Courts
The secret courts bill won’t enhance justice or make us more secure
‘That Britain allowed itself to be dragged into complicity in extraordinary rendition – the kidnap and torture of individuals by the state – is a disgrace. That, nearly a decade… Continue reading
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Cabinet row over imprisoned SAS soldier
A lunchtime spat has broken out over Sergeant Danny Nightingale, the SAS serviceman who was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a court martial after pleading guilty to possession… Continue reading
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The crime of the Justice and Security Bill
The Coalition Agreement states: ‘We will be strong in defence of freedom. The Government believes that the British state has become too authoritarian, and that over the past decade it… Continue reading
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The internet is proving to be a tool of censorship, not emancipation
The case of Adrian Smith, the Christian the Trafford Housing Trust demoted for politely expressing his opposition to gay marriage on Facebook, is one of the most disgraceful I have… Continue reading
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Margaret Moran: an MP too depressed for prison
Are you happy that the former Labour MP Margaret Moran, who swindled more than £50,000 from the taxpayer in rogue expenses, will escape a custodial sentence because she is ‘depressed’?… Continue reading
90 Comments
Britain’s illiberal state
It can seem surreal, almost otherworldly, to read about our judiciary these days. Just a few days ago my colleague Douglas Murray wrote about the peculiarity of imposing a custodial… Continue reading
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Secret justice concessions won’t silence its critics
Two U-turns in 12 hours — even for this government that’s some going. Following George Osborne’s watering down of his VAT changes, Ken Clarke has rowed back some of his… Continue reading
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ECHR reform won’t happen
In Westminster, the debate about the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights is all being seen through the prism of the Abu Qatada case.… Continue reading
36 CommentsWhat today’s Abu Hamza ruling means
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that five terror suspects, including notorious Islamist cleric Abu Hamza, can be deported to the United States — a decision welcomed by… Continue reading
27 Comments
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Tax Evader
Rather than respond to CoffeeHousers in the comment thread of my blog earlier, I thought I’d do it in a post (and also take in some of the comments from… Continue reading
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What is being done in the name of ‘national security’?
The liberty versus security debate has returned to Westminster, and it’s just like old times. David Davis is having great fun beating up the government, except this time it’s a… Continue reading
65 Comments
Gotcha!
The Spectator‘s cover, a few weeks ago, borrowed one of The Sun‘s most famous headlines: ‘Gotcha’ — but, this time, with tabloid journalists caught in the trap. It was supposed… Continue reading
18 CommentsSaif Gaddafi captured — but what now?
Remember when Saif Gaddafi was the Anointed One of those who wanted a freer, more liberal Libya? Now, he’s at the mercy of militiamen in the city of Zintan, having… Continue reading
24 CommentsA crucial week for the cause of free expression
For those who care about free expression in the UK, and particularly the reform of our invidious libel laws, this is a crucial week. Today and tomorrow, the UK Supreme… Continue reading
3 CommentsThe human rights smokescreen
Today’s papers resound with the news that Theresa May is resisting Liberal Democrat opposition to close the loophole over the “right to family life”, Article 8 of the European Convention on… Continue reading
19 CommentsAnother voice: Dale Farm reprieved
This is the second of our occasional ‘another voice’ series. Siobhan Courtney reports again from Dale Farm. The outcome was not what anyone expected: the bailiffs are not getting into… Continue reading
31 CommentsResidents of Dale Farm win injunction
The residents of Dale Farm have been granted a last gasp reprieve by the High Court. The BBC reports: ‘Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart granted the injunction at London’s High Court on… Continue reading
22 CommentsWhat kind of Libyan justice?
Tory MP Dominic Raab has a piece in The Times today (£) about the need for Libyans to rely on the International Criminal Court in the Hague, rather than seek… Continue reading
13 CommentsThe danger of disproportionate sentences
It’s great that hundreds of looters are being punished properly, and the police are to be congratulated for working hard to find the thugs responsible for damage during the riots.… Continue reading
48 CommentsClegg paints the world yellow
Nick Clegg laughed-off the dousing of blue paint he received in Glasgow yesterday, like one of Noel Edmonds’ unwitting victims. Today, Clegg has turned into the grinning douser: drenching his… Continue reading
38 Comments