Menzies Campbell and Nick Clegg will launch a “Freedom Bill” in Westminster this morning, calling for the repeal of 10 parliamentary acts passed since Labour came to power.
UPDATE: After that, Menzies Campbell and our shadow cabinet will gather for a strategy meeting in Henley-Upon-Thames from lunchtime Thursday to lunchtime Friday. According to Cowley Street “The party is preparing for a possible general election in October 2007”. I’ve heard there’s a good motivational speaker available in Henley…
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10 Comments
It’s a follow up to Nick’s earlier “Great Repeal Act” initiative, which you can read about at http://www.greatrepealact.com or you can watch his conference speech about it on Google Video
Odd idea. I can see that this is eye catching, but what analysis has gone on as to whether these are the right bills. I am afraid this does not seem sensible. Maybe if they were discussing sunset clauses on some Acts then it might gain some support. As it stands it merely looks like populism.
Not sure what you find odd, Kevin – take a look at the list the Party’s published here: http://www.libdems.org.uk/campaigns/the-freedom-bill.html#topten
Not populist. Just liberal.
I think we should plead guilty to Kevin’s ‘damning’ charge of populism. Being both populist and liberal is a most wonderful thing that we should seize with both hands. God knows there are enough people in the party who regard the two as permanently mutually exclusive.
Kevin – I think the answer is “a lot of thought has gone in to the list”. Which of the laws on the list would you rather keep?
Chris Huhne’s speech to Demos from February makes a pretty good case for this sort of idea.
Yes let´s have some populism.
A pity that this is purely a civil liberties list though. Having a go at other types of regulation is 1. necessary 2. popular.
Good list. I’d like to see the arrestable/non-arrestable offences distinction that PACE introduced restored as well though.
Are the ten bills/bits of bills the ones posted above as 2 of those date from the Tories?
You could repeal a lot more of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 which is a pretty dreadful piece of legislation regardless of what changes it actually makes.
I can’t source the precise case but a judge described it in an offically reported judgement as “labyrinthine” and in places the “holy grail of rational interpretation is impossible to find”!
There is also the possibility of repealing “non-existent” legislation. IE that which has received Royal Assent but not yet been brought into effect.
There should also be provision whereby legislation passed is automatically repealed if not given a commencement date within say a year of Royal Assent – though that could be subject to a Parliamentary vote.
The flipside of that would be for Parliament to be able to force the commencement of passed legislation. The incitement to religious hatred provisions have not yet received a commencement order which looks a bit like Government revenge for people amending it against their will. In the absence of a Government commencement order I don’t think there is any way for Parliament to force them to do so (except I suppose passing a new bill that it takes immediate effect)