Westminster attack: PC Keith Palmer could have been saved if Met put armed police on Parliament gates, coroner finds – The Independent

Posted October 4th, 2018 in firearms, inquests, London, news, parliament, police by tracey

‘”Shortcomings in security” outside the Houses of Parliament contributed to the death of a police officer during the Westminster attack, a coroner has concluded.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tanzil Chowdhury: Statutorising UK Military Deployments and Assessing Anxieties of Their Justiciability – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted September 20th, 2018 in bills, constitutional law, international law, news, parliament, war by tracey

‘The paramount anxieties that emerge from attempts to statutorising Parliament’s role in making decisions on whether to commit military action abroad has not just been to do with deferring power from the executive to the Commons, but also with the potential justiciability of such decisions. While frequent attempts to table such bills are often accompanied with assurances that these fears are misplaced, this post argues that putting Parliament’s role in deployment decisions, considered a matter of high policy, on a statutory footing could pierce the seemingly impermeable veil of non-justiciability that attend them and subject these decisions to common law review – a development that ought to be welcome.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 17th September 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

MPs who use parliamentary privilege to break court orders undermine the judiciary, says Lord Chief Justice – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 11th, 2018 in injunctions, judges, judiciary, news, parliament, parliamentary privilege by tracey

‘MPs who “abuse” parliamentary privilege to break injunctions are eroding confidence in the justice system, the Lord Chief Justice has said. Lord Burnett of Maldon, the head of the judiciary, warned that the phenomenon was part of the “gentle erosion of support” for the courts.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th September 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

What Does The John Worboys Case Have To Do With The Separation Of Powers? – Rights Info

Posted August 23rd, 2018 in judiciary, news, parliament, parole by sally

‘The separation of powers is one of the most important safeguards for our democracy. But the serial-rapist John Worboys’ case has lead to questions about whether the separation of powers is really being protected.’

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Rights Info, 22nd August 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Daughters in legal bid for House of Lords seat rights – BBC News

‘Five daughters of hereditary peers are to challenge a law that stops them from being elected to the House of Lords. They are taking the government to the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to end the system of male primogeniture which has resulted in almost all titles being passed to male heirs.’

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BBC News, 16th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs’ anti-bullying rules will cover Speaker, Leadsom suggests – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2018 in bullying, news, parliament, professional conduct by tracey

‘New rules to stop MPs from bullying and harassing staff will cover the office of the Speaker, meaning that any future complaints about John Bercow would have to be investigated, the leader of the Commons has suggested.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stephen Tierney: The Legislative Supremacy of Government – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted July 4th, 2018 in bills, brexit, constitutional law, EC law, news, parliament, prerogative powers by sally

‘At the same time as Parliament prepares to ‘take back control’ from Brussels, the executive is in fact accruing to itself further control over the legislative process. In this post I address a number of trends – only some of which are a direct consequence of the unique circumstances of Brexit – which suggest a deeper realignment of institutional power within the constitution and a consequent diminution of Parliament’s legislative power.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 3rd July 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Cross-party group of MPs seek to close loophole in upskirting bill – The Guardian

Posted June 29th, 2018 in bills, news, outraging public decency, parliament, photography by tracey

‘A cross-party group of MPs will seek to close a loophole in the government’s upskirting bill that could have allowed people who took images for financial gain or simply for fun to escape justice. The Conservative MP Maria Miller has held discussions with Labour’s Jess Phillips and the Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse about an amendment that would ensure there was a blanket ban on taking the voyeuristic images whatever the motivation.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

£2.4m spent on House of Commons gagging clauses – BBC News

‘The House of Commons spent £2.4m on “gagging clauses” for former staff since 2013, BBC Newsnight has learned. Fifty-three departing members of the House of Commons Service signed contracts compelling them not to reveal information about the Commons.’

