UK House of Lords’ Post

Parliament opens again today with the Kings Speech. The House of Lords then debate the speech over five days (8-15 November). King's Speech day 1: Home Affairs - Modern Slavery Bill and Terrorism; potential subject to future legalisation around knife crime, imitate image abuse, dismissal of police officers, banning sex offender name changes, and restricting sale of tobacco products; consultations on child sexual abuse, sex for rent offences, community safety partnerships and ASBO powers, SIM farms for fraud, tackling serious and organised crime and domestic homicide review. Crime and Justice - victims and prisoners bill; potential subject to future legalisation around sentencing (offenders attending sentencing hearings, mandatory whole life orders and custodial sentences, domestic homicide sentencing, rape sentencing, short custodial sentences), overseas prisons, pornography review and review of tribunals; Government led review and call for evidence on parental involvement in child arrangements and open justice call for evidence; and the Bill of Rights. Devolved Affairs - recent developments in devolved deals; NI (governance and finance, Windsor framework and addressing the legacy of the Troubles); Scottish government plans for an independence reform and Welsh government policy on constitutional reform; and UK government powers to veto devolved legalisation. #KingsSpeech2023 #HomeAffairs #Crime #Justice #Devolution https://lnkd.in/e9u3dRb4

https://lnkd.in/enikv3sK The UK's (unwritten) constitution recognises three independent power bases:- Parliament, The Executive (that is Government Ministers and Civil Servants), and The Judiciary (The media and journalists are often referred to as the Fourth Estate. This is by reference to the three historic Estates:- the nobility, the clergy and 'The Third Estate' - everyone else. Bishops and some hereditary nobility even now continue to sit in the House of Lords, the UK Parliament's second chamber.) Judges, magistrates and those employed by Parliament are thus not civil servants. Nor are the police, the armed forces, and those employed in the National Health Service and by Local Authorities.

📣 ANALYSIS: The New Labour Government's Key Priorities 🗒️ The King’s Speech on 17th July unveiled the government’s priorities for its first months in office & outlined a series of draft legislation that they intend to table in the weeks ahead. Our briefing explains the proposed changes & accompanying amendments that may be of interest to Muslim communities, including: ❌ The removal of the VAT exemption that could seriously damage the ability of small independent Muslim schools to continue operating. ❌ An amendment to suspend arms sales to Israel and end the UK’s complicity in acts of genocide in Gaza. 📝 Amendments to scrap the two-child benefits cap. Read the briefing on our website: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/etB-BCnZ

What can our current debates and discussions on Free Speech learn from the Civil Liberties discussion in New Zealand in the early 1950s? How did something argued for by the left, come to now seem to be argued for by the right? Can the state really protect civil liberties by itself? Can we talk of free speech without talking of civil liberties? Who are, in philosopher Arthur Prior's term, the "subversives" today? In my latest piece for Plain Sight I discuss all of this.

I find this so profound: ‘in our constitutional order the judiciary is an independent pillar of state, constitutionally mandated to exercise the judicial authority of the state fearlessly and impartially. Under the doctrine of separation of powers, it stands on an equal footing with the executive and the legislative pillars of state; but in terms of political, financial or military power it cannot hope to compete. It is in these terms by far the weakest of the three pillars; yet its manifest independence and authority is essential. Having no constituency (electorate), no purse and no sword, the judiciary must rely on moral authority. Without such authority it cannot perform its vital function as the interpreter of the Constitution, the arbiter in disputes between organs of state and, ultimately, as the watchdog over the Constitution and its Bill of Rights – even against the state’. S v Mamobolo 2001 para 16.

If you’re curious to see when the changes could happen, check out the timeline below. More details included within our report #recruitment #contractrecruitment

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

📚 Excited to share insights from my last paper on "The Role of the Supreme Judicial Council in Judicial Reform Stress for Independence and Accountability"! 🏛️ Published at Beder Journal of Humanities. 🔍 Analyzing the High Judicial Council's role in the Justice Reform, I argue that to achieve an independent and accountable judicial council more is needed than simply adopting successful European models. Local factors, unwritten rules, the reputation of the council, and the level of respect for the rule of law within the country all play a crucial role in determining the success of the model implemented. 🌐 ⚖️ Political pressure has often compromised the justice system, impacting appointments, transfers, and promotions. This interference hampers the judiciary's independence and obstructs criminal investigations. 🚨 🔍 My conclusions emphasize the need to address political interference and external pressures, recognizing their detrimental effects on the justice system. Sincere gratitude to Gentjan Skara for invaluable guidance and support throughout the research process, enhancing the depth and quality of this analysis. Full text can be available at: University of Beder site: https://lnkd.in/eiuP2S-j And at Research Gate: https://lnkd.in/eeweJUp5 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20874.44485

Useful article to read📰📖📰📖 regarding the legislation designed to improve children’s wellbeing is among government plans laid out by Charles III in his first King’s Speech under a Labour government. Use the link to read the full article https://lnkd.in/eabXuXwJ #article #news #needtoknow #readingtime #awareness #interesting #statistics #relevant #knowledge

With the King's Speech being delivered today as part of the State Opening of Parliament, King Charles III is expected to outline around 35 draft laws ministers intend to introduce in the coming months. It is thought that housing and planning will be amongst this. Rebecca Mushing, Senior Associate and Head of Planning recently drafted an article following the General Election which explores what the Labour government will now deliver for planning and what was promised in their manifesto specifically relating to housing and the planning sector. Read now - https://lnkd.in/dykSaAYH #WeAreWrightHassall #GeneralElection #PlanningLawyer #Planning