parliament – Current Awareness

How (and when) does party matter? Explaining MPs’ positions on assisted dying/assisted suicide – Parliamentary Affairs

Posted March 27th, 2025 in assisted suicide, bills, news, parliament, political parties by sally

‘While the legalisation of assisted dying/assisted suicide (AD/AS) has enjoyed sustained public support for several decades, Parliament has repeatedly voted decisively against legalisation. This article explores this parliamentary deviation from citizens’ preferences by explaining what shapes MPs’ positions on this free vote issue and, in particular, how (and when) party matters in shaping these positions. It considers both the last Commons vote in 2015 and developments up to July 2024, thus avoiding a snapshot analysis of a single moment in time. It finds that while party mattered in the 2015 vote, it was one of many factors that mattered, and was not obviously the most important. However, developments since 2015 suggest that party is likely to play a greater role in the next vote, which is expected in the current parliamentary term.’

Parliamentary Affairs, 1st March 2025

Source: academic.oup.com

The United Kingdom constitution – a mapping exercise – House of Commons Library

Posted March 26th, 2025 in constitutional law, news, parliament by sally

‘It is often said that the constitution of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is “unwritten”, or even that it does not exist. In fact, and as the Law Wales website notes, “most of the laws, conventions and understandings relating to the constitution are written down”, it is just that “they cannot be found conveniently written down all in one place”. This lack of a codified constitution makes the UK unusual but not unique: Israel and New Zealand also lack fully codified constitutions.’

House of Commons Library, 25th March 2025

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

E-petitioning Parliament: Understanding the connections between citizens and the UK Parliament – Parliamentary Affairs

Posted March 26th, 2025 in consultations, news, parliament by sally

‘2025 marks ten years since the UK Government and Parliament e-petitions system was established in a context of political dissatisfaction and disengagement with representative democracy. This article responds to calls for empirically grounded research about the mechanisms that connect citizens to their representative institutions by focussing on parliamentary e-petitions as a popular tool for citizen engagement with political processes. It presents findings from qualitative research with animal welfare e-petition creators, campaigners, and the MPs who supported them to highlight the role played by petitioners themselves in ensuring that their voices are heard. It also considers the ‘added value’ of e-petitions as a political campaigning tool from the perspective of petitioners by highlighting the spillover effects that arise from using an e-petition system that has formal ties to parliament. In doing so this article makes novel contributions to understandings of political participation via institutionally facilitated democratic innovations.’

Parliamentary Affairs, 14th March 2025

Source: academic.oup.com

Assisted dying law could take four years to implement – BBC News

Posted March 26th, 2025 in assisted suicide, bills, news, parliament, time limits by sally

‘A new assisted dying law for England and Wales could take up to four years to fully implement due to additional safeguards being adopted as the bill goes through Parliament.’

BBC News, 25th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pre-Nuptial Agreements: an ‘Oven-Ready’ Solution to a Pressing Problem? A House of Lords Debate – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted March 17th, 2025 in bills, divorce, financial provision, news, parliament, prenuptial agreements by sally

‘Late last month, Baroness Deech brought a motion in the House of Lords, “That this House takes note of the law relating to prenuptial agreements”.The debate came against the backdrop of Baroness Deech having (of course) long pursued financial remedies reform through her Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill. She has gone on record as saying that she and Baroness Shackleton were ‘misled’ when, in 2020, they were “guaranteed” a review of the financial elements of divorce during the passage of the no fault divorce legislation; that we are lagging 50 years behind nearly every other country in the western world; and that financial remedies law as it stands “is so antagonistic and unreformed that it undermines the alleged good points of the no-fault divorce law.”’

Financial Remedies Journal, 13th March 2025

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Peers to probe state of rule of law – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 12th, 2025 in constitutional law, education, government departments, judiciary, media, news, parliament, rule of law, select committees by sally

‘The state of the rule of law in the UK is to come under scrutiny by a high-powered committee of peers with members including a former lord chief justice. The House of Lords Constitution Committee today invited written contributions into an inquiry “seeking to understand the rule of law as a constitutional principle and what the state of the rule of law is in the UK.”‘

Law Society's Gazette, 11th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Research Briefing: Crime and Policing Bill 2024-25 – House of Commons Library

Posted March 7th, 2025 in bills, criminal justice, government departments, investigatory powers, news, parliament, police by sally

‘The Crime and Policing Bill 2024-25 was published on 27 February 2025. The bill is listed for second reading on 10 March 2025.’

House of Commons Library, 6th March 2025

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Max Taylor: A Role for Parliament in Independent Judicial Appointments: A Comparison with the Comptroller and Auditor General – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted February 19th, 2025 in judiciary, news, parliament, recruitment by sally

‘The Starmer ministry plans to “…deepen our democracy by reforming Parliament…”, but missing from its proposals is any reconsideration of whether Parliament should adopt a role in judicial appointments somewhat analogous to that of the US Senate in federal judicial appointments (US Constitution, Art II, s 2). Debate about such a proposal has recurred from time to time (for example, in the wake of the Miller II judgment in 2019), but has invariably been rejected for reasons well encapsulated by the House of Lords Constitution Committee.’

UK Constitutional Law Association, 19th February 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Devon man jailed for sending ‘utterly deplorable’ email to Jess Phillips MP – The Guardian

Posted February 19th, 2025 in child abuse, criminal justice, electronic mail, government departments, imprisonment, internet, malicious communications, news, parliament, restraining orders, sentencing by sally

‘A 39-year-old man has been jailed for sending an “utterly deplorable” email to safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, one day after she was criticised by X owner Elon Musk.’

The Guardian, 18th February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Starmer in public row with most senior judge over Gaza immigration decision – The Independent

Posted February 19th, 2025 in appeals, government departments, immigration, Israel, judges, judiciary, news, parliament by sally

‘Sir Keir Starmer has found himself in a row with the most senior judge in England and Wales after criticising an immigration decision at last week’s Prime Minister’s Questions.’

The Independent, 19th February 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ben Yong: What—and Who—is Parliament? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted February 13th, 2025 in constitutional law, news, parliament, repairs by sally

‘The Palace of Westminster is a symbol of British democracy, and it is falling apart. It is a serious danger to those who work within it: a recent news report suggested the Palace could be the next ‘Notre Dame inferno’. For years parliamentarians have repeatedly argued over what to do about this grim state of affairs, because fixing the Palace involves a very serious and painful investment of money—billions of pounds; and because it potentially means parliamentarians will have to leave the Palace—for decades. Observers watch this dire state of affairs with increasing dread. Thinking about the Restoration and Renewal (‘R&R’) of the Palace, therefore, raises questions of responsibility, both legal and moral, but it also prompts us to ask more metaphysical questions: what—and who—is Parliament?’

UK Constitutional Law Association, 13th February 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Mark K Heatley: The Disadvantages of Local Legislation – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted February 11th, 2025 in constitutional law, legal history, legislation, local government, news, parliament by sally

‘The term Private Acts of Parliament (PA) is widely used to include local Acts, that benefit organizations such as local authorities or authorize major infrastructure projects and are often of limited geographical extent, or personal Acts that benefit individuals. This post considers the reasons for the decline in the enaction of Local Acts of Parliament (LAs), which began in the nineteenth century with the process of enacting local legislation by provisional order. Provisional orders were introduced as a substitute for LAs and were issued by a Minister following a local inquiry, under the authority of an Act of Parliament, but required a later individual and specific confirmatory Act of Parliament. Although their occasional use has persisted, they in turn were largely replaced by Special Procedure Orders following the passing of the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act in 1945.’

UK Constitutional Law Association, 11th February 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Assisted dying bill amendment aims to close potential ‘anorexia loophole’ – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2025 in assisted suicide, bills, health, mental health, news, parliament, select committees, suicide by sally

‘MPs will look to close a potential anorexia loophole in the assisted dying bill that psychiatrists fear could result in people with severe eating disorders using it to end their lives. The Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney, who sits on the committee of MPs that will scrutinise the proposed law, is tabling an amendment to tighten the language around mental capacity.’

The Guardian, 21st January 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

MPs meet to scrutinise assisted dying bill for first time – The Independent

Posted January 22nd, 2025 in assisted suicide, bills, health, mental health, news, parliament, select committees, suicide by sally

‘The crucial committee which will scrutinise the assisted dying bill was told to be “civil and courteous” as members met for the first time ahead of expert evidence hearings at the end of January. The 23-member committee has a majority of MPs who are supportive of assisted dying, including two government ministers Stephen Kinnock and Sarah Sackman. The MPs, who will test the proposed legislation line by line, met on Tuesday to set out the timetable for the inquiry process.’

The Independent, 21st January 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted January 22nd, 2025 in legislation, parliament, Russia, Ukraine, war, women by sally

Financial Assistance to Ukraine Act 2025 c. 3

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Act 2025 c.2

Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Act 2025 c.1

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Alyssa Nathanson-Tanner: The Irresistible Temptations of Patronage: Prime Ministerial Appointment of Crossbenchers – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted January 21st, 2025 in constitutional reform, ministers' powers and duties, news, parliament, peerages & dignities by sally

‘Among the many questions raised by the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury in November 2024, the peerage which has customarily been awarded by the Prime Minister hangs in the balance. The Prime Minister enjoys an unlimited discretion to appoint new peers, and since the Life Peerages Act 1958 has granted a life peerage on retirement from certain public offices, the Archbishop of Canterbury among them. Every Prime Minister in the 21st century has exercised their significant power of patronage in relation to these office holders, who join the Crossbenches of the House of Lords.’

UK Constitutional Law Association, 21st January 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Research Briefing: A short introduction to equality law and policy – House of Commons Library

Posted December 4th, 2024 in equality, human rights, news, parliament by sally

‘This briefing provides an overview of equality law, summarising the main concepts and the role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.’

House of Commons Library, 2nd December 2024

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Assisted dying bill passes after vote paving the way for historic change – The Independent

Posted November 29th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, government departments, health, news, parliament, suicide by michael

‘After five hours of intense and heartfelt debate, in which some members of parliament were brought to tears, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed in the House of Commons with 330 voting in favour and 275 against.’

The Independent, 29th November 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Assisted dying bill will not be adopted as government bill if it passes vote – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, government departments, news, parliament, suicide by michael

‘Civil servants and ministers will begin work on implementing the assisted dying bill if it passes its first stage in parliament on Friday, but the Guardian understands it will not be adopted as a government bill.’

The Guardian, 28th November 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

FCA is ‘incompetent at best, dishonest at worst’, claim MPs and peers – The Guardian

Posted November 26th, 2024 in financial regulation, news, parliament, reports by sally

‘Britain’s financial sector watchdog is “incompetent at best, dishonest at worst”, according to a damning report by MPs and Lords which called for a big shake-up.’

The Guardian, 26th November 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

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