Weekend Review Part II - 10th February: A collection of matters….

Part II, as promised, follows Part 1, below. I have come to the conclusion that a 45 minute radio download with 4-5 short podcasts is not the best medium. I am settling on a pattern of a mix of text and separate short podcasts so readers may listen to / read what they wish to without having to listen to a full programme.

The Archbishop lit a blue touch paper last week with his thoughts on Sharia Law. He may well have been mis-quoted / misunderstood. The tabloids and broadsheets have feasted well and members of Synod, including a former Brigadier, have popped up in the newspapers saying that Dr Williams is not fit for purpose.

It was Henry II who uttered the immortal words (of Thomas a Beckett) “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?” Four of Henry’s knights took his words literally, set forth for Canterbury and killed him. Thankfully, we have moved on from those days and while Dr Williams faces a degree of public exposure in the press and criticism, he will, most likely, keep his job when the fuss dies down. John Bolch, solicitor and author of Family Lore, talks to me this morning about the Archbishop’s thoughts on Sharia Law. Listen to the podcast interview.

As John Bolch noted: Jacqui Gilliatt on the Family Law Week blog puts the asinine spoutings of the Archbishop of Canterbury into perspective when she quotes an American commentator: “What do you expect from someone that believes in a giant invisible being that lives in the sky, knows everything, created everything, and talks to humans in their language. Give me a break.“

Moving on to rhetoric of a different kind. Today, I talked to the author of the Nearly Legal blog about Housing Minister Caroline Flint’s plans to chuck people out of their houses if they don’t get back to work. Nearly Legal writes these proposals up well on his blog (link above) and explains to me why the plans are, perhaps, not fully thought out. In fact… he describes the plans as ’silly’. Listen to the podcast interview

I found a suitable picture of a government workhouse treadmill on… www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk

And…. even more forceful words. I talked to Nigel Savage, CEO, College of Law about his complaint in connection with the Solicitors Regulation Authority changes to the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test rules. Nigel Savage took legal advice from Rabinder Singh QC on whether the SRA changes breach, as the College claims, anti-discrimination legislation and The Competition Act. As ever, Nigel Savage has a robust view. Listen to the podcast interview.

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And… we have the controversy over the bugging of an MP when he was talking to a prisoner in prison. It seems that the authorities have also been bugging lawyers talking to their clients in prison before trial. Ruthie’s Law has comment and a solution.

Geoffrey Robertson QC, if my memory of reading the News of The World this morning is correct, says that the bugging of lawyers could lead to the quashing of convictions and the release of some serious criminals. He is reported as stating that the courts may well react with fury ‘on principle’. I do not have NOTW to hand and I cannot find the story on the online version.

The Telegraph reports this story.

Part 1 of Weekend Review is below. I meet King Arthur for a drink at The Bollo. Scroll down or click here.