Category Archives: Current Politics

David Cameron, Chris Grayling and the Abuse of Human Rights

It’s funny how phrases take on different meanings as time goes by. Not so many years ago  a “do gooder” was a person who did their  best to help others , it was someone who was generous and charitable. Anyone so unfortunate to attract that label now is  a “soft touch” and to blame for all of society’s ills by sending teenage rapists on all-inclusive holidays to the Caribbean or allowing prisoners to have 60 inch plasma TVs in their cells.

Similarly, “human rights legislation”,  once seen as  vital in  upholding the fundamental values we all hold dear,  is now held responsible for helping sinister hook handed muslims to escape justice and handing  undeserving asylum seekers state benefits.

Continue reading David Cameron, Chris Grayling and the Abuse of Human Rights

The Big News: My Blog’s arrived …oh, and err Scotland votes No.

What a momentous  week to start my legal blog.

The biggest divorce in UK history has been avoided and even better, Mishcon De Reya didn’t receive a penny in fees. It was compelling stuff for us  lot south of the border even though we weren’t directly involved – the constitutional equivalent of watching a couple of obese neighbours mud wrestling.

The idea of Scotland going it alone was too much for some to bear but I doubt any of them were lawyers. Scotland has always  had its own legal system, largely independent of England, and  has made a rather good job of it. Their  system  has developed through the application of  Roman- Dutch principles rather  English Legal theory. This means that strict adherence to  legal precedent and common law is discouraged in favour of deciding cases after getting pissed on red wine, engaging in orgies  and smoking marijuana.

Continue reading The Big News: My Blog’s arrived …oh, and err Scotland votes No.