Watchdog calls for voting reform – BBC News
“The UK’s elections watchdog has made a fresh demand for the government to introduce individual voter registration to increase confidence in the system.”
BBC News, 14th January 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: elections
Finch and another v Richardson – WLR Daily
Finch and another v Richardson [2008] EWHC 3067 (QB); [2008] WLR (D) 389
“For the purposes of provisions in the Representation of the People Act 1983 in relation to illegal practices and to errors or false statements in declarations, ignorance of the law could constitute ‘inadvertence’ so as to provide an excuse for such errors and statements.”
WLR Daily, 16th December 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Straw off hook on late donation – BBC News
“No action will be taken over a £3,000 donation which Justice Secretary Jack Straw declared more than four years late, electoral officials have said.”
BBC News, 12th December 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Hain will not be prosecuted for undeclared donations – the Guardian
“The former cabinet minister Peter Hain will not face prosecution for his failure to declare donations of £103,000 on time, it emerged yesterday, opening up the possibility of a return to frontline politics.”
The Guardian, 6th December 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Regina (Barclay and Others) v Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and Others – Times Law Reports
Regina (Barclay and Others) v Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and Others
Court of Appeal
“Proposed reform of the constitution of the Channel Island of Sark which allowed the Seneschal, appointed by the Seigneur, to be both a member of the legislature and the chief judge, contravened article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, guaranteeing a fair trial by an independent and impartial tribunal.”
The Times, 5th December 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note that the Times Law Reports are only availalble free on Times Online for 21 days from th date of publication.
R (Barclay and others) v Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and others – WLR Daily
“The Reform (Sark) Law 2008, which, inter alia, provided, in relation to the Island of Sark, a Crown Dependency and a part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, for the Seneschal, the senior judge of Sark, to remain as an unelected member and President of the Chief Pleas, the island’s legislature, did not breach art 3 of the First Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.”
WLR Daily, 4th December 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Ban on votes for prisoners is illegal, says EU – The Observer
“The government must give prisoners the right to vote or the next general election will be illegal under European law, ministers have been warned by parliament’s influential Joint Committee on Human Rights.”
The Observer, 9th November 2008
Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk
Old enough to make a mark? Should the voting age be lowered to 16? – Ministry of Justice
“The Youth Citizenship Commission is consulting on the minimum age for elections in the UK.”
Ministry of Justice, 20th October 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Conservatives cleared of breaking electoral law – Daily Telegraph
“The Electoral Commission, which oversees party funding, has rejected a complaint made by the Labour party about the Tories’ use of Constituency Campaigning Services (CCS).”
Daily Telegraph, 6th October 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Give prisoners right to vote, says UN – The Guardian
“Prisoners in British jails should be allowed to vote and the government should enact legislation to that effect, according to a United Nations report. The call was welcomed yesterday by prison reform groups.”
The Guardian, 19th September 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Watchdog calls for reform of ’19th century’ electoral system – The Guardian
“The UK’s electoral system is ‘stretched to breaking point’ and unfit for the challenges of the 21st century, the electoral watchdog warned today.”
The Guardian, 27th August 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Slashed tyres and poison pen letters: how Ian Oakley bullied rivals – The Times
“A Conservative candidate in a key marginal seat conducted a sustained campaign of harassment in an attempt to ‘change the political landscape’ of the town where he hoped to be MP.”
The Times, 6th August 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Straw unveils new controls on political funding and spending – Ministry of Justice
“Political spending and donations to parties are to be more tightly regulated under new rules unveiled by Justice Secretary Jack Straw today.”
Ministry of Justice, 17th July 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Podcast 64: With John Hirst – author of Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog and Podcast 65: The right of prisoners to vote with Carl Gardner – Charon QC
“Today I am talking to John Hirst, author of the Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog. John has spent 35 of his 57 years in prison.
John was sent to prison for life after being convicted of the manslaughter of his landlady, in 1979. ‘He received a tariff of 15 years, but served a total of 25 before being released in October last year. He believes his activities as a litigant against the Prison Service and Home Office are the main reason he had to serve the extra years. John proved to be the most prolific prisoner litigant of modern times – and, he says, like Perry Mason and Rumpole of the Bailey, he never lost a case against the Prison Service.’ ”
Listen to Podcast 64: With John Hirst – author of Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog
“Today I am talking to Carl Gardner, author of the Head of Legal blog, barrister, former government lawyer and commentator on Human Rights Law, about the case of Hirst v United Kingdom No (2) heard at the ECHR in 2005.
Yesterday, I did a podcast with John Hirst, author of the Jailhouse Lawyer blog about his experience of prison life and during that conversation we talked about John’s case against the British government about the right of prisoners to vote – which he won.
Carl Gardner analyses the Hirst case and we talk about the practical implications of the judgment. We also talk about Lord Phillip’s attitude to Sharia Law and his support for Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
Listen to Podcast 65: The right of prisoners to vote with Carl Gardner
Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com
“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.
Peter Hain interviewed by police over £100,000 ‘hidden’ campaign donation – The Times
“Peter Hain, who resigned from the Cabinet over allegations that he had failed to register political donations, has been interviewed by police, The Times has learnt.”
The Times, 30th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Michael Wills announces election day consultation – Ministry of Justice
“A consultation on whether to move elections to weekends has been launched as part of efforts to boost engagement in the democratic process.”
Ministry of Justice, 24th June 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Statement on weekend voting – Ministry of Justice
“Justice Minister Michael Wills has made a written ministerial statement on a consultation on weekend voting.”
Ministry of Justice, 24th June 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Tory threat over Lib Dem leaflets – BBC News
“The Conservatives are threatening two separate legal actions against the Lib Dems over the Henley by-election.”
BBC News, 20th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Tories face inquiry after voter data leaked – The Independent
“The Conservatives’ campaign in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election suffered an embarrassing last-minute setback when the party published the personal details of more than 8,000 voters.”
The Independent, 22nd May 2008
Source: www.independen.co.uk
Watchdog censures health secretary over illegal donation – The Guardian
“The cost of the Labour deputy leadership contest threatened to bring further embarrassment for the government today as it emerged that another cabinet minister has been reprimanded over an illegal donation.”
The Guardian, 25th April 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
