Category: elections

Reforming Electoral Law – UCL Constitution Unit

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

‘Electoral law in the UK has grown complex, voluminous, and fragmented, with many statutes and secondary legislation governing a long list of elections and referendums. The twin aims of the project are to ensure, first, that electoral laws are presented within a rational, modern legislative framework, governing all elections and referendums under statute; and second, that the law governing the conduct of elections and referendums is modern, simple, and fit for purpose. The Law Commission have recently published the Electoral Law Consultation Paper, which sets out provisional proposals and consultation questions for reform of electoral law.’

Henni Ouahes – Reforming Electoral Law

Nicholas Paines QC – Reforming Electoral Law

UCL Constitution Unit, 28th February 2015

Source: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Charities warn ‘gagging law’ stops them campaigning on election issues – The Independent

Posted February 19th, 2015 in charities, elections, freedom of expression, lobbying, news by sally

‘Charities have warned they are being deterred from staging major campaigns on crucial general election issues because of the “chilling” impact of controversial new rules on lobbying.’

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The Independent, 18th February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK prisoner voting rights breached, European judges rule – BBC News

Posted February 10th, 2015 in elections, electoral register, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘The rights of more than 1,000 UK prisoners were breached when they were prevented from voting in elections, European judges have ruled.’

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BBC News, 10th February 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Human Rights at the Crossroads? – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted February 6th, 2015 in constitutional law, elections, human rights, news, parliament, Supreme Court, treaties, veto by sally

‘Clive Anderson and guests get behind the political rhetoric to debate the potential impact on the rights of British citizens if the Government carries out a proposal to scrap the Human Rights Act and replace it with a “more British” Bill of Rights.’

Listen

BBC Unreliable Evidence, 24th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge to see forensics that point to Tower Hamlets vote fraud – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 2nd, 2015 in elections, expert witnesses, forensic science, fraud, news by sally

‘Evidence from an independent forensic scientist will form the centrepiece of a rare election fraud trial opening at the High Court on Monday.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Chilcot report on Iraq war delayed until after general election – The Guardian

Posted January 21st, 2015 in delay, elections, inquiries, Iraq, news, public interest, reports, war by sally

‘The six-year-long British inquiry into the 2003 Iraq invasion and its aftermath will not be published before the general election, prompting an outcry from those demanding that the long overdue reckoning should be put before the voters.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ofcom deals blow to Greens’ election debate hopes – but boosts Ukip’s – The Guardian

Posted January 9th, 2015 in elections, media, news, political parties by sally

‘Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, has declared that the Green party does not have sufficient support to qualify for “major party status” in the general election, but Ukip may have.’

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The Guardian, 8th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judgment published where court rejected attack on conduct of ward election – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 8th, 2015 in appeals, elections, news by sally

‘The written judgment has been published this week setting out why an Election Court dismissed a challenge to the validity of an election for a ward in the London Borough of Hackney.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th January 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.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

Moohan and another (Appellant) v The Lord Advocate (Respondent) – Supreme Court

Posted December 19th, 2014 in elections, human rights, law reports, prisons, referendums, Scotland by sally

Moohan and another (Appellant) v The Lord Advocate (Respondent) [2014] UKSC 67 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 17th December 2014

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

Moohan and another v Lord Advocate (Advocate General for Scotland intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted December 19th, 2014 in elections, human rights, law reports, prisons, referendums, Scotland by sally

Moohan and another v Lord Advocate (Advocate General for Scotland intervening) [2014] UKSC 67; [2014] WLR (D) 544

‘The blanket ban on convicted prisoners voting in the Scottish independence referendum did not contravene prisoners’ rights under the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms or involve any breach of European Union law.’

WLR Daily, 17th December 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Reforming electoral law across the UK – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted December 12th, 2014 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

‘In a consultation opening today the Law Commissions of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set out provisional proposals for reforming the law that governs the conduct of elections and referendums across the UK.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 12th December 2014

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Reforming electoral law across the UK – Law Commission

Posted December 10th, 2014 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

‘In a consultation opening today [9 December] the Law Commissions of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set out provisional proposals for reforming the law that governs the conduct of elections and referendums across the UK.’

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Law Commission, 9th December 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

A prisoner’s right to vote: straining European relations – Cloisters

Posted November 18th, 2014 in courts, elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘In this article, I argue that there is an urgent need for a more rational approach to the debate about prisoners’ rights to vote – which has become an emotive issue in the United Kingdom. This is particularly so in light of the recent response from the United Kingdom government to ECtHR rulings, demonstrating an unparalleled defiance towards Strasbourg rulings. Due to this, the implications of the debate over prisoners’ voting rights extend beyond individuals, bringing into sharp focus a matter of broader significance to us all, namely the United Kingdom’s approach to democracy and human rights and its relationship with the European Court and the EU itself.’

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Cloisters, 13th November 2014

Source: www.cloisters.com

Britain First Rochester election mail leaflet dubbed illegal – BBC News

Posted November 3rd, 2014 in elections, freedom of expression, Islam, news, political parties, postal service by sally

‘Royal Mail has said it will not deliver a leaflet for the right wing party Britain First in the Rochester and Strood by-election because it believes it to be illegal.’

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BBC News, 31st October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Nigel Farage fined £200 for failure to declare free office space – The Guardian

Posted October 22nd, 2014 in elections, expenses, fines, news, political parties by sally

‘Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has been fined £200 for breaking electoral law after he failed to declare that he was getting office space free.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Revealed: The killers and rapists among 1,000 criminals launching compensation claims over prisoner voting – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 10th, 2014 in compensation, elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘Identities of more than 1,000 convicted criminals who have brought legal challenges over Britain’s ban on inmates voting are disclosed by Strasbourg court for the first time.’

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Daily Telegraph, 9th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Victims’ Rights, the EU Charter, and Passport Confiscation – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 15th, 2014 in appeals, disabled persons, EC law, elections, employment, equality, extradition, freedom of expression, homosexuality, housing, human rights, interpretation, local government, news, passports, prisons, race discrimination, Supreme Court, terrorism, torture, victims by tracey

‘In recent news, the government outlines proposals for increased rights for the victims of crime, as well as for the revocation and confiscation of passports for ISIS fighters returning to the UK. In other news, the legality of the EU Charter comes back to haunt Chris Grayling once again.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th September 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Human rights legislation in the UK: a cut-out-and-keep guide – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2014 in EC law, elections, human rights, jurisdiction, news, parliament, prisons by sally

‘Ever wondered what the difference is between the human rights convention and the Human Rights Act? This may help.’

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The Guardian, 1st September 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Veto of human rights rulings will damage Britain’s stance on Iraq, Dominc Grieve warns – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 13th, 2014 in elections, human rights, international relations, news, prisons, veto by sally

‘Dominic Grieve warns that a veto on European Court of Human Rights rulings would be a ‘disaster’ and would would place Britain in ‘great difficulty in terms of our international standing on human rights’.’

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Daily Telegraph, 13th August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk