DOCSLIB.ORG

Electoral Law an Interim Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Electoral Law an Interim Report Electoral Law An Interim Report 4 February 2016 Law Commission Scottish Law Commission Northern Ireland Law Commission ELECTORAL LAW A Joint Interim Report © Crown copyright 2016 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence: visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3; or write to Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU; or email [email protected]. Where we have identified any third party copyright information, you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/electoral-law/ www.scotlawcom.gov.uk ii THE LAW COMMISSIONS The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission were set up by section 1 of the Law Commissions Act 1965. The Northern Ireland Law Commission was set up by section 50 of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002. Each Commission has the purpose of promoting reform of the law. The Law Commissioners for England and Wales are: The Right Honourable Lord Justice Bean, Chairman Professor Nick Hopkins Stephen Lewis Professor David Ormerod QC Nicholas Paines QC The Chief Executive is Elaine Lorimer The Scottish Law Commissioners are: The Honourable Lord Pentland, Chairman Caroline Drummond David Johnston QC Professor Hector L MacQueen Dr Andrew J M Steven The Chief Executive is Malcolm McMillan The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Law Commission is: The Honourable Mr Justice Maguire The terms of this interim report were agreed on 1 February 2016. This publication is available at www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/electoral-law/ www.scotlawcom.gov.uk iii LAW COMMISSION SCOTTISH LAW COMMISSION NORTHERN IRELAND LAW COMMISSION ELECTORAL LAW INTERIM REPORT CONTENTS GLOSSARY OF TERMS IX-XIV CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 The stages of this project 1 Terms of reference 2 Elections and referendums within scope 3 Law reform and policy 3 Our public consultation 4 Outline of this report 5 Impact assessment 6 CHAPTER 2: LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 7 Introduction 7 The balance between primary and secondary legislation 8 Rationalising election law within the devolutionary framework 11 Consultees’ responses on rationalising electoral law and devolution 13 CHAPTER 3: MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT 17 Introduction 17 The legal structure for running elections 17 Legislative framework for management and oversight of elections 18 iv Correcting “procedural errors” and correcting declarations of the result 20 Administrative areas 24 CHAPTER 4: THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS 28 Introduction 28 Franchise 28 Residence 29 The issue of registration at a second residence 30 Special category electors 39 Registration generally 39 Other issues raised during the consultation 45 Recommendations on electoral registration generally 46 CHAPTER 5: MANNER OF VOTING 48 Introduction 48 The secret ballot 48 Ballot paper design and content 54 Support for our twin proposals 55 Promoting access by disabled voters 55 Disagreement with our proposals 55 The case for design and prescription by the Electoral Commission 56 Our recommendations 57 CHAPTER 6: ABSENT VOTING 58 Introduction 58 Absent voting entitlements and records 58 Administration of absent voter status 61 The postal voting process 67 v The response to postal voting fraud 68 The scope of the reform of postal voting in the UK 68 Regulating campaigners’ handling of postal votes 70 Reservations about regulation targeted at campaigners 72 Our conclusions on regulation of campaign handling of postal votes 75 CHAPTER 7: NOTICE OF ELECTION AND NOMINATIONS 76 Introduction 76 Reviewing subscriber requirements 77 The nomination paper 78 The role of the returning officer 82 CHAPTER 8: THE POLLING PROCESS 85 Introduction 85 Voter information and other public notices 85 The logistics of polling 87 The voting procedure 91 Equal access for disabled voters 95 Wider accessibility concerns 95 Supervening events frustrating the poll 101 Conclusions on supervening events 108 CHAPTER 9: THE COUNT AND DECLARATION OF THE RESULT 110 Introduction 110 Standard polling rules 110 Timing of the count 111 Representation at the count 114 STV counts 115 vi Electronic counting 116 Conclusions 120 CHAPTER 10: TIMETABLES AND COMBINATION OF POLLS 121 Introduction 121 Electoral timetables 121 Legislative timetables generally 124 The combination of polls 127 CHAPTER 11: ELECTORAL OFFENCES 137 Introduction 137 The legislative framework for electoral offences 137 The place of “corrupt and illegal practices” within the scheme 139 The electoral offences 139 The classical