Author Archives: Owen Bowcott
Scotland independence referendum: role of UK supreme court
Legal challenge to a referendum would be heard before UK supreme courtThe constitutional role of the UK’s supreme court means any legal challenge to a Scottish referendum on independence would be brought directly before judges in Westminster.Under the … Continue reading
Legal aid survey shows most Londoners are against cuts
Advice services are not just for poor people, says Legal Action Group, as rising cost of living hits middle-class families tooThe popularity of free legal aid is demonstrated by an opinion poll released this week as the House of Lords debates governmen… Continue reading
Legal aid cuts will save less than half government’s forecast, study finds
Analysis by King’s College London focusing on three areas of civil law says knock-on costs could be £139m a yearSavings made by reducing the availability of legal aid for civil cases will be significantly less than half of that predicted by the govern… Continue reading
Ken Clarke warned plan to curb open justice is flawed
Investigatory Powers Tribunal says claimants could be denied access to evidence in more closed hearingsBritain’s most secretive court has warned the government that plans to restrict open justice in sensitive civil claims cases are seriously flawed and… Continue reading
Thatcher’s thrift surfaced in war of words over No 10 ironing board
National Archives reveals Downing St household economies with PM buying her own ironing board to cut costsMargaret Thatcher volunteered to buy her own ironing board and bed linen during confidential discussions about the cost of refurbishing her privat… Continue reading
Thatcher warned of defence cuts dangers before Falklands war
National Archives files show growing sense of foreboding by Royal Navy that ‘ad hoc’ cuts would harm national securityProphetic warnings about the dangers for British seapower were delivered to the government in the runup to the Falklands war, accordin… Continue reading
Pope’s address to parliament vetoed, National Archives files reveal
Margaret Thatcher ruled out suggested speech by Pope John Paul II amid fears that Ian Paisley would ‘make a nuisance’Suggestions that the pope be given the honour of addressing both houses of parliament on his first visit to Britain were discouraged by… Continue reading
Thatcher cabinet ‘wobbled’ over IRA hunger strikers
National Archives releases papers that lay bare fraught private discussions over government’s stance on Maze prisonersThe Thatcher government wobbled in its resolution to resist the IRA’s Maze prison hunger strike and contemplated the “unpalatable” opt… Continue reading
Gems from National Archives unearthed after the 30-year rule
Revealed: the codeword for a nuclear attack evacuation and the Arab anger over a British bingo firm• A campaign in the Islamic world against the “scandalous act” of a British gambling firm calling itself Mecca Ltd challenged the Foreign Office’s cult… Continue reading
Margaret Thatcher threatened to veto BBC programme about MI5 and MI6
National Archives’ files show how PM tried to browbeat BBC and reveals speculation about Erroll Flynn being a Nazi agentThe Conservative government threatened to “veto” a BBC Panorama programme about MI5 and MI6 because it planned to reveal details abo… Continue reading