Lord Ken Macdonald QC to become Reprieve’s new Chair
Reprieve: “Reprieve is delighted to announce that Lord Ken Macdonald QC, co-founder of Matrix Chambers and former Director of Public Prosecutions, is to be our new Chair, in succession to Lord Bingham of Cornhill.”
Reprieve director Clive Stafford Smith and a team of lawyers deserve support from all who are opposed to the death penalty and abuse of power and law. In their own words…
Reprieve uses the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guantánamo Bay.
We investigate, we litigate and we educate, working on the frontline, providing legal support to prisoners unable to pay for it themselves. We promote the rule of law around the world, and secure each person’s right to a fair trial. And in doing so, we save lives.
The appointment of Lord MacDonald QC will, I hope, raise their profile even further.
Control orders: BBC learns detail of replacement
BBC: The coalition is planning to replace control orders with a new package of restrictions to keep terror suspects under surveillance. One working title for the new curbs are “surveillance orders”. They would restrict suspects’ movements but end overnight curfews.
When we have more detail and time to look at the detail I’ll invite Carl Gardner to do am podcast with me on this if he is free to do so.
Student fee protests and human rights protections
The UK Human Rights blog: “Today MPs will vote on whether to increase the maximum amount universities can charge to £9,000. Contrary to many commentators’ predictions, the student protests against the increase on 10 November have not been an isolated occurrence, but the beginning of a settled campaign. But would the students be able to rely on human rights arguments to resist eviction?”
Student protester jailed for throwing fire extinguisher
BBC: A student who admitted throwing a fire extinguisher from the roof of a central London building during the student fees protests has been jailed. Edward Woollard, 18, from Hampshire, was among protesters who broke into the Tory party headquarters and emerged on the roof on 10 November. He was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting at an earlier hearing to committing violent disorder….
“surveillance orders”
ah yes. not like control orders at all, then.
“Control orders” / “Surveillance Orders” – a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
All of these seems to about internal arguments within the coalition as they try to resolve pre-election statements and positions with the reality of government.