Former MP jailed over child abuse images – BBC News
‘A former Labour MP who shared child abuse material has been jailed.’
BBC News, 13th May 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: political parties
Ignoring ECHR orders would threaten rule of law, legal figures warn – The Independent
‘Any move to allow ministers to ignore European Court of Human Rights orders stopping the removal of migrants would undermine the rule of law, senior legal figures have warned.’
The Independent, 20th April 2023
Source: www.independent.co.uk
First-Tier Tribunal Finds Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam and Hefazat-e-Islam Activist in the UK at Risk of Persecution in Bangladesh – EIN Blog
‘A recent Immigration and Asylum First-tier Tribunal appeal involving a Bangladeshi political activist has highlighted the dangers faced by opposition figures in the country and the importance of providing asylum to those in need of protection. According to the UNHCR Global Trends Report 2021, there are currently 26 million refugees worldwide, with more than 80% hosted in developing countries.’
EIN Blog, 19th April 2023
Source: www.ein.org.uk
Amendments To The Illegal Migration Bill Split Parliament – Each Other
‘On 27 March, MPs were back in parliament to debate the proposed Illegal Migration Bill. Its return to the House of Commons has reportedly split Tory MPs over the issue of its hardening stance on people arriving on small boats across the Channel.’
Each Other, 29th March 2023
Source: eachother.org.uk
Man jailed for sending racist and misogynistic messages to MP – The Independent
‘A man has been jailed for harassing and sending racist and misogynistic messages to his MP.’
The Independent, 22nd March 2023
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Election court awards costs against petitioner in ‘dates bribe’ case – Law Society’s Gazette
‘A rare sitting of the Election Court has agreed to withdraw a petition for a council election to be declared void after receiving “conclusive evidence” that the petitioner handed packets of dates to potential voters.’
Law Society's Gazette, 28th February 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Gordon Guthrie: Brown vs Dewar – The Labour Commission on the UK’s Future – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘With the publication of Labour’s Commission on the UK’s Future it is worth contrasting the approach that Gordon Brown and his colleagues have taken with the very successful devolutionary legacy of Donald Dewar.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 8th February 2023
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Conor Casey: House of Lords Constitution Committee Rejects Significant Reform to UK Law Officers – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘The Attorney General and Solicitor General are the UK government’s principal legal advisors. Known collectively as the Law Officers, the origins of these ancient constitutional officers date back to the 13th Century. Historically, the Law Officers were leading barristers who acted as the Crown’s personal lawyers, fiercely representing their interests in legal proceedings. As political power passed from the Crown to the Prime Minister and their Cabinet, the Law Officers eventually became salaried ministers. Appointed and removed by the Crown on the advice of the Prime Minister, Law Officers today are typically qualified lawyers with experience in practice who are also political figures; as members of one of the Houses of Parliament, a member of government, and senior member of the governing political party.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 31st January 2023
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Online safety bill returns to parliament after five-month delay – The Guardian
‘The online safety bill, the government’s flagship internet regulation, returns to parliament on Monday, after a five-month delay prompted by Conservative party factional warfare threatened to kill it off.’
The Guardian, 5th December 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
Watchdog apologises for saying MPs’ Christmas party costs are claimable – The Guardian
‘The MPs’ expenses watchdog has apologised for telling parliamentarians they could claim back some costs for Christmas parties.’
The Guardian, 24th November 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
Frederick Cowell: The Three Eras of Opposition to the Human Rights Act – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘Before it entered the statute books, before it even had been brought to Parliament, the Human Rights Act (HRA) was subject to opposition which was to only strengthen over time. The nature of that opposition has varied since the publication of White Paper Rights Brought Home in October 1997, but it has served as a vehicle, and site of contestation, for many constitutional debates and disagreements over the past quarter century. Opposition to the HRA is also a reflection of broader social change in British society in the twenty-first century and this understanding is key to any analysis of contemporary proposals for reform.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 14th November 2022
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Campaigning and political activity by charities: guidance – Law & Religion UK
‘On 7 November, the Charity Commission issued updated guidance for England and Wales on Campaigning and political activity by charities. It follows the passing of the Elections Act 2022, which received Royal Assent on 28 April.’
Law & Religion UK, 9th November 2022
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
Michael Foran: Prime Ministers, Party Members, and the Efficient Secret – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘The office of Prime Minister is a creature entirely of constitutional convention. While legislation references the office itself, setting out pay for example, this is only statutory recognition of the existence of an office which arises purely by virtue of convention. It is by convention that the Monarch appoints as Prime Minister someone who is capable of commanding the confidence of the House of Commons and it is by convention that he exercises certain prerogative powers only on the advice of the Prime Minister (or another minister in his government). The mechanism for choosing a Prime Minister is, however, not entirely covered by convention. While they must command the confidence of a majority of MPs in the Commons, it is not necessary that they be chosen directly by the Commons. This is because of the party system and the presumption that the leader of a given party has the confidence of their MPs, even if they might not always have their full support.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 26th October 2022
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Labour urges immediate rights extension for associate prosecutors – Legal Futures
‘The Labour Party has called for the role of associate prosecutors (APs) to be expanded so as to help reduce the massive backlog in criminal cases awaiting hearings.’
Legal Futures, 30th August 2022
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Almost 1.5m England and Wales crime victims opt not to pursue cases – The Guardian
‘Almost 1.5 million victims of crime in England and Wales have decided not to pursue their cases, feeding concern that public confidence in the criminal justice system has collapsed.’
The Guardian, 12th August 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
Labour MP unfairly sacked senior adviser who called him ‘first class idiot’, tribunal finds – The Independent
‘A Labour MP unfairly dismissed his aide and ex-girlfriend after she felt “marginalised and isolated” in the months leading up to her losing her job, a tribunal has found.’
The Independent, 3rd August 2022
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Councillor wins £30k damages after BBC misidentified her as politician accused of housing fraud – Local Government Lawyer
‘A Westminster councillor has received damages in a libel case against the BBC after the news organisation misidentified her as another BAME politician who had been accused of housing fraud.’
Local Government Lawyer, 17th June 2022
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Margaret Thatcher statue egg-thrower Jeremy Webster fined – BBC News
‘A university arts chief who threw eggs at a statue of Margaret Thatcher within hours of its installation has been fined £90.’
BBC News, 26th May 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Jack Monroe to sue MP after he says ‘she makes fortune from the poor’ – The Guardian
‘Jack Monroe has instructed libel lawyers after the Tory MP Lee Anderson alleged the writer and food blogger was profiteering from the poor.’
The Guardian, 15th May 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
