Arms treaty ‘must not be blunted’ – BBC News
“A treaty to ease the supply of military equipment from the US to UK forces must not be ‘blunted’ by over-restrictive regulations, MPs have said.”
BBC News, 11th December 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: treaties
MPs demand debate on treaty – The Guardian
“The deal secured by Gordon Brown on the EU reform treaty is subject to fresh doubts today as a committee of MPs warns that the government has failed in its pledge to retain control of justice and home affairs matters. The European scrutiny committee has demanded a fresh debate on the treaty before it is signed by heads of government because of ‘ambiguous’ wording in the treaty.”
The Guardian, 27th November 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
State of the Union – Law Society’s Gazette
“Leaders of the European Union member states will sign a new reform treaty next month. But what are the legal implications of this landmark agreement for the UK?
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th November 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Paul Lasok: EU referendum would clear air – Legal Week
“In the UK, treaty-making is a matter for the Crown acting in conjunction with Parliament. The few instances of referendums and the like are insufficient to give rise to a constitutional convention saying that a referendum must be held if a treaty such as the European Union (EU) Reform Treaty is to be ratified. Whether or not there should be a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty is therefore a political rather than a legal question. This is except for the idea once floated by the Conservative Party of holding a referendum after ratification with a view to backing out of the Reform Treaty if it found against it, which does have legal implications. The professed purpose of such a post-ratification referendum is to engineer a breach by the UK of a legally binding promise that it had entered into freely and in accordance with domestic procedures and processes.”
Legal Week, 15th November 2007
Source: www.legalweek.com
The Governance of Britain – War Powers and Treaties: Limiting Executive Powers – Ministry of Justice
“This consultation document seeks views on the role of Parliament in decisions to commit the armed forces to armed conflict abroad and on the ratification of treaties. It follows on from the ‘Governance of Britain’ green paper.”
Ministry of Justice, 25th October 2007
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
