Complexity of parliamentary legislation ‘undermining the rule of law’ – The Guardian

Posted April 16th, 2013 in legislation, legislative drafting, news, parliament, regulations, rule of law by sally

“Parliamentary legislation is excessively complex and its confusions undermine the rule of law, according to the official in charge of drafting government statutes.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Blow to freedom of speech as key libel reform the Defamation Bill is blocked – The Independent

Posted April 16th, 2013 in bills, defamation, freedom of expression, news, parliament by sally

“The Government is to block plans to reform Britain’s ‘chilling’ libel laws and to prevent large companies from silencing their critics with the threat of being sued.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Justice and Security Bill: The “Secret Courts” Endgame? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 26th, 2013 in bills, closed material, news, parliament, private hearings by sally

“Today we will see the beginning of the end of the passage of the Justice and Security Bill through Parliament: the process commonly known as parliamentary ‘ping-pong’.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 26th March 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lords to vote on restoring safeguards to plan for secret courts – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2013 in bills, closed material, news, parliament, private hearings by sally

“Peers vote on Tuesday on whether to restore extra safeguards to the justice and security bill – amendments that the government has warned will make the expansion of secret courts unworkable.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords plan parliamentary ‘ping pong’ to win battle over secret courts – The Guardian

Posted March 21st, 2013 in bills, closed material, news, parliament, private hearings by sally

“Peers intend to change justice and security bill as it shuttles between houses of parliament, government is warned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Politicians agree deal on post-Leveson Royal Charter for press regulation – but Daily Mail Group, News International and Telegraph Media Group refuse to sign up – The Independent

Posted March 19th, 2013 in charters, internet, legislation, media, news, parliament by tracey

“Britain’s largest newspaper groups are on a collision course with the Government over press regulation, after last night signalling their anger at the imposition of ‘several deeply contentious’ issues in a Royal Charter announced in Parliament by the Prime Minister.”

Full story

The Independent, 19th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jacob Rowbottom: Entrenching a Royal Charter – some initial thoughts – UK Constitutional Law Group

Posted March 18th, 2013 in bills, charters, legislation, media, news, parliament by sally

“After much political manoeuvring over the weekend, a deal has been struck on the Royal Charter to implement Leveson. A key point is that it will prevent the Charter being unilaterally changed by future governments.”

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Group, 18th March 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Cameron pulls the plug on press talks – and sets stage for fight – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2013 in freedom of expression, legislation, media, news, parliament, reports by tracey

“PM’s ejector-seat diplomacy over Leveson leaves him facing a complex parliamentary battle.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Caste discrimination should be outlawed, say Lords – The Guardian

“The House of Lords voted on Monday to outlaw discrimination against people on the basis of their caste.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Secret courts: Former top judge Lord Woolf backs government changes – BBC News

“The former head of the judiciary, Lord Woolf, has thrown his support behind plans to allow more civil courts to examine secret intelligence in private.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peers compromise over press regulation – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2013 in bills, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, parliament by sally

“Peers have staged a partial climbdown in their clash with the government over the introduction of Leveson-style controls on the press.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Upper Tribunal issues further decision in Prince Charles’ letters saga – Panopticon

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in disclosure, judicial review, news, parliament, public interest, royal family, veto by sally

“In the latest round of the legal and political boxing match that the Evans case has become, the Upper Tribunal (‘UT’), chaired by Walker J, has decided that the government should release its ‘schedules and lists’ of ‘advocacy correspondence’ between Prince Charles and various government departments.”

Full story

Panopticon, 21st February 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

A human rights reality check for the Home Secretary – UK Human Rights Blog

“The Home Secretary, Theresa May, is no stranger to ill-founded outbursts concerning the evils of human rights. Against that background, her recent article in the Mail on Sunday (to which Adam Wager has already drawn attention) does not disappoint. May’s ire is drawn by certain recent judicial decisions in which the deportation of foreign criminals has been ruled unlawful on the ground that it would breach their right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Some of these judgments, May contends, flout instructions issued to judges by Parliament about how such cases should be decided.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th February 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Gerry McCann calls for press control laws – and 75% of the public agree – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2013 in arbitration, inquiries, interception, media, news, parliament, privacy, victims by sally

“Poll shows overwhelming support for missing Madeleine’s father on how Leveson inquiry findings must be enforced.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leveson report: Lords unveil proposals in frustration at lack of progress – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2013 in arbitration, bills, defamation, media, news, parliament, reports by tracey

“Frustration in the Lords at the lack of progress over the Leveson report has led four peers to table measures to introduce a low-cost arbitration service for defamation, as recommended by Lord Justice Leveson in the defamation bill.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lobbyists’ code of conduct bill to be debated for first time in parliament – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2013 in bills, lobbying, news, parliament, professional conduct by tracey

“Lobbyists working in Westminster or local government would have to sign a public register and agree to a code of conduct under a bill being debated for the first time in parliament on Friday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banning drugs drives a ‘rising tide’ of legal highs, peers warn – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 14th, 2013 in crime, drug offences, inquiries, news, parliament by tracey

“The current classification system simply cannot keep up as a new legal high emerges every six days in the UK and young people share links to where they can be bought online and via their mobile phones, Baroness Meacher, chairwoman of the parliamentary inquiry into legal highs, said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lord Phillips to challenge government on Supreme Court admin appointments – The Lawyer

Posted December 17th, 2012 in bills, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news, parliament, Supreme Court by sally

“The former president of the Supreme Court, Lord Phillips, will challenge the right of the government to appoint the court’s chief executive in a proposed amendment to the Crime and Courts Bill this week.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 17th December 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Baroness D’Souza – The Role of the House of Lords in the Parliamentary Process – UCL Constitution Unit

Posted December 17th, 2012 in constitutional law, news, parliament by sally

“Looking above and beyond current debates about the House of Lords’ composition, Baroness D’Souza will discuss the Lords in terms of its place in the parliamentary process. Having now been in post for over a year, Baroness D’Souza will present her vision for the Lords’ future, its contribution to the political system, changes to its working practices and the role of the Lord Speaker. She will also cover public perceptions of the Upper House and the importance of outreach.”

Video

UCL Constitution Unit, 14th December 2012

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

Judges take on ministers over supreme court – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2012 in bills, judiciary, news, parliament, Supreme Court by sally

“The government is facing a clash with some of the country’s most senior judges who will this week attempt to force ministers to relinquish control of the running of the supreme court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk