Categories
politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » David Herdson says the Leveson law could be negating parlia
politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » David Herdson says the Leveson law could be negating parliament’s most precious principle
The reporting of the implementation (or not, depending on your point of view) of the Leveson proposals have understandably concentrated on the regulation of the media. It is, after all, the media who have been reporting it and there is a tendency within the industry to believe that everyone else finds them as interesting as they find themselves.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Edit: Just a test to see if the edit function works
Edit again: Yup, it does
The Vanilla commenting system does add to the site and having the financial backing of users makes a real difference.
As I mentioned earlier we don't know yet what tariff category PB will be put in - whatever it is going to add to our base-line costs. It will probably be $550 a month though I fear we could be pushed higher.
http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/
Mr. Smithson, I've made a small donation. Unfortunately my financial situation isn't fantastic. My plan is to wait until the mid-season breaks (after the 4th, 9th and 13th races) and see if I can give more then.
Incidentally, it's 3 weeks till China. My post-race analysis of Malaysia is here:
http://politicalbetting.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/malaysia-post-race-analysis.html
I know Mr. Eagles e-mailed you, so hopefully I can have comment-deleting powers by the time the Chinese Grand Prix rolls around.
Have you watched Tony Benn In Confidence? Interview on Sky Arts with Laurie Taylor, it's available on Sky on demand if you have it
Obviously, F1's my thing, so I was wondering about something like this:
Forecast which team will have the most points after X races (tie-breaker being a guess of the specific number of points).
£5 entry fee
Half the cash could go to the winner, half to the site
Bunnco - Your Man on the Spot
R (On the application of Friends of Hethel Ltd) v South Norfolk DC & Ecotricity
Neutral Citation Number: [2010] EWCA Civ 894
Case No: C1/2009/2762/QBACF
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
COURT OF APPEAL (CIVIL DIVISION)
ON APPEAL FROM
Mr Justice Cranston CO/10993/2009 Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL
...
51. What in the end has to be conclusive is that an area committee, as a body to which the local authority's powers have been delegated, is required by law to exercise those powers by a simple majority of those present and voting and in no other way.
52. We have not been pressed with the argument that there is, within the meaning of Schedule 12, more than one kind of majority, so that a council is free to choose what size of majority is to operate in each of its forums. One can see why: a council could paralyse its successor by requiring all decisions (including a decision to change the rule itself) to be taken by, say, a four-fifths majority. And it is in the end the possibility that this district council's well-meant and sensible provision could recur in less sensible form elsewhere in local government law that finally persuades me that Lord Justice Sullivan is right on this issue.
For my money, the real crossing of the Rubicon was the disgraceful use of retrospective legislation to overturn a defeat in the courts.
Doesn't the Fixed Term Parliament Act commit all parliaments to five years, not just the current one?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1742011.stm
I've just made a donation.
What are your thoughts on badges for donors, Mike? It's a great way of encouraging people to donate, and applauding those that do, without any barrier for newcomers to the site.
Socrates , Not sure you need a badge to show you have donated, best just doing it because you want to, though if it encouraged extra people to do it then it would be worth it
It's too easy to go to the other extreme and end up with a US-style situation where an antiquated status quo can't be reformed because vested interests are able to form a blocking minority.
I'm not a big fan of written constitutions, since it's hard to avoid wording that doesn't have unexpected consequences in the future, like the US ban on restrictions on militia which turns out to make it hard to prevent madmen buying assault weapons. In principle, though, it's not an obviously bad thing to have some key rights entrenched (freedom of association, for instance) so that they can't be thrown out by 326 MPs in a moment of national paranoia about something. I do agree with David that it's not obvious that this particular Bill comes under that heading.
That sounds like an excellent system, as long as there's no supermajority requirement for the referendums. Having said that, I seem to recall that Maastricht had the overwhelming support of Danish politicians, but clearly was controversial with the public - to the extent that they narrowly rejected it in the first referendum.
Have you been awaiting the arrival of vanilla?
The question Mair asked was whether Johnson had lied about the affair to his party leader.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/03/paul-i-dont-promote-marijuana-160075.html?hp=f3
"Look, the last two presidents could have conceivably been put in jail for their drug use and I really think - look what would've happened, it would've ruined their lives. They got lucky. But a lot of poor kids, particularly in the inner city, don't get lucky and they don't have good attorneys and they go to jail for some of these things and I think it's a big mistake,” the Kentucky Republican said on Fox’s “Fox News Sunday.”
"Actually, I think it would be the last three presidents, but who's counting?" host Chris Wallace said with a laugh.
Unlike his father, Rand Paul is a serious and credible politician. He's going to run for POTUS in 2016, but he won't win. 2020, however, I might make him the current favourite for the GOP nominee.
He makes Alexy Stakhanov look like a slacker.
You can imagine Rand Paul doing quite well in Iowa so could well make for a good trading bet for GOP nominee for 2016.
No, it's not a solution to the crisis, and I'm not changing career, and I'm not going to pose by it: https://twitter.com/faisalislam/status/315505130369863680/photo/1
It it time this state monopoly is broken up and sold, with the proceeds used to pay down the country's debt.
I never had you down as a disgruntled F1 fan!
He ticks a lot of the boxes and will inherit his father's nationwide organisation.
The Labour woman who lost in Pavillion in 2010 will try to get selected in Kemptown this time rather than Pavillion again. Both of them are AWS. The man who lost Kemptown will try in Hove now.
Those praising the overrated Mair might note though his questioning of Danny Alexander was very weak and was almost entirely dominated by his constant banging on about the irrevelant second home issue which will obviously be ironed out in the weeks to come. Mair really doesn't need to borrow this silly Labour Party attack line and instead should have applied a few thoughts of his own on this matter.
Thanks, Andrea. Brighton Kemptown should be a relatively straightforward win for Labour so I can see its attractions over Pavilion.
Probably simply because he is so rarely faced with a proper interviewer.
I find that a problem those vehemently against the BBC often have is similar to UKIPs problem until recently, in that they get a little too worked up for most people, such that even when they have a point they take it too far in outraged tone and put people off (or make the point too intensely at slightest provocation, appearing disproportionate), or even make people defensive about the subject of their ire.
Still, open mind and all that, what've they done?
Newly released files from 1997 have revealed that civil servants at Westminster in the early days of Tony Blair’s administration believed that a devolved Scotland should have its own civil service and that there was little purpose to the role of Secretary of State for Scotland after devolution.
The revelations are particularly embarrassing for Michael Moore, the current occupant of that post, given calls the LibDems previously made to abolish the post of Secretary of State for Scotland.
http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2013/mar/westminster-determined-cling-power
He had won a high profile if limited post and held it in a Labour city at a poor time for the Tories, he's pretty popular (even if not universally popular) and has defied expectations time and time again. Now he's been making more overt moves to try and seize hold of that pro-Boris feeling for his future advancement, it's only natural the media and his opponents would come out swinging. If he can weather it he's still got a chance, if a slim one as there's more than just his weaknesses (or strengths) as an option which impact his chances.
When you look at "legally binding" targets, for example for carbon reduction, stretching 25+ years into the future, this principle has already been breached (thank you, Tony)
That said, it is completely meaningless, because a Parliament that didn't want the restriction would just amend the enabling legislation as you point out
It's just prattish behaviour trying to "send a message" - the same attitude that has led to endless legislation forbidding things that are already legal
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2296472/Apocalypse-ready-Are-families-stocking-end-civilisation-crackpots-simply-canny-survivors.html
Boris rarely does live interviews. Today showed why.
Obama rarely does live interviews doesn't he? (Note - I am not trying to suggest Boris is the next Obama, for better or worse). That is what I'd heard anyway. Most people aren't very good at them, it's not always a dealbreaker.
I suppose it's a question of whether they are so not good as to cause themselves damage. Boris really did seem to struggle to provide a decent stock answer to the sorts of questions he had faced before and should be better at handling.
