Cameron pulls the plug on press talks – and sets stage for fight – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2013 in freedom of expression, legislation, media, news, parliament, reports by tracey

“PM’s ejector-seat diplomacy over Leveson leaves him facing a complex parliamentary battle.”

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The Guardian, 14th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Caste discrimination should be outlawed, say Lords – The Guardian

“The House of Lords voted on Monday to outlaw discrimination against people on the basis of their caste.”

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The Guardian, 5th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Secret courts: Former top judge Lord Woolf backs government changes – BBC News

“The former head of the judiciary, Lord Woolf, has thrown his support behind plans to allow more civil courts to examine secret intelligence in private.”

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BBC News, 4th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peers compromise over press regulation – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2013 in bills, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, parliament by sally

“Peers have staged a partial climbdown in their clash with the government over the introduction of Leveson-style controls on the press.”

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The Guardian, 26th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Upper Tribunal issues further decision in Prince Charles’ letters saga – Panopticon

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in disclosure, judicial review, news, parliament, public interest, royal family, veto by sally

“In the latest round of the legal and political boxing match that the Evans case has become, the Upper Tribunal (‘UT’), chaired by Walker J, has decided that the government should release its ‘schedules and lists’ of ‘advocacy correspondence’ between Prince Charles and various government departments.”

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Panopticon, 21st February 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

A human rights reality check for the Home Secretary – UK Human Rights Blog

“The Home Secretary, Theresa May, is no stranger to ill-founded outbursts concerning the evils of human rights. Against that background, her recent article in the Mail on Sunday (to which Adam Wager has already drawn attention) does not disappoint. May’s ire is drawn by certain recent judicial decisions in which the deportation of foreign criminals has been ruled unlawful on the ground that it would breach their right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Some of these judgments, May contends, flout instructions issued to judges by Parliament about how such cases should be decided.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th February 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Gerry McCann calls for press control laws – and 75% of the public agree – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2013 in arbitration, inquiries, interception, media, news, parliament, privacy, victims by sally

“Poll shows overwhelming support for missing Madeleine’s father on how Leveson inquiry findings must be enforced.”

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The Guardian, 9th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leveson report: Lords unveil proposals in frustration at lack of progress – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2013 in arbitration, bills, defamation, media, news, parliament, reports by tracey

“Frustration in the Lords at the lack of progress over the Leveson report has led four peers to table measures to introduce a low-cost arbitration service for defamation, as recommended by Lord Justice Leveson in the defamation bill.”

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The Guardian, 4th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lobbyists’ code of conduct bill to be debated for first time in parliament – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2013 in bills, lobbying, news, parliament, professional conduct by tracey

“Lobbyists working in Westminster or local government would have to sign a public register and agree to a code of conduct under a bill being debated for the first time in parliament on Friday.”

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The Guardian, 1st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banning drugs drives a ‘rising tide’ of legal highs, peers warn – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 14th, 2013 in crime, drug offences, inquiries, news, parliament by tracey

“The current classification system simply cannot keep up as a new legal high emerges every six days in the UK and young people share links to where they can be bought online and via their mobile phones, Baroness Meacher, chairwoman of the parliamentary inquiry into legal highs, said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 14th January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lord Phillips to challenge government on Supreme Court admin appointments – The Lawyer

Posted December 17th, 2012 in bills, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news, parliament, Supreme Court by sally

“The former president of the Supreme Court, Lord Phillips, will challenge the right of the government to appoint the court’s chief executive in a proposed amendment to the Crime and Courts Bill this week.”

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The Lawyer, 17th December 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Baroness D’Souza – The Role of the House of Lords in the Parliamentary Process – UCL Constitution Unit

Posted December 17th, 2012 in constitutional law, news, parliament by sally

“Looking above and beyond current debates about the House of Lords’ composition, Baroness D’Souza will discuss the Lords in terms of its place in the parliamentary process. Having now been in post for over a year, Baroness D’Souza will present her vision for the Lords’ future, its contribution to the political system, changes to its working practices and the role of the Lord Speaker. She will also cover public perceptions of the Upper House and the importance of outreach.”

Video

UCL Constitution Unit, 14th December 2012

Source: ww.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Judges take on ministers over supreme court – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2012 in bills, judiciary, news, parliament, Supreme Court by sally

“The government is facing a clash with some of the country’s most senior judges who will this week attempt to force ministers to relinquish control of the running of the supreme court.”

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The Guardian, 16th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Former Labour MP Margaret Moran escapes jail and criminal conviction despite fiddling £53,000 of expenses from taxpayer – The Independent

Posted December 14th, 2012 in expenses, fraud, news, parliament, sentencing by tracey

“The former Labour MP, Margaret Moran, has been given a two-year supervision and treatment order for fiddling her expenses in order to gain £53,000 she was not entitled to.”

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The Independent, 14th December 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Peers vote to remove law banning insulting language – The Guardian

Posted December 13th, 2012 in crime, freedom of expression, news, parliament, public order by sally

“The House of Lords on Wednesday night voted to remove a law that criminalises the use of insulting language in Britain.”

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The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Snooper’s charter’ faces rough ride through parliament – The Guardian

“Civil liberties are said to have been the political glue that brought the two coalition parties together before the general election, and nothing joined them more strongly than their joint opposition to Labour’s ‘Big Brother’ database.”

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The Guardian, 11th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hillsborough probe bill supported in House of Commons – BBC News

Posted December 6th, 2012 in bills, complaints, news, parliament, police, sport by sally

“New powers to help the investigation of police officers involved in the Hillsborough disaster have been approved by MPs in the Commons.”

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BBC News, 5th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

David Cameron statement in response to the Leveson Inquiry report – The Guardian

“Prime Minister delivered the statement to the House of Commons on the day that Leveson report was published.”

Full statement

The Guardian, 29th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leveson report calls for new press law – The Guardian

“Lord Justice Leveson has recommended the introduction of the first press law in Britain since the 17th century – proposing that a statutory body such as Ofcom should take responsibility for monitoring an overhauled Press Complaints Commission.”

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The Guardian, 29th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: An inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press: report [Leveson]

Leveson: some of the key questions awaiting answers – The Guardian

“Lord Justice Leveson’s report is expected to cover much ground, and to set the stage for the next debate: what about the internet?”

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The Guardian, 28th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk