities – Ministry of Justice
“Justice Minister Michael Wills has given a speech on the need for a national debate on constitutional reform to inform discussions about the new Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.”
Ministry of Justice, 5th March 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
The constitutional reform programme – Ministry of Justice
“Justice Minister Michael Wills gave a speech on the constitutional renewal programme at the Leslie Scarman Lecture on 13 February 2008.”
Ministry of Justice, 14th February 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
EU reform Bill passes its first hurdle – The Independent
“The Government comfortably won the first round of its gruelling battle over the European reform treaty last night, after facing angry accusations of betraying the voters.”
The Independent, 22nd January 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
State of the Union – Law Society’s Gazette
“Leaders of the European Union member states will sign a new reform treaty next month. But what are the legal implications of this landmark agreement for the UK?
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th November 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Bill could ban tax exiles from House of Lords – The Guardian
“A forthcoming constitutional reform bill could include measures to stop tax exiles from sitting in the House of Lords, the cabinet secretary said yesterday amid further questions about the tax status of the millionaire Tory donor Lord Ashcroft.”
The Guardian, 16th November 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Judges face trial by MPs in plans for new method of selection – The Times
“Senior judges could be questioned by MPs under plans outlined by ministers yesterday to reform the way judges are chosen.”
The Times, 26th October 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Constitutional reforms will enshrine right of MPs to vote on going to war – The Independent
“Some of the most sweeping changes to the powers of Parliament are to be announced today, including a guarantee that MPs will have a vote before British troops can go to war.”
The Independent, 25th October 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Bar Council action group eyes constitutional reform – Legal Week
“The Bar Council is launching three groups to respond to the Government’s ‘Governance of Britain’ Green Paper, the body was announced today (18 July).”
Legal Week, 18th July 2007
Source: www.legalweek.com
Brown’s constitutional reforms aim to restore public trust in politics – The Independent
“Sweeping reforms to the way Britain is governed have been outlined by Gordon Brown in an attempt to clean up politics and restore trust after the Blair era.”
The Independent, 4th July 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