campaign corrupt practice offences: bribery, treating and undue influence 139 Bribery and treating 139 Undue influence 141 Reforming the offence of undue influence 147 Illegal practices targeting campaign conduct 150 Combatting electoral malpractice 156 CHAPTER 12: REGULATION OF CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURE 158 Introduction 158 Central legislative expression of core campaign regulation 158 Expense limits calculated by formula 159 Accessing the electoral register for the purpose of verifying donors 161 Simplifying the provisions on expenses returns 162 Powers and sanctions for candidate expenses offences 166 vii Expenses returns in uncontested parish elections 166 Location of election agent’s office address 167 CHAPTER 13: LEGAL CHALLENGE 168 Introduction 168 The grounds for bringing a legal challenge 168 Disqualifications 174 The procedure for legal challenge 177 Proposals and questions concerning the public interest aspect of legal challenges to elections 184 Conclusion on the public interest petitioner 191 CHAPTER 14: REFERENDUMS 195 Introduction 195 National referendums 195 Local referendums 196 Other types of local referendums 199 Parish polls 200 APPENDIX A: LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS 206 APPENDIX B: LIST OF CONSULTEES 216 APPENDIX C: LIST OF CONSULTATION EVENTS 219 viii GLOSSARY OF TERMS The 1983 Act The Representation of the People Act 1983. The 1985 Act The Representation of the People Act 1985. Absent voting Voting without personally attending at a polling station: either postal voting or voting by proxy. Additional Systems of voting in which, in addition to candidates elected by member systems the first past the post system, further members of the elected (AMS) body are elected by a different voting system such as the party list. Candidate’s agent The legislation generally requires a person to be appointed by a candidate to perform certain functions in connection with an election on the candidate’s behalf. Other persons acting in support of a particular candidate are also referred to as the candidate’s agents, and misconduct by such agents is capable of invalidating a candidate’s election. Assisted voting Voting with the assistance of a companion, or that of the presiding officer. The The process of identifying people who are qualified to vote, for the canvass/canvass purpose of entering them on the local electoral register. It normally form involves sending a canvass form to each household in the area. The A list supplied to a polling station. When ballot papers are issued corresponding to voters, the ballot paper number is entered on the list opposite number list the voter’s electoral register number. The list can be used if necessary for vote tracing. Chief Counting The person with overall responsibility to conduct a national Officer referendum, and sometimes a local referendum. Chief Electoral The official who is the returning officer and electoral registration Officer for officer for all elections in Northern Ireland and is in charge of the Northern Ireland Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. ix The classical rules A term we use to refer to the set of rules governing Parliamentary and local government elections originating in the Victorian reforms of 1872 and 1883 and now found primarily in the Representation of the People Act 1983. An early general A term used in the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 to describe a election general election occurring as a result of a vote in Parliament rather than at a fixed interval. Election-specific Legislation governing elections to a particular elected body. legislation Electoral The independent statutory body that regulates political party and Commission campaign finance in the United Kingdom and sets standards and provides guidance on the administration of elections. The Commission is also tasked with administering national referendums. An election court The court constituted to hear an election petition. Election petition The legal process by which an election can be challenged before an election court. Electoral The body which has the general function of co-ordinating the Management administration of local government elections in Scotland, assisting Board for local authorities and others in carrying out their functions and Scotland promoting best practice. First past the post The traditional voting system in which the candidate who gains the most votes is elected. Franchise The right of suffrage; the legal expression of who is eligible to vote. Household A term we use to describe the former process of registering voters registration on the basis of a completed canvass form. Household system registration has been replaced in Great Britain by individual electoral registration, which has been in place in Northern Ireland since 2002. x Individual The process of registering electors on the basis of an application electoral to be registered made by each individual. registration The local A term we use to describe those features
