These are the lead paragraphs from an FT report this morning:
The Tories will continue with the Bill nonetheless. That's why we know they are fascists. In the face of warnings, they are continuing to pursue policies that are racist and deny us all our human rights. No other interpretation of their political creed is really now possible given those facts.
But remember, when Labour could have voted to kill this Bill they did not. They, too, have questions to answer.
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It will be a test for the House of Lords too. Their task is to revise and reject laws which go against the (spirit of) constitution.
The Lords have done good work but tend to sit on their hands at times on the grounds they are not the elected govt.
We have just seen the appointment of more party donors. Why Starmer thinks he has to back track on this one, baffles me.
Why do the Lords not..?
Application of the Salisbury Convention? Or maybe misapplication, I know it was in the King’s Speech but have lost track of the manifesto promises, they are being rewritten so frequently.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salisbury_Convention#:~:text=The%20Salisbury%20Convention%20(officially%20called,legislation%20promised%20in%20its%20election
I recall that the Lords could send a bill back to the Commons and when re-presented could only delay for about a year. If a government was newly elected it was deemed to have a mandate and the bill would become law. If presented late in a Parliament the delay might mean it would fall though lack of time and was justified by the argument that the government might be less in touch with popular approval. The practice relies on assumptions which may not reflect reality.
If I have it right then could it be possible to delay the bill log enough to run out of time?
I think it reinforces the argument for a second chamber with clearly defined powers and staffed with elected people and, perhaps, some selected by an independent body to give areas of expertise.
This Bill could fail because of a lack of time.
But Labour has up want that. Does it?
The worst of it is is that the Tories would not be going anywhere near this unless they knew that some (many?) would find this attractive.
I have lost count of how many in the public sector talk about ‘turning off the tap’ of immigration.
We know who the Tory party are and I don’t need to go over that again.
But what does it say about the people of this country?
Ugly stuff.
Agreed
Labour’s problem is that it’s up against a party who, more than ever before, are prepared to flout the law and the constitution, to lie blatantly, and brazenly enrich the wealthy whilst impoverishing the poor. All this is supported by the most powerful institutions, including the media. When the church questions morality it is ruthlessly attacked. And the electorate? To quote Mark Twain, it’s easier to fool people than to convince them they’ve been fooled.
Labour knows that all these forces will be unleashed unmercifully on them if they show any socialist leanings. So they are wise to keep their powder dry. Whether, if they are returned to power, they will be inclined or bold enough to introduce policies that will restore a strong, fair, and decent Britain remains to be seen.
Does anyone still doubt that human rights are not really important if you are powerful? Not only the Rwanda issue but the Palestine issue; has Israel taken any notice of the ICJ ruling? Despite Biden huffing and puffing re death count in Gaza he has the power to convene a Security Council meeting and not withold a US vote for a ceasefire, he also doesn’t need to send another 40B in weapons. If Both the US and UK had been small brown countries there would maybe have been consequences; not for the powerful ones and their acolytes.