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BBC News, 22nd June 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The EU Withdrawal Bill in the Commons: Parliament surrendering control? – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted June 19th, 2018 in amendments, bills, constitutional reform, EC law, news, parliament by sally

‘Last week, the EU Withdrawal Bill returned to the Commons, so MPs could scrutinise and vote on amendments made to it by the House of Lords. The Bill survived its passage in the House of Commons last year relatively intact, with only one amendment carried against the Government. Things were different, however, in the Lords, where the Government was defeated on 15 substantial amendments.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 18th June 2018

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Carl Sargeant family say they are being excluded from inquiry – The Guardian

‘The family of Carl Sargeant have claimed they are being excluded from an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his sacking as a Welsh minister four days before he took his own life.’

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The Guardian, 18th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Francis Young: Parliament and Taking Back Control: A Precedent from the Maastricht Debates – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted June 18th, 2018 in bills, constitutional law, EC law, news, parliament, referendums, treaties by sally

‘This post considers whether it is a convention of the British constitution that Parliament cannot direct the executive in the making of treaties. The context, of course, is the current tussle over whether the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill should be amended to allow the House of Commons a “meaningful vote” on the outcome of the current negotiations with the EU.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 15th June 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

MPs condemn Home Office deportation threats over taxes – The Guardian

Posted June 14th, 2018 in deportation, mistake, news, parliament, taxation, terrorism by tracey

‘Caroline Nokes, the immigration minister, has been accused by MPs of either not having a grip on her department or being recklessly incompetent for allowing the use of counter-terrorism powers to force the removal of highly skilled migrants from the UK over their taxes.’

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The Guardian, 13th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jack Simson Caird: Parliament’s Right to a ‘Meaningful Vote’: Amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted June 12th, 2018 in amendments, bills, constitutional reform, EC law, news, parliament, treaties by sally

‘On Tuesday 12 June 2018, the Government will ask the House of Commons to reject the Lords’ meaningful vote amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (Lords Amendment 19). If the amendment is rejected, the Government will ask the Commons to accept its own alternative version, known as an ‘amendment in lieu’. If either amendment is enacted, and the Commons uses its veto to reject the Withdrawal Agreement, this would be a constitutionally unprecedented situation. This post looks at the Government’s ‘amendment in lieu’, and the features that distinguish it from the Lords’ amendment.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 11th June 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Let battle commence: Labour, Lib Dems and top judges bid to reduce impact of whiplash reforms – Legal Futures

Posted June 12th, 2018 in bills, news, parliament, personal injuries by sally

‘Opposition peers and leading legal figures will today try and curb the government’s whiplash reforms as the Civil Liability Bill enters its crucial report stage.’

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Legal Futures, 12th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MPs and peers call for judge-led inquiry into UK rights abuses – The Guardian

Posted June 12th, 2018 in human rights, inquiries, news, parliament, rendition, torture by sally

‘An all-party group of MPs and peers has written to Theresa May demanding a judge-led inquiry into the UK’s role in human rights abuses since September 11.’

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The Guardian, 11th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

John Bercow will not be investigated over ‘stupid woman’ row – The Guardian

‘John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, will not be investigated by the standards watchdog over allegations that he described the cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom as a “stupid woman”.’

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The Guardian, 4th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

MP calls for parliamentary inquiry into Garden Bridge – BBC News

Posted May 30th, 2018 in budgets, inquiries, London, news, parliament, transport by sally

‘An MP has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the Garden Bridge project over concerns Transport for London (TfL) may have been misled to secure £7m of its funding.’

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BBC News, 26th May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

John Bercow: Probe into Commons Speaker bullying claims blocked – The Independent

‘A probe into allegations John Bercow bullied members of staff has been blocked by MPs. The Commons Standards Committee voted three-two against allowing Parliament’s watchdog to investigate the claims.’

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The Independent, 17th May 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lords overturn MPs with vote for second Leveson inquiry – The Guardian

Posted May 15th, 2018 in corruption, inquiries, media, news, parliament by sally

‘The House of Lords has once again voted to establish a fresh Leveson-style public inquiry into the conduct of the media, overturning a decision made by MPs last week and setting up another showdown with the government.’

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The Guardian, 14th May 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com