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Parliamentary Elections 2010
    This document was classified as: OFFICIAL TEES VALLEY COMBINED AUTHORITY MAYORAL ELECTION 6 MAY 2021 INFORMATION PACK FOR CANDIDATES AND AGENTS Contents 1. Submission of Nomination Papers 2. Overview 3. Covid Considerations 4. Contact Details 5. Candidate Addresses 6. Access to Electoral Register and other resources 7. Registration and Absent Voting 8. Agents 9. Spending Limits 10. Canvassing and Political Advertising 11. Verification and Count Overview 12. EC Guidance 13. Publication of Results 14. Declaration of Acceptance of Office 15. Term of Office 16. Briefings Appendix 1 – Contact Details for Council’s within the Tees Valley Appendix 2 – Election Timetable Appendix 3 – Candidate Contact Details Form Appendix 4 – Candidate Checklist Appendix 5 – Nomination Form Appendix 6 – Candidate’s Home Address Form Appendix 7– Consent to nomination Appendix 8 – Certificate of Authorisation (Party candidates only) Appendix 9 – Request for Party Emblem (Party candidates only) Appendix 10 – Notification of election agent Appendix 11 – Notification of sub-agent (optional) Appendix 12 – Candidates Deposits Form Appendix 13 – Notice of withdrawal Appendix 14 – Candidate’s Addresses Appendix 15 – Register Request Form Appendix 16 – Absent Voters Request Form Appendix 17 – Notification of postal voting agents, polling agents and counting agents Appendix 18 – Postal Vote Openings and Times Appendix 19 – Code of Conduct for Campaigners Appendix 20 – Declaration of Secrecy Appendix 21 – Polling Station Lists Appendix 22 – Verification and Count location plans Appendix 23 – Count Procedure and layout Appendix 24 – Thornaby Pavilion car parking Appendix 25 – Feedback Form J Danks Combined Authority Returning Office (CARO) 1 This document was classified as: OFFICIAL 1. Submission of Nomination Papers Candidates/ Agents are encouraged to email scanned nomination forms and supporting papers for informal checking at the earliest opportunity.
    [Show full text]
  • Elections Bill Explanatory Notes
    ELECTIONS BILL EXPLANATORY NOTES What these notes do These Explanatory Notes relate to the Elections Bill as introduced in the House of Commons on 5 July 2021 (Bill 138). ● These Explanatory Notes have been provided by the Cabinet Office in order to assist the reader of the Bill. They do not form part of the Bill and have not been endorsed by Parliament. ● These Explanatory Notes explain what each part of the Bill will mean in practice; provide background information on the development of policy; and provide additional information on how the Bill will affect existing legislation in this area. ● These Explanatory Notes might best be read alongside the Bill. They are not, and are not intended to be, a comprehensive description of the Bill. Bill 138–EN 58/2 Table of Contents Subject Page of these Notes Overview of the Bill 3 Policy Background 5 Legal background 19 Territorial Extent and Application 22 Commentary on Provisions of Bill 25 Part 1: Administration and Conduct of Elections 25 Voter Identification 25 Postal and Proxy Voting 35 Undue Influence 46 Assistance with voting for persons with disabilities 51 Northern Ireland elections 52 Part 2: Overseas Electors and EU Citizens 62 Overseas Electors 62 Clause 10: Extension of franchise for parliamentary elections: British citizens overseas 62 Voting and Candidacy Rights of EU citizens 69 Clause 11: Voting and Candidacy Rights of EU citizens 69 Part 3: The Electoral Commission 84 The Electoral Commission 84 Criminal Proceedings 87 Part 4: Regulation of Expenditure 88 Notional expenditure
    [Show full text]
  • Defamation and the Internet: Scoping Study
    Law Commission DEFAMATION AND THE INTERNET A Preliminary Investigation Scoping Study No 2 December 2002 The Law Commission was set up by the Law Commissions Act 1965 to promote the reform of the law. The Law Commissioners are: The Honourable Mr Justice Toulson, Chairman Professor Hugh Beale, QC Mr Stuart Bridge Professor Martin Partington, CBE Judge Alan Wilkie, QC The Secretary of the Law Commission is Mr Michael Sayers and its offices are at Conquest House, 37-38 John Street, Theobalds Road, London WC1N 2BQ. The paper was completed on 8 November 2002. This preliminary investigation is the second of two scoping studies, carried out in response to a request from the Lord Chancellor dated 31 January 2002.1 Comments may be sent to: David Willink Civil