Comments on: Secret plot by Tory donor to rewrite UK constitution by the backdoor

By: adrian simmonds

adrian simmonds — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:55:30 +0000

I have written to a number of people in Government about this issue, but, contrary to Brown’s assurance that he is “listening”, their replies prove that they are not. They keep insisting that the Lisbon Treaty is radically different from the Constitution, something that no serious political commentator, Telegraph or Guardian, no European politician attempts to say. They all agree it’s virtually identical but Labour maintain that black is white, purple is pink.We’re wasting our time - they will lie through their teeth until Doomsday on this issue.

By: jennifer james

jennifer james — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:11:50 +0000

james graham’s interpretation of Stuart Wheelers action is either infantile or mischevious. The point being that the electorate were promised an election. To deny it on a point of pedantry is purely wrong. I actually downloaded and read the European Constitution, and the Lisbon Treaty which took me longer than the parliamentary debate allowed the members in the commons.

By: Robert El-Cid

Robert El-Cid — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:44:30 +0000

The gravamen of this appllication is the legitimacy of Brown’s refusal of the promised Referendum on the European Constitution, alias the Lisbon Treaty. It must be remembered our Prime Minister and his colleagues are servants of HM The Queen and thereby drawn within the ambit of the Coronation Oath which solemnly requires her to govern her people according to the laws and customs of the United Kingdom and its Dominions. Democracy is one of our customs and the direct form of democracy (a referendum) has seemingly not been granted in this insance as promised by PM Blair and others..

By: adrian simmonds

adrian simmonds — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:19:27 +0000

I should clarify that the action is against the government, not parliament itself so my comments referring to parliament should have referred to the government.

By: adrian simmonds

adrian simmonds — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:40:13 +0000

People are missing the point completely. The Courts have a duty to look at such applications if there is any substance to them. Parliament may be sovereign but it is not above the law. Wheeler is not trying to change the law, only Westminster, correction Brussels can do that - he is trying to get the Court to consider his arguments and, hopefully, come out with a judgement that Parliament has acted wrongly. Brown has already ignored the wishes of the majority on this issue and maybe he’d ignore the Court’s verdict, too, but even he might be shamed into doing a volte-face. Wheeler is not asking for the European Constitution to be torn up, as some are implying, he is just asking for us to have a referendum. If such a referendum votes in favour of the Constitution, so be it. We are democrats and accept the will of the majority, unlike Brown and most of the conributors to this website.

By: Legitimate Expectation: What it really means

Legitimate Expectation: What it really means — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:21:01 +0000

[...] to judicial review (the doctrine of legitimate expectation being a part of judicial review). As James Graham pointed out last week, a contrary position would overturn the principle of Parliamentary sovereignty, which has lain at [...]

By: James Graham

James Graham — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:22:39 +0000

Good point Antony. Perhaps when they manage to abolish the HRA we can have them executed for treason.

By: Antony Hook

Antony Hook — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:01:08 +0000

As I’ve said on Gavin’s blog, their judicial review also challenges an area of Royal Perogative (to make treaties)- so much for support for the monarchy.

By: EU Challenges: The Giggle My Tits Off Edition

EU Challenges: The Giggle My Tits Off Edition — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:21:37 +0000

[...] is in breach of a "legitimate expectation" held by the people. As I’ve commented on James Graham’s post: "Watch that judicial review get thrown out of a court by a judge giggling his tits off at the [...]

By: James Graham

James Graham — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:41:03 +0000

I’d eat more than my hat if he wins. What amazes me though is how these people seem to misunderstand their own arguments.