Britain ratifies Lisbon treaty – The Guardian
“Britain has officially ratified the controversial Lisbon treaty, it was announced today.”
The Guardian, 17th July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Category: constitutional law
Constitutional Justice: lessons from Magna Carta – Speech by Sir Anthony Clarke
Constitutional Justice: lessons from Magna Carta (PDF)
Speech by Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls at Royal Holloway, University of London, 16th June 2008
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Jack Straw welcomes a year of constitutional progress – Ministry of Justice
“Justice Secretary Jack Straw today marked the one-year anniversary of the government’s constitutional change programme and said the progress made was a major step forward in renewing Britain’s democracy.”
Ministry of Justice, 3rd July 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Court rejects EU treaty block bid – BBC News
“An attempt to block Britain’s ratification of the Lisbon Treaty has been rejected by the High Court.”
BBC News, 19th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Lords to vote on EU treaty today – The Guardian
“Peers will vote later today on whether to ratify the Lisbon treaty – its final parliamentary hurdle – after it was rejected in an Irish referendum last week.”
The Guardian, 18th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ireland votes No to Lisbon Treaty – The Times
“Ireland has voted No to the Lisbon Treaty, plunging the European Union into a new crisis.”
The Times, 13th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Lords reject EU referendum call – BBC News
“The House of Lords has voted against holding a referendum on the EU Treaty – a day before the Irish Republic’s national ballot on the agreement.”
BBC News, 11th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Draft legislative programme: new proposals to empower the individual – Ministry of Justice
“New proposals to give greater protection to victims and witnesses in court are among those set out in the Ministry of Justice’s contribution to the Draft Legislative Programme announced by the Prime Minister today.”
Ministry of Justice, 14th May 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Related link: Preparing Britain for the Future – the Draft Legislative Programme 2008-09 (PDF)
The Supreme Court and Other Constitutional Changes in the UK – Speech by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
The Supreme Court and Other Constitutional Changes in the UK (PDF)
Speech by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Address to members of the Royal Court, The Jersey Law Society, and members of the States of Jersey, 2nd May 2008
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Fraser v Judicial and Legal Services Commission and another – WLR Daily
Fraser v Judicial and Legal Services Commission and another [2008] UKPC 25; [2008] WLR (D) 139
“A magistrate, on a fixed term appointment in Saint Lucia, enjoyed the same constitutional rights against summary dismissal as a member of the higher judiciary, regardless of any contractual term to the contrary.”
WLR Daily, 7th May 2008
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.
After 450 years, Sark turns back on feudal law – The Independent
“For more than 450 years Sark stood alone as one of Europe’s last bastions of feudal law, but yesterday marked the end of an era for the tiny Channel island as the UK Privy Council approved changes to its system of government, heralding the arrival of democracy for the first time.”
The Independent, 10th April 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Act repeal could make Franz Herzog von Bayern new King of England and Scotland – Daily Telegraph
“Gordon Brown is considering repealing the 1701 Act of Settlement as a way of healing a historic injustice by ending the prohibition against Catholics taking the throne.”
Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Strengthened constitutional role of the Law Commission – Law Commission
“ The Lord Chancellor has announced his intention to strengthen the role of the Law Commission. Law Commission Chairman Sir Terence Etherton responds.”
Law Commission, 25th March 2008
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
Catholics could join the royal succession – Daily Telegraph
“Gordon Brown is to consider abolishing the Act that prevents Roman Catholics marrying into the Royal Family or becoming king or queen, in a move that could lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England.”
Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Governance of Britain Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill gives more power to Parliament – Ministry of Justice
“Jack Straw has announced new proposals to give Parliament more power to hold the government to account and strengthen its relationship with the people.”
Ministry of Justice, 25th March 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Bar Council Welcomes Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill – The Bar Council
“The Bar Council today welcomed the publication of the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill, which was announced by the Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt Hon Jack Straw MP. The draft Bill follows the July 2007 Green Paper, The Governance of Britain, and a consultation on its contents.”
The Bar Council, 25th March 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Important changes under way, but who cares? – The Times
“Step by step, the arguments of the 17th century over parliamentary control of prerogative powers are at last being resolved. The draft Constitutional Renewal Bill is a further big step, by no means the final one, into making the executive more accountable.”
The Times, 26th March 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
‘Milestone’ on Welsh laws reached – BBC News
“The first new order giving the Welsh assembly the power to make laws in specified areas has been approved by Parliament.”
BBC News, 19th March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Lords’ membership cut considered – BBC News
“Membership of the House of Lords could be almost halved under proposals to replace peers with elected members.”
BBC News, 20th March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Labour retreat over attorney general’s role – The Guardian
“The government is poised to let the attorney general retain the power to stop prosecutions such as the corruption case against BAE Systems on national security grounds, the Guardian has learned.”
The Guardian, 11th March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
