header-logo header-logo

13 August 2010 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7430 / Categories: Opinion , Constitutional law
printer mail-detail

Coalition justice 3

coveriamge_4

The Coalition government will not be remembered for its policies on civil liberties or the constitution. The period from the election until the autumn will be seen as the phoney, or in Churchill’s words, “twilight” war. To come is the spending blitzkrieg that will define this government. We need to revive a theme equivalent to that current in 1939: no indiscriminate bombing of civilians.

In spite of the imminent cuts, we need to keep calm & carry on, says Roger Smith

The Coalition government will not be remembered for its policies on civil liberties or the constitution (NLJ, 2 & 23 July 2010, pp 917 & 1027). The period from the election until the autumn will be seen as the phoney, or in Churchill’s words, “twilight” war. To come is the spending blitzkrieg that will define this government. We need to revive a theme equivalent to that current in 1939: no indiscriminate bombing of civilians.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) budget was £9.75bn in 2008-9. Prison is the largest source of spending: £2.34bn. Legal aid is second at £1.9bn. The courts cost £1.24bn,

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hogan Lovells—Lisa Quelch

Hogan Lovells—Lisa Quelch

Partner hire strengthens global infrastructure and energy financing practice

Sherrards—Jan Kunstyr

Sherrards—Jan Kunstyr

Legal director bolsters international expertise in dispute resolution team

Muckle LLP—Stacey Brown

Muckle LLP—Stacey Brown

Corporate governance and company law specialist joins the team

NEWS

NOTICE UNDER THE TRUSTEE ACT 1925

HERBERT SMITH STAFF PENSION SCHEME (THE “SCHEME”)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND BENEFICIARIES UNDER SECTION 27 OF THE TRUSTEE ACT 1925
Law firm HFW is offering clients lawyers on call for dawn raids, sanctions issues and other regulatory emergencies
From gender-critical speech to notice periods and incapability dismissals, employment law continues to turn on fine distinctions. In his latest employment law brief for NLJ, Ian Smith of Norwich Law School reviews a cluster of recent decisions, led by Bailey v Stonewall, where the Court of Appeal clarified the limits of third-party liability under the Equality Act
Non-molestation orders are meant to be the frontline defence against domestic abuse, yet their enforcement often falls short. Writing in NLJ this week, Jeni Kavanagh, Jessica Mortimer and Oliver Kavanagh analyse why the criminalisation of breach has failed to deliver consistent protection
Assisted dying remains one of the most fraught fault lines in English law, where compassion and criminal liability sit uncomfortably close. Writing in NLJ this week, Julie Gowland and Barny Croft of Birketts examine how acts motivated by care—booking travel, completing paperwork, or offering emotional support—can still fall within the wide reach of the Suicide Act 1961
back-to-top-scroll