In the News 03/02/12

Author: Emily Randall

President of the European Court of Human Rights Sir Nicolas Bratza has responded to David Cameron speech this week to the Council of Europe. Acknowledging there is much agreement but the ‘democratic override - to allow states to override decisions of the Human Rights Court would be totally destructive.

Nick Clegg is using the way the Lords have dealt with the welfare reforms to argue for the need for Lords Reform. Claiming that the Lords are ‘out of touch with voter’s concerns’.  The Independent is warning against Clegg using the Goodwin fiasco to get Lords Reform noting it would be seen to be opportunistic. The no expulsion culture of the upper house could be challenged by peers imprisoned for over a year having their peerage removed.

Lord Ashcroft is seeking damages from Independent News and Media (INM), former owners of The Independent, over articles published in November 2009. Yesterday the courts heard this would be a ‘fundamental bulwark’ of free speech if Lord Ashcroft succeeds.

In his harshest attack against the SNP, Nick Clegg has alleged that the Scottish Ministers have fail to do adequate research to support their case for Scottish Independence. Lord Foulkes, Labour Peer and former Scotland Office minister has called for their to be two ballots to be held if the outcome of the referendum is a ‘no’ vote.