Saturday musings: the Charity Commission and “political” campaigning – Law & Religion UK

Posted September 6th, 2021 in bills, charities, Charity Commission, elections, news, political parties by tracey

‘The Runnymede Trust is a charitable think-tank focused on race equality and race relations in the UK. The Charity Commission opened a compliance case in April 2021 after complaints about the Trust’s response to the report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (“the CRED report”) and the trustees’ decision to work with the Good Law Project to challenge certain public appointments. The Commission also noted the appearance of a senior executive of Runnymede at an event organised by a political party, alongside several elected representatives and affiliated speakers. The issue, in short, was whether the Trust was engaging in party-political activity, contrary to charity law – and the Commission has concluded that the Trust has not broken the law. So far, not much obviously to do with “religion” – but read on.’

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Law & Religion UK, 4th September 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

New Elections Bill to ‘protect democracy,’ says government – BBC News

Posted July 6th, 2021 in bills, elections, government departments, identification, news by sally

‘Controversial plans to require voters to show photo ID at polling stations have been introduced in Parliament.’

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BBC News, 5th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Millions in UK face disenfranchisement under voter ID plans – The Guardian

Posted July 5th, 2021 in bills, elections, identification, news by tracey

‘Millions of voters could be disenfranchised under “discriminatory” plans due to be unveiled on Monday that will force people to carry identification to cast a ballot, Labour has warned.’

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The Guardian, 4th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court hears judicial review over voting provisions for blind and partially sighted people – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court is this week (15-16 June) hearing a second judicial review challenge in respect of the voting provisions for blind and partially sighted people.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th June 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Elections and compulsory photo ID – what effect will it have on Gypsies and Irish Travellers? – Each Other

Posted May 21st, 2021 in bills, elections, equality, human rights, identification, news, travellers by tracey

‘At the annual Queen’s Speech last week, the controversial Electoral Integrity Bill was announced. If passed, it means that voters will need to produce a valid form of photo ID when they cast their vote. The government rationale behind the legislation is to secure trust and prevent fraud in UK voting systems. It is thought the legislation will be in place by next year. Despite being routinely practiced in many countries, including Northern Ireland and the United States, this type of legislation has been criticised for deterring voters and, more problematically, disenfranchising poorer, minority and elderly voters. This is due to the fact that procuring approved forms of identification can be expensive and time consuming.’

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Each Other, 20th May 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Gareth Evans: The Senedd Election and the Constitutional Prospects for Welsh Devolution – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘On 6 May 2021, the people of Wales went to the polls in the sixth Senedd election. More so than in previous Senedd elections, the focus of the debate centred around a catalogue of distinctly Welsh political issues, including the constitutional future of the Welsh devolution settlement. Among the constitutional possibilities offered to voters at the election were proposals for both the abolition of the Senedd and Welsh independence, together with the more muted options of maintaining the constitutional status quo, or seeking the devolution of additional powers in areas such as justice and policing, transport and broadcasting.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 13th May 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Government’s Photo ID Plans Put Voters’ Rights At Risk – Each Other

‘Requiring voters to prove their identity by presenting photo ID at polling stations risks infringing electors’ right to vote freely and fairly.’

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Each Other, 11th May 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Boris Johnson flat inquiry: what sanctions can watchdog impose? – The Guardian

‘Boris Johnson is bracing for an investigation by the Electoral Commission into payments covering renovations to his Downing Street flat. What will the process will look like and what sanctions could the Conservative party face?’

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The Guardian, 28th April 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Care home residents ‘barred’ from voting in local elections because of Covid rules – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 15th, 2021 in care homes, care workers, coronavirus, elections, news, regulations by sally

‘Care home residents are “effectively barred” from voting in person in the elections by guidance that requires them to self-isolate for 14 days after leaving the home, a care group has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th April 2021

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

“You don’t have the votes!” – Tanveer Qureshi and Katharine Elliot – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Posted April 9th, 2021 in chambers articles, elections, fraud, news, political parties by sally

‘Imagine. The UK May 2024 general election is finally drawing to a close. After months of campaigning, the votes are in and pundits are predicting a clear win for Party A. The leader of Party B is concerned the election was not fair and accusations of voter fraud and spoiled ballets begin to fly on social media and the national news. How will this be investigated? Will anyone be prosecuted? Could the election result really be overturned?’

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4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 4th March 2021

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Supreme court to hear challenge to UK’s voter ID trial in 2019 election – The Guardian

‘The supreme court is to hear a challenge to the government’s decision to hold voter ID trials in 2019 in a case that could have implications for the wider rollout of the scheme.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

“You don’t have the votes!” – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Posted March 10th, 2021 in chambers articles, elections, local government, news, parliament by sally

‘Imagine. The UK May 2024 general election is finally drawing to a close. After months of campaigning, the votes are in and pundits are predicting a clear win for Party A. The leader of Party B is concerned the election was not fair and accusations of voter fraud and spoiled ballots begin to fly on social media and the national news. How will this be investigated? Will anyone be prosecuted? Could the election result really be overturned?’

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4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 4th March 2021

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Warning over photo ID law change for UK-wide and English elections – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2021 in bills, elections, equality, identification, minorities, news by tracey

‘Changing the law to force people to show photo ID to take part in UK elections will be catastrophic for ethnic minority communities, increasing barriers to access and in effect disenfranchising them, equality and democracy campaigners have warned.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted December 17th, 2020 in boundaries, conflict of laws, elections, legislation, parliament, treaties by tracey

Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020

Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Act 2020

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Trump’s challenges to the US election: What would happen here? – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

‘In light of the recent challenges to the US presidential election, Richard Price OBE QC and Vivienne Sedgley draw comparison with the means of challenging elections in England.’

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4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 2nd December 2020

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Legal action taken against PM over refusal to investigate Kremlin meddling – The Guardian

‘A cross-party group of MPs and peers including a former national security adviser are taking legal action against Boris Johnson over his government’s refusal to order an inquiry into Russian interference in UK elections.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK court overturns ruling on $1.8bn of Venezuelan gold – The Guardian

‘A battle for the control of more than $1.8bn worth of Venezuelan gold stored at the Bank of England has swung in favour of the government of Nicolás Maduro after an appeals court in London overturned an earlier high court ruling concerning whom the UK recognised as Venezuela’s president.’

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The Guardian, 5th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Challenge to new voter ID pilot dismissed by Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Government’s announcement that eleven local authorities across England would be taking part in voter ID pilots for the 2019 local elections was controversial. There is a heated debate as to whether citizens should have to provide photo identification before receiving their ballot at elections. For some, it is a straight-forward measure to avoid the risk of fraud. For others, it is a policy that, by design or inadvertently, leads to the disenfranchisement of certain groups.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th June 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Court of Appeal holds remote hearing for dispute over requirement for voter ID at elections – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 28th, 2020 in appeals, elections, identification, local government, news, remote hearings by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in an appeal over a High Court ruling last year that voter ID schemes in 10 local authorities were lawful.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK voter ID plan disenfranchises the poor, appeal court told – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2020 in appeals, documents, elections, equality, identification, news by sally

‘Pilot schemes requiring voters to produce photo ID at polling stations disenfranchise those who do not have or cannot find their documents and alienate people from the democratic process, the court of appeal has been told.’

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The Guardian, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com