‘The Queen’s Speech marks the start of this session of parliament. The address, written by government ministers, is delivered by the Queen and lays out the Government’s agenda for the next year.’
The Independent, 26th May 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘An alliance of prominent academics have signed a letter to the government warning against any expansions of state surveillance without the full involvement of parliament and the public.’
The Guardian, 26th May 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘That most time-consuming of the traditional rituals surrounding the UK Parliament, the swearing in of all the MPs, has become an emblem of the changing shape of British society. A ceremony originally designed for exclusion – to keep out religious and political undesirables – has become a display of diversity, writes Stephen Tomkins.’
BBC News, 20th May 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The parliamentary committee that scrutinises proposed major constitutional changes been scrapped despite turbulent times ahead of the future of the United Kingdon’s governance.’
The Independent, 21st May 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘In my last post on the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the enactment of a British Bill of Rights, I considered the extent to which the House of Lords might thwart the Government’s plans. My conclusion was that the Lords might plausibly assert itself so as to delay the legislation, traditional understandings of the Salisbury Convention notwithstanding, but that the Parliament Act 1911 clearly deprives the Lords of any absolute veto. What, however, of the devolved nations? Could they block the implementation of the UK Government’s proposals?’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th May 2015
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘Jack Straw, a former Labour cabinet minister and one of the architects of the Freedom of Information Act, has said that the Prince of Wales’s memos to ministers should have remained secret and that the supreme court exceeded its power in backing the Guardian’s fight for publication.’
The Guardian, 14th May 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘A journalist who, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, requested information in three invoices submitted by Members of Parliament as expenses claims was entitled to redacted copies of the documents themselves, not merely to a transcript of information contained in those documents, because the transcripts did not provide all the information which the statutory public authority was obliged to disclose to the requester.’
WLR Daily, 28th April 2015
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
‘The regulatory body set up after the MPs’ expenses scandal has lost a test case challenge in the court of appeal against an order that it must release copies of receipts and invoices submitted by politicians.’
The Guardian, 28th April 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Labour peer Lord Janner of Braunstone will escape charges for the second time over alleged historical child sex crimes, prosecution sources have confirmed.’
The Guardian, 16th April 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
House of Lords (Expulsion and Suspension) Act 2015 published
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
Recall of MPs Act 2015 published
Full text of Act
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
‘Should rape suspects have the right to anonymity, like their accusers? It’s a debate that keeps coming back, because MPs keep resurrecting it. Today it’s the Home Affairs Select Committee, which recommends anonymity for those suspected of a sex offence, unless and until they’re charged.’
The Independent, 20th March 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Parliamentary select committees have seen their profile grow over the past few years, but are they the right way of holding power to account, asks Tom Shakespeare.’
BBC News, 22nd March 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The supreme court’s judgment on whether the government unlawfully blocked the publication of a series of secret letters written by Prince Charles is due to be made public on Thursday next week, court officials have announced.
The Guardian, 20th March 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘An undercover police operation that gathered evidence of child abuse by Cyril Smith and other public figures was scrapped shortly after the MP was arrested, BBC Newsnight has been told.’
BBC News, 16th March 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Rules that pave the way for the number of MPs to be reduced from 650 to 600 must be reversed, a parliamentary group has said.’
BBC News, 15th March 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘MPs have voted by a majority of 254 in favour of introducing standardised cigarette packaging from May 2016.’
The Guardian, 11th March 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Court fees will increase from next week after the House of Lords last night rubber-stamped the planned levy. A 5% charge will be added to all civil claims valued at more than £10,000, with fees capped at £10,000. According to the statutory instrument, the order comes into force on the following Monday after it is made.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 5th March 2015
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘A database of civilian drones being flown in the UK should be created to enforce their safe operation, a House of Lords report has recommended.’
The Guardian, 5th March 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
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