Andy Slaughter MP: SARAH Bill shows Government has run out of ideas

Epolitix

20 October 2014 at 0:44 am

WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxShadow Justice Minister Andy Slaughter describes the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Bill as the "last gasp of a Government that has run out of things to say". WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxAt Conservative Party Conference, Chris Grayling, was introduced as a man who "believes in the cause of justice like no other”. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxAnd it is true. He is like no other Lord Chancellor in the damage he has wrought on the justice system. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxCuts to civil Legal Aid mean hundreds of thousands of people every year cannot now get advice or representation with housing, debt, social security, immigration or family law problems. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxThe privatisation of the probation service means inadequate supervision of high risk offenders. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxCuts in prison staffing mean inmates spend most of their time in cells rather than at work or study. And suicide rates have shot up. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxVictims are ignored, courts are closed, judicial review of government decisions is being curtailed and – if re-elected – the Human Rights Act will be repealed. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxAlongside all of this the Bill that limps through its final Commons stages today is small beer. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxBut the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Bill (SARAH) is still an insight into how the law takes second place to vested interests under this Government WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxThere are only five short clauses in the Bill, requiring a court considering a negligence claim to have regard to whether a defendant was acting for the benefit of society, demonstrating a generally responsible approach or acting heroically. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxTo what purpose? WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxReception among commentators and the legal blogs has been so negative that even ConservativeHome found space to question the need for its existence. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxThe only Coalition MP to speak in the Second Reading debate was former Solicitor General Sir Edward Garnier. He had a “horrible suspicion that the Bill would become the subject of derision” and was “more like an early-day motion than a proper statute”. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxAt Committee Stage only five of 24 witnesses invited by the Government to give evidence on the merits of the Bill attended, and most of those expressed dismay at its incoherence. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxThis could be the first Bill ever to boast that it does not intend to change the law but only exhort a change in behaviour. Is this really the function of legislation? WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxOf course we should encourage people to volunteer and step in to help in an emergency. But, as St John’s Ambulance noted, the Government would be better putting resources into training first aiders so they could help in a crisis. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxAnd there is one Clause of this Bill that is mischievous. Those who cause harm by negligence but are generally competent should have that taken into account if they cause harm by their negligence. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxAnother sop to the insurance industry and to employers who want to escape liability for injuries caused at work. WHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; LETTER-SPACING: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxWHITE-SPACE: normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; FLOAT: none; COLOR: rgb(34,34,34); FONT: small arial; DISPLAY: inline !important; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0pxSARAH is the last gasp of a Government that has run out of things to say or do. But it is also an indicator of how a future Tory government would weight the dice in favour or their funders and supporters even if this means undermining long-set principles of common law. 2014 Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd.

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