Mike - can I suggest that the donate button is selling yourself short here.
With the introduction of a new comments system with a predictable monthly cost you've got a tailor-made excuse to ask people to sign up to monthly contributions. Entirely optional, of course with no downside for people who don't (I suggested a little gold star for contributors) but it would make your funding costs far more predictable going forward.
Mair is streets ahead of Marr or Paxman in political interviews now. Pension them off.
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (former Labour, former Conservative but she's in the SNP for over 10 years now http://www.scottishasianwomensassociation.com/about-us/tasmina-ahmed-sheikh/
Stephen Gethins http://www.stephengethins.eu/
Toni Giugliano http://www.toni4europe.org/
Ian Hudghton MEP
Alyn Smith MEP
Chris Stephens (from Glasgow)
Next move is the ranking. Crucial is spot number 3 (assuming the 2 sitting MEPs will top the poll).
After many years of regarding the BBC as a national treasure, my eyes were opened to the truth in 2002 when Peter Sissons wore a grey suit and burgundy tie to announce to the nation the death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Since then there have been many revelations of dark perversions practiced off camera by the corporation's leading presenters.
Only this morning we saw the corporation launch an unprovoked and indefensible perspnal attack on one of our most loved and revered politicians.
Is there no gratitude at the BBC?
Are memories so short?
Not a year has passed since Boris illuminated the world with the wondrous Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.
And now you ask: "what have they done this time?".
Bury you head in shame, kle4.
Absolutely. Taking the words of Cousin of Seth seriously is a schoolboy error by any standards.
Bury you head in shame, kle4.
I shall not. Histrionics can be fun, but it's still always silly. I shall be silly another time, not when you assault the greatest institution on the face of the earth (damn, hung by my own rope)
The Guppy incident is one I can quite understand that Boris wants to forget. I don't think it is as quite clear cut as Mair suggested (IIRC, Boris didn't *actually* supply the details, just said that he would) and the Times quote is a youthful indiscretion.
The overall theme though (and I liked the Conrad Black reference!) was that Boris is an ambitious schemer.
Probably fair, although extremely aggressive. If a politician can't deal with pressure like that he shouldn't be PM.
You have probably seen this before, Sunil, but here is a link on PDF to the railway maps from the original Beeching Report.
http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BRB_Beech001b.pdf
This week is the 50th anniversary of the infamous event, I see.
The more things change, the more they stay the same...
How come in today's poll the SNP are at 47% (the same as all three London parties combined) if they are "polling poorly with women"?
Alec Salmond's date nights summons up visions of a fish supper washed down with a bottle of Irn Bru for me.
The London Railway Atlas published by Ian Allan is much recommended (not just because I'm in the acknowledgements), as it has all opening and closing dates for routes, stations and junctions.
For a Great Britain perspective, the Colonel Michael Cobb's The Railways of Great Britain: A Historical Atlas is also much recommended, as it overlays the positions of old stations and track on a 1970-vintage OS map.
International playboy writer has a night on a desert island. Luxury food and wine, support yacht with staff and flunkies anchored offshore, wifi access, so what could go wrong?
Playboy has a drink, does a bit of writing and pron surfing on his iPad, looks out to sea, but can't see the lights of his yacht. He starts getting scary messages in his pron chatroom, hears noises coming from inland on the island that only he should be on.........!
We'll share the royalties, Sean.
But Boris did deal with the pressure.
His response was like the face of an Old English Sheepdog licking its chops after returning from an unsupervised trip to the kitchen.
Or the look of innocence on the face the much adored and charming lover who returns home at 3:00 am in the morning after the last train "has been cancelled".
We all know what has happened but, with some, we are inclined to forgive and with others not.
It is not without reason that Boris remains married both to his second wife and second electorate.
And Italy keeps wanting to re-elect Berlusconi.
Are you truly alone, Sean?
