MPs’ spouses ‘to fight job ban’ – BBC News

Posted October 28th, 2009 in employment, married persons, news, parliament, unfair dismissal by sally

“Spouses who are employed by MPs are preparing to look into legal action if they are barred from their jobs.”

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BBC News, 27th October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How I’d abolish the House of Lords, by Lord Bingham – The Guardian

Posted October 23rd, 2009 in constitutional reform, lectures, parliament by sally

“This is an edited extract from the Jan Grodecki annual lecture, delivered last night at Leicester University.”

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The Guardian, 23rd October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill second reading – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 21st, 2009 in constitutional reform, news, parliament by sally

“Government proposals to end the hereditary principle in the House of Lords will be debated today as the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill has its second reading.”

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Ministry of Justice, 20th October 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Free speech in parliament is precious, says lord chief justice – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, news, parliament by sally

“Britain’s most senior judge has warned his fellow judges that he cannot envisage any circumstances in which it would be “constitutionally possible or proper” for a court to make an order that gagged debate in parliament. His warning follows the Guardian’s free speech victory last week when lawyers for the oil trading company Trafigura gave up their attempt to gag parliament over its dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast.”

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The Guardian, 20th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Carter-Ruck in new move to stop debate in parliament – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2009 in contempt of court, injunctions, law firms, news, parliament by sally

“The law firm Carter-Ruck has made a fresh move that could stop an MPs’ debate next week by claiming a controversial injunction it has obtained is ‘sub judice’.”

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The Guardan, 16th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gordon Brown calls for reform of super-injunctions – The Guardian

Posted October 15th, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, law firms, media, news, parliament by sally

“Gordon Brown today stepped into the row over the use of super-injunctions that ban reporting of a story and also the existence of the ban, telling MPs the legal tactic was ‘an unfortunate area of the law’.”

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The Guardian, 15th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MP to report Carter-Ruck to Law Society over attempt to gag Guardian – The Guardian

Posted October 14th, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, law firms, media, news, parliament by sally

“The law firm at the centre of the an unprecedented attempt by a British oil trading firm to prevent the Guardian reporting parliamentary proceedings is to be reported to the Law Society, it emerged today.”

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The Guardian, 14th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawcast 155: The Guardian Gag affair with Carl Gardner – Charon QC

Posted October 14th, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, internet, media, parliament, podcasts by sally

“Today I am talking to Carl Gardner, ex government lawyer, a barrister and author of The Head of Legal blog. We look at whether the Bill of Rights has, in fact, been infringed by the gag, the use of injunctions generally and specifically in this instance, the use of parliamentary privilege and whether the judges are going too far in granting injunctions which can, effectively, be destroyed in their effect by many thousands of angry people on twitter and in the blogosphere.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 13th October 2009

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.

Gag on Guardian reporting MP’s Trafigura question lifted – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, media, news, parliament by sally

“The existence of a previously secret injunction against the media by oil traders Trafigura can now be revealed.”

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The Guardian, 13th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Guardian gagged from reporting parliament – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, media, news, parliament by sally

“The Guardian has been prevented from reporting parliamentary proceedings on legal grounds which appear to call into question privileges guaranteeing free speech established under the 1688 Bill of Rights.”

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The Guardian, 12th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs with questionable claims to be barred from Lords – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 1st, 2009 in expenses, news, parliament, peerages & dignities by sally

“MPs with questionable expenses claims will be barred from taking a seat in the House of Lords if they choose to stand down before the election.”

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Daily Telegraph, 1st September 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ex-peers ‘blocked from being MPs’ – BBC News

Posted August 27th, 2009 in elections, news, parliament, peerages & dignities by sally

“Jack Straw is to amend plans allowing life peers to resign from the House of Lords, to stop them standing as an MP for up to five years, it is reported.”

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BBC News, 27th August 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

House of Lords ‘unfinished business’ – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 27th, 2009 in news, parliament, peerages & dignities by sally

“Reform of the House of Lords is ‘unfinished business’ and a fundamental part of restoring trust in politics, Jack Straw said today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 26th August 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Jack Straw to outline Lords reforms but warns of 12-year delay – The Guardian

Posted August 26th, 2009 in news, parliament by sally

“Reformers will have to wait more than a decade before the House of Lords is replaced by a predominantly elected chamber, Jack Straw, the justice secretary, will announce today. In a seminar on the future of the Lords, hosted by the Guardian, he will outline plans to ensure that 80% of the second chamber is elected within 12 to 15 years.”

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The Guardian, 26th August 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government may allow Commons time to hear assisted dying bill – The Guardian

Posted August 4th, 2009 in assisted suicide, news, parliament by sally

“The government is to consider giving time for a bill to allow assisted dying if the director of public prosecutions fails to come up with clearer advice on when it is legal or illegal to help someone to die.”

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The Guardian, 3rd August 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Warning over constitution reforms – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2009 in constitutional reform, news, parliament by sally

“The government’s attempts to reform the UK constitution risk failure if they are carried out in too ‘ad hoc and piecemeal’ a way, an MPs’ report said.”

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BBC News, 29th July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parliamentary Standards Act 2009

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in expenses, legislation, parliament, parliamentary privilege by sally

Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 published

Full text of Act (PDF)

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Expenses clean-up bill is passed – BBC News

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in expenses, news, parliament, parliamentary privilege by sally

“A bill aimed at cleaning up Parliament after the MPs’ expenses scandal has become law after getting Royal Assent.”

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BBC News, 22nd July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

House of Lords reforms will remove hereditary principle – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 21st, 2009 in constitutional reform, news, parliament, peerages & dignities by sally

“Reforms unveiled today by Jack Straw as part of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill will remove the hereditary principle from the House of Lords and allow for the disqualification of peers found guilty of serious criminal offences.”

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Ministry of Justice, 20th July 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Peers line up to block House of Lords reforms – The Independent

Posted July 20th, 2009 in constitutional reform, news, parliament, peerages & dignities by sally

“Plans to turn the House of Lords into an elected chamber could be blocked by overwhelming opposition among peers, research for The Independent has revealed.”

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The Independent, 20th July 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk