English votes for English laws plan ‘to be rewritten’ – BBC News

Posted July 9th, 2015 in bills, devolution, news, parliament by sally

‘Commons leader Chris Grayling says the government is rewriting its plans to give England’s MPs a veto over English laws, with a vote delayed to September.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Michael Gove determined to scrap the Human Rights Act – even if Scotland retains it – Independent

Posted June 1st, 2015 in bills, constitutional law, devolution, human rights, news, Scotland by michael

Scotland could be allowed to retain the Human Rights Act even if Westminster sidelined the European Court in favour of an “English” Bill of Rights, according to new plans being considered by Michael Gove.

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Independent, 31st May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Devolution at the heart of UK government’s first legislative programme, expert says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 29th, 2015 in bills, devolution, local government, news by sally

‘The UK’s new Conservative government will “set in motion the biggest transfer of power from Westminster and Whitehall in history”, an expert has said, after it committed to regional devolution in England and more powers for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 29th May 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Queen’s Speech: ‘English votes for English laws’ plan – BBC News

Posted May 27th, 2015 in constitutional reform, devolution, news, parliament by sally

‘Plans to give MPs from English constituencies an effective veto on laws affecting only England are included in the Queen’s Speech.’

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BBC News, 27th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HRA Watch: Reform, Repeal, Replace? Mark Elliott: Could the Devolved Nations Block Repeal of the Human Rights Act and the Enactment of a New Bill of Rights? – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘In my last post on the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the enactment of a British Bill of Rights, I considered the extent to which the House of Lords might thwart the Government’s plans. My conclusion was that the Lords might plausibly assert itself so as to delay the legislation, traditional understandings of the Salisbury Convention notwithstanding, but that the Parliament Act 1911 clearly deprives the Lords of any absolute veto. What, however, of the devolved nations? Could they block the implementation of the UK Government’s proposals?’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th May 2015

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Attorney General Dominic Grieve questions what Tories trying to achieve by replacing Human Rights Act with British Bill of Rights – The Independent

‘The former Attorney General Dominic Grieve has questioned what the Conservative Party is trying to achieve through its plan to replace the Human Rights Act with a new British Bill of Rights.’
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The Independent, 17th May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

HRA Watch: Reform, Repeal, Replace? Tobias Lock: Legal implications of human rights reform in the UK – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted May 15th, 2015 in constitutional law, devolution, news, treaties by tracey

‘The return of a majority Conservative government in last week’s general election in the UK has made the Conservative Party’s plans for reforming human rights law in the United Kingdom a likely prospect. It is recalled that on 3 October 2014, the Conservative Party published its policy document ‘Protecting Human Rights in the UK’ which sets out its proposal to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) and replace it with a new British Bill of Rights. In addition, the policy document also raised the prospect that the UK might withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 15th May 2015

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org/blog

News focus: law and justice pledges – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The general election manifestos are in – here’s our quick-fire summary of their headline pledges on law and justice.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th April 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Cameron and Clegg’s powers and funding pledge for Wales – BBC News

Posted February 27th, 2015 in devolution, ministers' powers and duties, news, Wales by tracey

‘David Cameron and Nick Clegg will set out plans to transfer more powers from Westminster to Wales on Friday, after months of cross-party talks. They include guaranteed minimum funding for the Welsh government and allowing ministers in Wales to raise cash from the money markets for major projects.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Supreme Court in the United Kingdom Constitution – Lecture by Lady Hale

The Supreme Court in the United Kingdom Constitution (PDF)

Lecture by Lady Hale

The Bryce Lecture, 5th February 2015

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

English votes for English laws plan ‘could end hunting ban’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 5th, 2015 in constitutional law, devolution, elections, hunting, news, parliament by sally

‘Constitutional shake-up would shift the balance at Westminster in favour of repealing the Hunting Act 2004, Countryside Alliance believes.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Consult judges on devolution, says lord chief justice – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2014 in bills, devolution, drafting, judges, judiciary, news by sally

‘The lord chief justice has called for judicial engagement in the drafting of new devolution bills that will be brought forward by the next parliament.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd December 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Judiciary, the Executive and Parliament: Relationships and the Rule of Law – Speech by Lord Chief Justice

The Judiciary, the Executive and Parliament: Relationships and the Rule of Law (PDF)

Speech by Lord Chief Justice

Institute for Government, 1st December 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Speech by Lord Chief Justice: Cardiff Business Club – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted December 1st, 2014 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, devolution, judiciary, legal aid, speeches, Wales by tracey

‘Speech by The Right Hon. The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales at the Cardiff Business Club on 3 November 2014.’

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 27th November 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Boris Johnson to seek control of CPS and court system in London – The Guardian

‘Boris Johnson wants to secure control of the courts and the prosecution service, a move which would put London’s mayor in charge of the criminal justice system in the capital, the Guardian has learned. The plan would see control wrested from Whitehall and the devolution of the most important pillars of the justice system.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

English laws options ‘due soon’, says Hague – BBC News

Posted November 3rd, 2014 in devolution, news, parliament, referendums, Scotland by sally

‘Options to give English MPs more say over laws affecting England will be set out over the coming weeks, the House of Commons leader William Hague has said.’

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BBC News, 2nd November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stop changing laws behind closed doors, say experts – The Independent

Posted October 20th, 2014 in constitutional law, constitutional reform, devolution, news, referendums by sally

Leading members of the civic society call for the public to be involved in an open discussion on how we should be governed in the aftermath of the Scottish referendum

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The Independent, 19th October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mark Elliott: Scotland has voted “no”. What next for the UK constitution? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted September 19th, 2014 in constitutional reform, devolution, news, parliament, referendums, Scotland by tracey

‘After a very long — and at times electrifying — campaign, a modest but decisive majority of those who participated in the referendum on Scottish independence have voted “no”. In one sense, this is the end of the process — even if, bearing in mind the main UK parties’ still-to-be-fulfilled promises about further devolution, it is only the beginning of the end. In another sense, however, it might turn out to be only the end of the beginning.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 19th September 2014

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org/blog

£300,000 on Supreme Court constitutional cases – BBC News

Posted August 11th, 2014 in bills, costs, devolution, ministers' powers and duties, news, Supreme Court, Wales by sally

‘More than £300,000 has been spent by the Welsh and UK governments on three Supreme Court cases about assembly powers, the BBC has learned.’

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BBC News, 10th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ann Sherlock: Supreme Court ruling on Welsh legislation – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘On 9 July 2014, the Supreme Court delivered its unanimous ruling that the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill was within the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th July 2014

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org