Clearances: Part II
Banning the application of the mortgage guarantee to second homes would be the equivalent of preventing high earners from using NHS hospitals.
Why shouldn't grandparents buy a second home to enable their grandchildren to get a foot on the property ladder? It is how Kirsty Allsopp got to where she is today.
Those who wish to purchase a second home are usually middle aged and either planning to holiday in the UK, perhaps subletting weeks to defray the cost, or planning to retire to the area of the second home.
These are the people who tend to have significant capital in their primary residence so likely to be able to raise the deposit.
In addition CGT is payable on any profits, so if there is a capital gain, the revenue wins again.
What intriges me about Ho Chi Minh City, if we're swapping travel stories, is that it's got such a Latin flavour - pavement cafes, cheerily chaotic drivers and bikers galore, random music all over the place, and people sitting on porches chatting and soaking up the baking heat. By contrast, Seoul is positively Swedish in its earnestness.
leejasper.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/immigration-wailing-banshee-of-racism.html?spref=tw
Implied repeal is another interest area but this would lengthen this even more and, as my Professor would say, we'd have to order in pizza to get it finished.
The long and the short of it is that political realities are more important, but I don't buy this argument which I think has been touched upon that therefore the provisions for entrenchment by supermajority mean nothing at all. Consider the Human Rights Act. Say that a court has made a declaration of incompatibility between Statute X and the Human Rights Act. Parliament would be perfectly able to exclude Statute X from the scope of the HRA, thus meaning there could be no declaration, no incompatibility, no issue. But no government wants to be seen to do that: it has set itself a benchmark and it would rather 'fail' by being consistent with that benchmark than abandon the benchmark. If you consider the recent fixed-term parliaments act, as I think a bit simpler (not real morals involved), then by laying down that supermajority requirement, there is a message that a party that repeals the act with a simple majority and goes to the polls early are putting political gain over the good of the country and should be punished. If there were a good reason (and for some reason the Opposition weren't on board) then they may still happen - but you'd not be going out there, saying "I've called an election" they'd have to say "Look, this is why I've called an election early. Here's why that's not encouraged generally, but this is why that doesn't apply here". Important difference, I think.
Talking to some people from Samsung recently they said that old Seoul was almost completely destroyed during the Korean war. By contrast, Saigon was left pretty unscathed because during the Vietnam War the Americans had complete control of the skies.
Hardly the same thing - the NHS, at least in principle, has cross-party support.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/30/maldives-closes-spas-after-protests
Evidently you didn't watch the "Prime Ministerial (sic) Debates".
I think you're misreading the programme's title, by the way - whichever healthcare system we have would be keeping people alive to some extent, and I doubt if it means anything beyond that.
Although I can't see them doing anything equivalent on private healthcare companies.
If there's an average level of aggression in a political interview that people are accustomed to then if the BBC are allowed to suddenly switch the level up and down it means they can ambush anyone they want to damage.
"According the World Bank, Cyprus has the highest level of corporate and personal debt to GDP in the world (c. 300% of GDP). Hard to see how to resolve this without depositors taking some kind of hit."
i.e. not really about Russians. The haggling over the attempted Greek bailout took months so this was really an attempt to get a quick deal by ignoring the law and using Russkie money as a smokescreen.
"Those who wish to purchase a second home are usually middle aged and either planning to holiday in the UK, perhaps subletting weeks to defray the cost, or planning to retire to the area of the second home."
One of the main reasons - along with things like the gang culture that doesn't officially exist - why millions of people are gradually moving out of London (it's millions moving further out in 1 or 2 mile hops with the headline 600,000 figure only being those who hop past the boundary) is that so many of the family homes that have come on the market in inner London since the borders were opened get snapped up to be turned into multi-occupancy.
The selection of who or what gets air-time allows the BBC can editorialize.
We need to balance these NASA scientists, can we find a flat earther?
We need to balance this paedophile story, can we find someone who thinks sex with children should be legal?
I'm sure we could find someone who would legalise marriage to animals - should we add that as balance whenever a gay marriage story...