Category: repeals
Oldest surviving law faces repeal after 747 years – BBC News
‘Some of the oldest surviving legislation on Britain’s statute books is set to be repealed after 747 years.’
BBC News, 5th December 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
You can STILL be jailed for being a republican, government confirms, and it remains illegal to even ‘imagine’ overthrowing the Queen – The Independent
‘The government has confirmed that republicanism is still punishable by life imprisonment and that it remains illegal to even ‘imagine’ overthrowing the Queen.’
The Independent, 13th December 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
309 offences including ‘incorrigible rogue’ taken off statute book – Daily Telegraph
‘”Being an incorrigible rogue”, under the Vagrancy Act 1824, is one of 309 offences to be repealed and removed from the statute book in the year up until May.’
Daily Telegraph, 12th December 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Adam Perry and Farrah Ahmed: Are Constitutional Statutes ‘Quasi-Entrenched’? – UK Constitutional Law Group
‘The Supreme Court issued its decision in H v Lord Advocate (pdf) in 2012. The decision has been virtually ignored by constitutional scholars, but we believe it may be of great constitutional significance. In this post we explain why, starting with some background about constitutional statutes.’
UK Constitutional Law Group, 26th November 2013
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org/blog
David Cameron eyes Human Rights Act repeal – The Guardian
“Britain needs to look at scrapping the Human Rights Act, David Cameron has said.”
The Guardian, 8th August 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Legal age to buy crackers cut as part of ‘pointless’ red tape rules to be scrapped from tomorrow – The Independent
“Dozens of cuts to red tape will come into force tomorrow, including reducing the age for buying Christmas crackers, saving businesses millions of pounds, the Government has announced.”
The Independent, 5th April 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Marital coercion defence could be scrapped – The Guardian
“Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, is considering abolishing the legal defence of ‘marital coercion’ that was unsuccessfully used by Vicky Pryce in her trial for taking speeding points on behalf of her husband.”
The Guardian, 31st March 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Judges would regret Human Rights Act repeal, warns Lady Hale – The Guardian
“UK’s most senior female judge says withdrawing from Strasbourg human rights court would require Britain to exit EU.”
The Guardian, 14th March 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Let’s rip up the Human Rights Act – Hardwicke Chambers
“UK justice secretary Chris Grayling’s call for the repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 has led to claims that he is betraying British values, and damaging Britain’s reputation abroad. But it is time for a grown-up debate about what, exactly, this piece of legislation has done to enhance our civil liberties and fundamental freedoms.”
Hardwick Chambers, 11th March 2013
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
Scott Stephenson: The Constitutional Significance of Statutory Repeal: How Far Can Parliament Turn Back the Clock? – UK Constitutional Law Group
“The current system for human rights protection in the UK is once again under siege. In the last week, statements were made indicating that the Conservative Party’s manifesto for the next election would include major reforms to current arrangements. Chris Grayling, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, declared that a future Conservative Government would repeal the UK Human Rights Act 1998 ‘and start[] again’, suggesting that it would be replaced by alternative legislation. Theresa May, Home Secretary, announced that the manifesto would include a promise to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights.”
UK Constitutional Law Group, 7th March 2013
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
Repealing old law – Law Commission
“The Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2013 has received Royal Assent. The Act gives effect to the repeals put forward by the Law Commission for England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission in their 2012 Statute Law Repeals Report.”
Law Commission, 31st February 2013
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Peers scrap hundreds of ancient laws in minutes – The Independent
“Peers took just minutes tonight to back the repeal of hundreds of outdated laws, stretching back over nearly 700 years.”
The Independent, 5th November 2012
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Repeal of property sales law will pose risks for housebuilders, says expert – OUT-LAW.com
“The Government’s decision to repeal a law designed for regulating property sales and rely on general consumer protection legislation instead will expose housebuilders to new risks and increase their costs at a time when they can scarcely afford it.”
OUT-LAW.com, 15th October 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Website blocking provisions to be removed from Digital Economy Act, says Government – OUT-LAW.com
“The Government is to repeal sections of the Digital Economy Act (DEA) which give the Culture Secretary the power to draw up new regulations on website blocking.”
OUT-LAW.com, 28th June 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Old but not forgotten: spring cleaning the statute book – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“Pub quizzes often include a round or two on old laws supposedly still in force – the likes of being able to drive livestock over London Bridge, or to have cakes and ale during exams, or whether the death penalty is still in force for arson in the Royal Docks. A number of future answers are about to be altered at the behest of the Law Commission, which has compiled a long list of statutory deadwood to be felled this summer by an axe in the form of the Statute Law (Repeals) Bill.”
Full story
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th April 2012
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
19th Statute Law Repeals Report – Law Commission
19th Statute Law Repeals Report (PDF)
Law Commission, 4th April 2012
Bonfire of ‘dead wood statutes’ to claim 800 obsolete laws – Daily Telegraph
“A law passed in 1696 to raise funds for the rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire of London is one of 800 obsolete Acts due to be wiped from the statute book this summer.”
Daily Telegraph, 2nd April 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Dorset County Council v House – WLR Daily
Dorset County Council v House [2010] EWCA Crim 2270; [2010] WLR (D) 253
“Criminal liability under the Cattle Identification Regulations 1998 and the Cattle Database Regulations 1998 was expressly and exclusively defined in terms of a failure to carry out an obligation under Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97, so there was no criminal offence in respect of conduct after 20 July 2000 when Regulation 820/97 was repealed and replaced.”
WLR Daily, 14th October 2010
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.
Benevolent Institutions: Repeals Consultation – Law Commission
“In our consultation we have identified some 73 obsolete Acts relating to a variety of benevolent institutions. Many of these institutions are, or were, charitable bodies such as schools, hospitals and almshouses which were established in the 18th or 19th centuries to meet the needs of the poor, sick or elderly.”
Law Commission, 16th September 2010
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
