Labour.
United Kingdom
Joined June 2016
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Pleased to give evidence at the Lords Select Committee on assisted dying today. The Committee’s role is to hear evidence before whole House scrutiny in Nov.
The cruelty of the status quo is clear. Louise Shackleton’s family were investigated for months after supporting her husband Antony’s final choice. No one should have to travel or break the law to die with dignity.
The 3 witness statements of M Collins in China spy trial,two before charge (dec 23,feb 24), one after(aug 25) are to same effect. Each assert China conducted substantial operations to prejudice UK security. No change in tone or substance in Aug 25 statement from earlier two.
The DPP asserts evidence about whether China was an enemy within the meaning of the Official Secrets Act was reassessed in the light of a court of appeal decision on the meaning of enemy. That decision if anything reduced the threshold required to establish a country is an enemy, namely it is sufficient if that country is a threat to national security.
The obligation on UK government before the ECHR became part of domestic UK law was not to deport immigrants back into danger in their home country. That would still be law if we left ECHR. We shouldn’t abandon that principle.
Very important that the court of appeal send the message that protesting outside asylum hotels will not increase the chance of a court order requiring asylum seeker hotels to be closed.
This means there will not be a series of applications in other asylum hotel cases to remove asylum seekers from them. What happens in this case, and the other asylum hotel cases will depend on the main hearing in October 25, and any appeal from that.
The Court of Appeal have allowed the appeal and set aside the injunction requiring the asylum seekers to be removed by 12/9. CA said judge was wrong to include fact there was protest outside the hotel to justify grant of injunction. Full hearing in October 25.
This from @RuthFox01 is correct about proper scrutiny of @kimleadbeater bill. If Third Reading takes place in Commons on 13th June, there remains plenty of time for scrutiny in the Lords.
xitter.cf/RuthFox01/status/19096…
🧵1/ A key question now: will @kimleadbeater schedule 3rd Reading of the #AssistedDying Bill right after Report Stage on 16 May—or hold it later on 13 June? Why does this matter? Because it affects when MPs make their final decision. 👇
There are already at least four sitting Fridays allocated in July and September, with more to come in autumn, depending on length of this Parliamentary session, which is expected to last at least to the end of the year and probably beyond.
lordswhips.org.uk/sitting-fr…
Recognizing UK needs close relationship with USA should not prevent us pointing out @VP speech in Munich was terrible. Pushing back hard on his analysis doesn’t endanger the US/UK relationship. It ensures it’s on a firm footing.
CCRC needs a committed confident miscarriage- of-justice-fighting chair ASAP. Helen Pitcher, fired as CCRC Chair, should go as Judicial Appointments Commission Chair. She lacks the confidence of every group of stakeholder in judicial appointments. theguardian.com/law/2025/feb…
2 independent reviews criticised Helen Pitcher’s conduct as chair of CCRC in connection with Malkinson case. She refused to accept responsibility. She resigned only when forced. She should now resign as chair of Judicial Appointments Commission. theguardian.com/law/2025/jan…
“But also: look around you. Schools, hospitals, parks, libraries, potholed roads, crappy bus links – so many aspects of the public realm are broken.”
Don’t forget the family, criminal and justice system. theguardian.com/business/202…
