Brian Barder's website and blog Brian Barder's website and ephems

Leveson’s press law and the prime minister’s defection

There are several possible explanations for David Cameron’s (and other Conservative ministers’) hardening objection to Lord Justice Leveson’s “essential” proposal that the new, press-initiated, independent and voluntary regulation of the press should be “underpinned”...

Depriving prisoners of their right to vote: an imaginary dialogue

On 10 February 2011, Jack Straw co-sponsored a resolution in the House of Commons condemning the European Court of Human Rights for declaring Britain in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights by...

Indeterminate Sentences abolished from 3 December

The Ministry of Justice has at last set the date for the abolition of Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPPs), in accordance with the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act of 1...

Abu Qatada, a shocking Tory and Labour’s eery silence

Many commentators have apparently missed the point about Abu Qatada‘s successful appeal against deportation.  The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) accepted the Jordanian government’s assurances that Qatada, if returned to Jordan for trial on...

UK government: an independent Scotland would have to apply to join the EU

In a lively discussion on the LabourList website of whether Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, lied when he allegedly told Andrew Neil that the SNP government had obtained legal advice that an independent Scotland...

Scottish independence referendum: two reckless gamblers

It’s surprising, and disturbing, that the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, should have signed an agreement on the Scottish independence referendum to be held in autumn 2014...

An account of a cruise up the Elbe

Earlier this month (October 2012) J and I enjoyed a Viking river cruise on the Elbe from Berlin to Prague.  In response to several requests,  J has written an account of the trip, including...

A note from Dresden about abortion

I wrote the following letter to the Guardian minutes before leaving London for a river cruise up the Elbe from Berlin to Prague.  The letter was published in the Guardian of 9 October, along...

Impressions of Ed Miliband interviewed by Andrew Marr

This is a very rough transcript of how I remember Andrew Marr interviewing the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, on the revealingly named “Andrew Marr Show”,  BBC1  television, Sunday 30 September 2012.  I can’t of...

More on Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPPs): still not abolished

The following very informative letter was published in the Guardian on Tuesday, 25 September: Criminal justice and human rights Indeterminate sentences for public protection were introduced by David Blunkett in 2005 for 153 specific...