[aldo_14]

http://www.libertycentral.org.uk/content/view/395/index.php

One of the more startling things to have taken place during the early stages of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill’s passage through Parliament came during the committee stages of the bill, when opposition members attempted to put forward amendments which make a further forty-four Acts of Parliament exempt from the provisions of part one of the bill; the part which enables ministers to make, amend and repeal legislation without going through the full process of Parliamentary scrutiny.

These amendments were rejected, in their entirety, by the government.

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see list on link
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Looking at just some of these Acts, one has to wonder quite justification the government can have not making them exempt from the provisions of part one of this bill, which affords Ministers unprecedented powers to make, amend and repeal legislation with the minimum of Parliamentary scrutiny.

Amongst the various matters that the government are currently unwilling to exempt from this bill are:

Every single protection against the arbitrary and unlawful detention of citizens by the state (Habeas Corpus Acts, Bail Act, Human Rights Act);

The independence of the Scottish judiciary and legal system (Act of Union);

The Monarchy (Act of Settlement, Succession to the Crown Act, Claim of Right);

Parliamentary democracy (Representation of the People Acts, House of Lords Act. Parliamentary Constituencies Act, Ministers of the Crown Act, Parliament Acts);

Devolved government in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland Act, Government of Wales Acts, Government of Ireland Act);

The independence of Canada, Australia and New Zealand – no seriously, this is in the Statute of Westminster – plus about a dozen other ‘Commonwealth Realms’, including Jamaica, the Bahamas and Papua New Guinea.

[NGTM-1R]

Christ. And you people say the US is screwed up.

[aldo_14]

Christ. And you people say the US is screwed up.

Oh, it is.  We get this, you already have the Patriot Act and detention without trial.  Pretty much 2 sides of the same coin.

[NGTM-1R]

And the Commonwealth states part's equivalent is...?

[aldo_14]

And the Commonwealth states part's equivalent is...?

Plonking down military bases in Iraq without asking, various sabre-rattling ops, anything involving the US' defined 'sphere of influence', etc.  Didn't say it was an exact parallel, because there isn't one.

[Grug]

Hehe, I thought you were talking about Dystopia for a second there.

That is screwed though. =/
Sounds similar to some of the laws John Howard pushed through when he gained a majority of the seats in parliment.
(Something I'm speechless on how he managed to do that in the first place...)

[Fineus]

And I continue to hate my homelands leaders...

It's a funny thing. If you go out for a drive around some of Englands natural reserves it really is a beautiful country. But it's tough to remember such beauty in the face of our modern world.

Damn, that was nearly poetic if I do say so myself.

[vyper]

"We can't get rid of the Lords or Monarchy through democratic means... so we'll change the laws!"...

"Damn why won't these people just let us force them to carry ID cards? Sod it let's make a new law so we can what we want!"

"Wait, how do we get through laws that could be unpopular? Heh, create executive power for the cabinet beyond even the US Presedential system of course!"


So, how hard is it to emigrate to Canada these days?

[karajorma]

I'll be damned if I'm emigrating. I'll join the rebellion long before I let that wanker Blair ride roughshot over my rights!

[Grug]

Here Here!

If the same party's get in next election, I will know something is wrong, and I'm up for a rebellion or strong protests calling for immediate resignation of the government. Especially if all three get in again, Johnny, Blair, and Bush. If it does happen... rebellion FTW!

[IceFire]

If the current minority government in Canada later becomes a majority we can probably join that club too.  Nothing bad's happened yet mind you...we're still plodding along like its the 1990s.  Which is a good thing really.

[NGTM-1R]

Besides, if you all emigrate to Canada they'd just try and revoke its independance.

I'd love to see that...

[Grug]

Besides, if you all emigrate to Canada they'd just try and revoke its independance.

I'd love to see that...

LoL.
"Just you try it ay' ?"

Canada is in the world cool books atm I think. One of the places I wouldn't mind visiting, if it wasn't so damned cold.