Category: parliament
Straw delays Lords reform until after general election – The Guardian
“The justice secretary, Jack Straw, yesterday put Lords reform on ice until after the next general election, saying the best way to make progress was to secure clear manifesto commitments to a mainly elected upper house from all three main parties.”
The Guardian, 20th July 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Straw to unveil Lords reform plans – The Guardian
“The death knell will be sounded today for a wholly appointed House of Lords, as the government lays out its final plans for reforming the upper chamber.”
The Guardian, 19th July 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Brown’s constitutional reforms aim to restore public trust in politics – The Independent
“Sweeping reforms to the way Britain is governed have been outlined by Gordon Brown in an attempt to clean up politics and restore trust after the Blair era.”
The Independent, 4th July 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Sharma and others v. Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago – WLR Daily
Sharma and others v. Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago [2007] UKPC 42
“The Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago by implication conferred on an elected member of the House of Representatives a right to be paid a salary enforceable from the day after the general election poll if the member present and willing to take the oath was thereafter, for any procedural reason, denied the opportunity to do so.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council so held when allowing an appeal by the 18 appellants from the decision of the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago.”
WLR Daily, 20th June 2007
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Lords warn against curbs on FoI – The Guardian
“Parliament’s reputation is “at serious risk” from attempts to exempt its members from the freedom of information act, a powerful Lords committee warned today.”
The Guardian, 21st June 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Freedom Of Information: The end looks nigh for this ‘squalid little Bill’ – The Independent
“An ill-conceived attempt to remove Parliament from Britain’s newly created Freedom of Information laws now looks almost certain to fail. The Tory MP David Maclean’s Private Member’s Bill, supported by ministers and elements of the Labour Party, has failed to attract a peer to sponsor it in the House of Lords.”
The Independent, 15th June 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Lack of Lords sponsor wrecks plan to exempt MPs from FoI Act – The Guardian
“A move to exempt parliament from the Freedom of Information Act appeared to have collapsed last night, when no peer came forward to sponsor the private member’s bill lodged by the former Tory chief whip, David Maclean, in the Lords.”
The Guardian, 14th June 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Commons to debate Shipman case – BBC News
“Mass murderer Harold Shipman is to be the subject of an MPs’ debate this month, the government has said.”
BBC News, 7th June 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Legal Services Bill launches pilot amendments scheme – Ministry of Justice
“The Legal Services Bill has been selected as the pilot bill to examine how explanatory statements for amendments to bills will work in practice. The first explanatory statements were made today, 7 June.”
Ministry of Justice Announcement, 7th June 2007
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
MPs have no reason to be exempt from FoI law, watchdog warns – The Independent
“A campaign by MPs to remove themselves from open government laws in order to protect the privacy of their constituents has been seriously undermined by the UK’s information watchdog.”
The Independent, 25th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Lords face full election under Brown plans – The Guardian
“Gordon Brown is to unveil plans for a fully elected second chamber, based on proportional representation, the Guardian has learned. Mr Brown is likely to face strong opposition from members of the current House of Lords. In an effort to neutralise this, he will bring forward his proposals as part of a larger package of wide constitutional reform, based on a national consultation.”
The Guardian, 21st May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Freedom of information ‘needs restraints’ – The Times
“A crackdown on those who abuse the Freedom of Information Act will begin this week as the row intensifies over whether MPs should be exempt from the law.”
The Times, 21st May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
MPs vote themselves exemption from freedom of information law – The Independent
“Britain’s fledgling open government laws were delivered a serious blow yesterday when MPs, backed by government ministers, voted to grant themselves a blanket exemption from the legislation. The move was roundly condemned by freedom of information campaigners and MPs opposed to the measure, who said it represented an attack on democracy.”
The Independent, 19th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Lords to shame MPs over secrecy bill – The Observer
“Members of Parliament who voted to remove themselves from anti-secrecy laws are to be ‘put to shame’ by peers gearing up to block a similar move for the House of Lords.”
The Observer, 20th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
MPs make themselves exempt from FOI – The Times
“A move to exempt Parliament from freedom of information law has been approved by MPs after attempts to block it in the Commons failed.”
The Times, 18th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Peers strike blow on legal services reform – Law Society’s Gazette
“Report stage in the Lords is where the most important changes to a legislative measure are usually made, so it will be no surprise to learn that the Legal Services Bill has been much amended in recent days. And with another day of report still to come, there are bound to be more.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd May 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Freedom of information: Open democracy under threat from Parliament – The Independent
“Proposals to remove MPs from the ambit of the Freedom of Information Act are to be debated today. Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, considers what is at stake.”
The Independent, 30th April 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
MPs to debate info exemption bid – BBC News
“Debate on the controversial bill to exempt MPs from freedom of information laws has been delayed until May.”
BBC News, 27th April 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Ministers back bill giving FoI exemption for parliament – The Guardian
“Senior ministers are backing a controversial bill to exempt parliament from the Freedom of Information Act as a second attempt is made on Friday to push the legislation through the Commons.”
The Guardian, 25th April 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
