“Who should decide questions of human rights, Parliament or the courts? Is there a democratic deficit in human rights? If so, how do we go about addressing it? These are just some of the many questions asked at the conference hosted by the Arts and Humanities Council on Redressing the Democratic Deficit in Human Rights.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 20th April 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
“Britain is likely to be sued over plans to raise the price of cheap alcohol after European officials amid warnings from the drinks industry that the policy could be illegal.”
Daily Telegraph, 24th March 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“Parliament will this week be forced to confront the question of whether people who help loved ones end their lives should escape prosecution. MPs will be asked to vote in support of guidance drawn up by the director of public prosecutions two years ago that distinguishes between compassionate amateur assistance, which is unlikely to result in prosecution, and malicious encouragement, which can carry a maximum 14-year sentence.”
The Guardian, 25th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“MPs’ expenses receipts should not be shown to the public, Westminster’s new standards watchdog has ruled.”
Daily Telegraph, 24th March 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“Plans for radical reforms to the justice system have moved another step forward in the Houses of Parliament.”
Ministry of Justice, 21st March 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“The High Court has upheld an order by the Home Secretary preventing Maryam Rajavi, a prominent Iranian dissident, from speaking in Parliament. The exclusion order was imposed because of concerns about the deterioration of bilateral relationships between this country and the Iranian government, and fears that if the exclusion order was lifted there could be reprisals that put British nationals at risk and make further consular cooperation even more problematic. For further details of the Home Secretary’s decision see Henry Oliver’s excellent discussion of the case ‘Free Speech and Iranian Dissent in Parliament’.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 21st March 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
“Dr Liam Fox, the former defence secretary, has been ordered to repay £3,000 in parliamentary expenses for allowing his unofficial adviser to use his taxpayer-funded second home rent-free.”
Daily Telegraph, 15th March 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“The government’s embattled legal aid bill has suffered its ninth defeat in the House of Lords as peers voted against the mandatory use of telephone advice lines.”
The Guardian, 14th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“MPs will face a ‘rising tide of need’ from constituents with unmet legal needs if the government’s legal aid cuts are implemented, according to a report published today [14 March] by the Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) group.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 14th March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Government plans for saving £350m a year in legal aid expenses suffered fresh defeats in the House of Lords after peers overturned a series of cost-saving proposals.”
The Guardian, 7th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Government attempts to save £350m by limiting the availability of legal aid have suffered a succession of defeats in the House of Lords.”
The Guardian, 5th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Intelligence chiefs will be questioned in public for the first time to ensure that the secret services cannot escape the scrutiny of ‘open democracy’, a leading MP said yesterday.”
Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“The House of Lords has backed changes to the bail laws following a campaign by the parents of the murdered Lancashire nurse Jane Clough.”
BBC News, 9th February 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“An analysis by the Times (‘Legislation gap makes light work for MPs’, 27 January) has revealed that MPs have spent a mere 24% of their time in the last four months considering government legislation. During the same period in the previous year, the figure was 62%.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd February 2012
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk/
“Government uses rare parliamentary procedure to annul seven adjustments to reform and prevent further challenges from peers.”
The Guardian, 1st February 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“MPs reviewing the UK’s freedom of information (FOI) regime should assess its success based on evidence and facts, the Information Commissioner has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 1st February 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
“The government’s plans to reform welfare were badly hit on Wednesday when it suffered three defeats in the House of Lords on proposed benefit cuts.”
The Guardian, 11th January 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“There has been a lull in the media recently about the rights and wrongs of assisted dying, but the conflict is sure to break out again with the imminent publication of the report from Lord Falconer’s commission, established to consider changes to the law.”
The Guardian, 1st January 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Judge to decide on whether former Labour MP accused of falsely claiming £80,000 expenses should face trial.”
The Guardian, 15th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Three former Labour MPs who were jailed for fiddling their expenses have been ordered to pay back a total of £125,000 – less than half of the money spent on their court cases.”
Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
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