Danger of Elected Dictatorship
Discussion
Another snippet worty of debate in yesterday's "Mail"
Reported by Steve Doughty
DANGER OF "ELECTED DICTATOSHIP" BY BRITAIN'S TOP JUDGE
Lord Woolf warned of a "malevolently elected dicatorship" in Britain.
Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf said that repeated radical constitutional changes could harm the rule of law, which could then harm democracy.
He revealed a "concordat" which had been agreed with ministers which enables him to amke sweeping changes to the legal system.
He then peppered his talk with the dangers of tinkering with the constitution.
He said there have been no less than 15 significant constitutioanl reforms since Noo Labai came to power and each affect the rule of law.
According to Lord Woolf, this is important because democratic government is dependent upon the observaance of the rule of law.
Without observance of the rule of law a democracy can become a dictatorship - admittedly an elected one - but still a dictatorship with all the danges of uncontrolled power.
It may be a benevolent dictatorship - even an effective form of government. But the danger is that "benevolent - like a tumour, can and usually doe turn malevolent"
His warning follows year of hostility between judgees and ministers over consitutional reforms - which include abolition of the ancient office of Lord Chancellor and the creation of a new commission to select judges ( the one which taboos "common sense" as prerequisite
and creation of Supreme Court instead of House of Lords to hear most important cases.
Lord Woolf criticises Bliar's "lack of appreciation of effects of his reforms" - they are "extraordinary"
He confirms he has struck deal over reforms and calls on politicians to debate in Parliamnet before next election.
The "concordat" he says - will stop the government from selecting "favourites as judges" or picking judges for selective cases, thus preserving independence within legal system and allowing government to have "proper say" and MPs to scrutinise.
Lord Wooldf believes "Lord Chancellor" should be saved but bout bound by this "concordat"
Lord Woolf sticks his neck out by criticising way reforms are announced, saying that whilst constitution should be flexible, they should no be so malleable that they can be changed in course of a reshuffle.
He also believes that judges should be allowed to return to work as lawyers, advertising themselves as ex-judges in effort to increase numbers of wimmin and ethnic judges
(You spoilt it -mate - politically correct
- heard of merit
Lord Falconer is proposing to change current set up whereby appointments are for life - carrer breaks for judges and eligible earlier - currently they need to be qualified 7-10 years before they are considered to be eligible....
15.8% of judges are wimmin and 3.4% ethnic origin and Lord Falconer says judicial system has to reflect the society it serves.....
Strassen
and a few others want to bring back flogging for car thieves - mate
Reported by Steve Doughty
DANGER OF "ELECTED DICTATOSHIP" BY BRITAIN'S TOP JUDGE
Lord Woolf warned of a "malevolently elected dicatorship" in Britain.
Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf said that repeated radical constitutional changes could harm the rule of law, which could then harm democracy.
He revealed a "concordat" which had been agreed with ministers which enables him to amke sweeping changes to the legal system.
He then peppered his talk with the dangers of tinkering with the constitution.
He said there have been no less than 15 significant constitutioanl reforms since Noo Labai came to power and each affect the rule of law.
According to Lord Woolf, this is important because democratic government is dependent upon the observaance of the rule of law.
Without observance of the rule of law a democracy can become a dictatorship - admittedly an elected one - but still a dictatorship with all the danges of uncontrolled power.
It may be a benevolent dictatorship - even an effective form of government. But the danger is that "benevolent - like a tumour, can and usually doe turn malevolent"
His warning follows year of hostility between judgees and ministers over consitutional reforms - which include abolition of the ancient office of Lord Chancellor and the creation of a new commission to select judges ( the one which taboos "common sense" as prerequisite
and creation of Supreme Court instead of House of Lords to hear most important cases. Lord Woolf criticises Bliar's "lack of appreciation of effects of his reforms" - they are "extraordinary"
He confirms he has struck deal over reforms and calls on politicians to debate in Parliamnet before next election.
The "concordat" he says - will stop the government from selecting "favourites as judges" or picking judges for selective cases, thus preserving independence within legal system and allowing government to have "proper say" and MPs to scrutinise.
Lord Wooldf believes "Lord Chancellor" should be saved but bout bound by this "concordat"
Lord Woolf sticks his neck out by criticising way reforms are announced, saying that whilst constitution should be flexible, they should no be so malleable that they can be changed in course of a reshuffle.
He also believes that judges should be allowed to return to work as lawyers, advertising themselves as ex-judges in effort to increase numbers of wimmin and ethnic judges
(You spoilt it -mate - politically correct
- heard of merit Lord Falconer is proposing to change current set up whereby appointments are for life - carrer breaks for judges and eligible earlier - currently they need to be qualified 7-10 years before they are considered to be eligible....
15.8% of judges are wimmin and 3.4% ethnic origin and Lord Falconer says judicial system has to reflect the society it serves.....
Strassen
and a few others want to bring back flogging for car thieves - mate Er, we already have a series of elected dicatorships at national and local level. Every tried responding to a consultation of any sort? Doesn't matter how good your arguments are, if they run counter to what the goblins want to do, they do it.
And don't for a minute think it's going to get any better.
MMC
And don't for a minute think it's going to get any better.
MMC
MMC said:
Er, we already have a series of elected dicatorships at national and local level. Every tried responding to a consultation of any sort? Doesn't matter how good your arguments are, if they run counter to what the goblins want to do, they do it.
And don't for a minute think it's going to get any better.
MMC
Waste of my time to keep writing to local papers suggesting the Welsh Arse embly should be disbanded then?
We have a "parliamentary democracy" as oppssed to a "democracy". This means that sure, we can vote them in or out, but then they can do what the hell they like in between. The worst example for me is: by what right does the Party whip, threaten my MP with concequences to his career if he doesn't vote their way? That's NOT democracy! That's gangland Bullying!!!
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