header-logo header-logo

Contradictions

02 May 2014 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7604 / Categories: Opinion
printer mail-detail
web_smith_5

Roger Smith looks at three issues that expose inconsistencies by the Lord Chancellor

In the micro-politics of the Conservative Party, Chris Grayling probably reckons that he has got a pretty good billet. He has lots of opportunity to show off his expenditure cuts and to put two fingers up to Europe. But, in bidding to be the right wing darling of his party, the Lord Chancellor exposes the contradictions at the heart of some of its policy-making.

 

Europe

The problem for a Eurosceptic like Grayling is that, although opposition to anything from the EU is a “no brainer”, actually some of its work is rather handy. This presents a difficulty. The Lord Chancellor has chosen to draw a bright blue line at the EU’s attempt to draw up a “judicial scorecard” of how various of its members are doing in relation to implementing the rule of law. Thus, although we participated in 2013, the recently produced publication for 2014 is full of entries proudly displaying “no data” for the UK. While it can be argued (as Grayling

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll