UK House of Lords’ Post

Australians deserve an opportunity to reflect on their vision for our nation in the years to come. It is time for a national conversation on the what our nation ought to look like especially in regard to our democracy. This is a discussion that ought to be facilitated by the Commonwealth government. #democracy #republic #constitution #engagement #discussion #vision #Australia #auspol

It was the State Opening of Parliament in the UK yesterday. For those, like me, who are curious to know more about Black Rod and the Cap of Maintenance, here is an interesting article explaining the ceremony's rituals: https://lnkd.in/edkY4bcT

The 2024 King’s Speech, as part of the State Opening of Parliament, has taken place and our team of specialist experts has analysed and identified the most important aspects relevant to businesses. Find out more in our new blog – https://lnkd.in/gv4uuzfk #kingsspeech #StateOpening #Parliament #government

📢NEW MEMBER BRIEFING - What you need to know about the King's Speech Find out in this member only briefing what you need to know about the State Opening of Parliament and what policies made it into the King's Speech ➡️ https://ow.ly/uCG350SFgSe

Our Associate Ben Taumoepeau worked hard during the recent UK election campaign and is now enjoying the pageantry and rich tradition that accompanies the start of a new government. Here's his report from London: Today, the King's Speech from the Throne took place, marking the formal opening of the parliamentary session in the United Kingdom and unveiling the new Labour Government's legislative agenda. It's an important day for Parliament, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the new government. It’s an event steeped in tradition, with many interesting historical quirks and traditions: 🚪 Black Rod’s Summons: The Gentleman or Lady Usher of the Black Rod is sent to summon the House of Commons to the House of Lords. The doors of the House of Commons are slammed shut in Black Rod's face, symbolizing the independence of the Commons. 🚗 State Coach and Procession: The monarch travels to the Palace of Westminster in the State Coach, accompanied by a grand procession. 🎩 Cap of Maintenance and Sword of State: The Cap of Maintenance is carried by a senior peer and the Sword of State is carried before the monarch as they enter the House of Lords. 👑 Royal Robes and Crown: The monarch wears the Robes of State and the Imperial State Crown, which are brought to the House of Lords in separate carriages. 📜 Reading of the Speech: The monarch reads the speech prepared by the government, outlining its legislative agenda. 👥 Hostage MP: As a precaution dating back to the English Civil War, an MP is held "hostage" at Buckingham Palace to ensure the monarch's safe return. Labour MP, Samantha Dixon holds this role. 🚫 Absence of the Sovereign in the Commons: Since King Charles I attempted to arrest five members of Parliament in 1642, no monarch has entered the House of Commons. If you’d like to know more about what was set out in the King’s Speech and what this means for Government and Britain, please get in touch. #KingsSpeech #Parliament #UKTraditions #HistoricalQuirks #LegislativeAgenda #StateOpening

It is good to hear a Conservative peer talking about how ‘we have got this wrong.’ It is true, ‘we’ have, it’s a shame that politics and leadership have not been listening earlier. It’s not just the over emphasis on University education as the primary route and destination of the education system but the fact that the narrative and qualifications are built for that journey. Its good that at last there is a conversation with those who need to use the system with a different end point but also listen to the professionals who have been saying this all along, that it is creating the gaps so often discussed. Read also the EPIC report on attainment gaps in FE were the conclusion includes that the curriculum is not serving the learners well, consider the crazy drive to defund non academic qualifications in school sixth forms and the lack of real development in T Level privision were many of the original structures are being changed as they are undeliverable. It’s time for a root and branch review, profession and policy led, learner and economy informed. It’s time for politics to be set aside so that we can develop a world leading education system that works for every learner and leaves no one behind. I would start with two things: 1. Get the beginning of the journey better resourced so that more learners engage and have a better grounding, and 2. A consideration of the behaviours and mindset we want at its end not just a measure of the content recall. Where would you begin?

The dramatic granting of an interlocutory injunction and then the setting aside of it the very next day, all relating to the burial and funeral of the Queen Mother of the Ga state, has led to the unavoidable inquiry – can an order that is obtained ex parte be set aside through a subsequent ex parte application?   In this paper, Ace Ankomah, FGA, our Senior Partner, answers this question in the affirmative. He argues that the same standards for obtaining an order ex parte apply to a subsequent ex parte application that seeks to set the original order aside. To succeed, each application must, on its own, meet the standards. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ddPyNzFN

Interesting read

Brilliant speech, even though I am a Conservative and will be until the day I die but I will always give credit where credit is due. Having lived in the UK for nineteen years of my adult life and having been fortunate enough to arrive when it was still a great country, it has been difficult to witness its gradual decline. Covid has effectively pushed this once great ancestral homeland of mine off the proverbial cliffs. Do I see this coming back? No, I do not. The UK’s political system is a relic of the past on many levels, and if we are to put the GREAT back in Britain, systems need to change. The political system needs remodeling because British democracy is failing, and it will continue to fail, regardless of who is running the country, Labour or Conservatives: the system needs remodeling, it needs a complete overhaul, from the bottom up. Americanize the system, now or the country will continue to implode. As it stands, I foresee Zimbabwe growing astronomically in comparison to the UK within the next ten years. But why? Zimbabwe possesses resources that the UK does not, both in human terms and natural resources. Many of us from Zimbabwe who have been away for significant periods of time are returning from the diaspora with something to offer the country, in terms of skills and fresh ideas in terms of business development to make the private sector thrive. Even British people are leaving the UK; if anything, Zimbabwe understands what happens when there is significant brain drain.

2A Day – April 17, 2024 The Second Amendment has roots that go back to ancient Roman and Florentine times, but it wasn’t until the 16th century that the English roots began to emerge. This resulted from Queen Elizabeth I establishing a national militia made up of people from all social groups who were mandated by law to take part in defending the realm. Even though Queen Elizabeth’s attempt to create a national militia was a dismal failure, the militia’s philosophy served as a powerful political instrument up to the middle of the 18th century. The political debate over the formation and administration of the militia had a considerable impact on both the English Civil Wars and the Glorious Revolution. Several constitutional historians contested and rejected the court’s finding that the Second Amendment protected people’s right to “keep and bear arms” for home defense, despite the outcome of the Heller and MacDonald case before the United States Supreme Court. Before the Supreme Court’s ruling in the current case, judges and academics had been discussing for about 200 years whether the Second Amendment genuinely safeguarded the right of individuals to defend themselves. However, the definition of “self-defense” was developed in the late 20th century, and a sizeable minority of judges had adopted it by that point. The majority of Americans, particularly those who opposed gun restrictions, did not hold the self-defense viewpoint in high regard. #PhoenixDelivers #righttobeararms #2a