Law Development Division Lord Chancellor’s Department Southside 105 Victoria Street London SW1E 6QT email: [email protected] It would be helpful if, where possible, comments could be sent by email or email attachment, in any commonly used format. © Crown copyright 2002 1 The first study, Aspects of Defamation Procedure, was published in May 2002, and is available on the Internet at: http://www.lawcom.gov.uk. THE LAW COMMISSION DEFAMATION AND THE INTERNET: A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION CONTENTS Paragraph Page PART I: INTRODUCTION 1 The issues 1.4 1 ISP liability for other people’s material 1.5 1 The limitation period and online archives 1.6 2 Jurisdiction issues 1.8 2 Contempt of court 1.10 2 Summary of conclusions 1.11 2 Liability of internet service providers 1.12 2 Archives and
    [Show full text]
  • Review of Ofcom's List of Larger Parties for Elections Taking Place on 5 May
    Review of Ofcom’s list of larger parties for elections taking place on 5 May 2016 Statement Statement Publication date: 11 March 2016 Review of Ofcom’s list of larger parties for elections taking place on 5 May 2016 About this document This document sets out Ofcom’s decision on the list of larger parties in advance of the various elections taking place in May 2016. The list of larger parties reflects the fact that there are a number of larger political parties which have a significant level of electoral support, and a number of elected representatives, across a range of elections within the UK or the devolved nations. Ofcom’s rules on Party Political and Referendum Broadcasts require certain licensed broadcasters to offer a minimum of two party election broadcasts (“PEBs”) to the ‘larger parties’. In addition, if a party is not on the list of larger parties it can still qualify for PEBs. In summary, we have decided that the existing parties on the list should remain on it. In addition, we have decided that the UK Independence Party should be added to the list in England and Wales, and the Green Party should be added to the list in England for the purposes of the May 2016 London Assembly and London Mayoral elections only. As indicated in the Consultation, following the May 2016 elections we intend to review the suitability of the list of larger parties going forwards and consider what alternative approaches there may be to discharge our regulatory functions. We envisage holding meetings with stakeholders ahead of any consultation about this review.
    [Show full text]
  • Cv 15 03107DD19 Aug2016.Pdf
    REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE Claim No. CV 2015- 03107 IN THE MATTER OF THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, CHAP. 2:01 AND IN THE MATTER OF A PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION PETITION FOR THE CONSTITUENCY OF ST. JOSEPH HELD ON THE 7TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2015 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ELECTION PROCEEDINGS RULES, 2001 BETWEEN VASANT VIVEKANAND BHARATH Petitioner AND TERRENCE DEYALSINGH First Respondent AND THE RETURNING OFFICER FOR THE CONSTITUENCY OF ST. JOSEPH (DEEMED TO BE A RESPONDENT BY VIRTUE OF SEC. 107(2) OF THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT) Second Respondent BEFORE THE HONOURABLE MADAME JUSTICE DEAN-ARMORER APPEARANCES Mr. T. Straker Q.C., Mrs. K. Persad-Bissessar S.S., Mr. A. Ramlogan S.C., Mr. K. Samlal, Ms. J. Lutchmedial, Mr. D. Bailey, Mr. G. Ramdeen appeared on behalf of the Petitioners Mr. D. Mendes S.C., Mr. J. Jeremie S.C., Mr. R. Nanga, Mr. K. Garcia, Mr. M. Quamina, Ms. Gopaul, Mr. S. De la Bastide, Ms. C. Jules, instructed by Ms. E. Araujo appeared on behalf of the First Respondents Mr. R. Martineau S.C., Mrs. D. Peake S.C., Mr. R. Heffes-Doon, instructed by Ms. A. Bissessar appeared on behalf of the Second Respondents JUDGMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS Heading Page 1. Introduction 1 of 53 2. Procedural History 3 of 53 3. Facts 6 of 53 4. Submissions 12 of 53 5. Summary of Submissions for the Petitioner 12 of 53 6. Submissions for the First Respondent 15 of 53 7. Submissions for the Second Respondent 17 of 53 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Marital Rape: an Evaluation of the Patriarchal Injustice in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013
    Christ University Law Journal, 3, 2 (2014), 97-112 ISSN 2278-4322|doi.org/10.12728/culj.5.6 Marital Rape: An Evaluation of the Patriarchal Injustice in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 Shivika Choudhary* Abstract The traditional belief that marriage provides a husband with sole rights over his wife, thereby exempting him from any prosecution for raping his wife, has been the justification for denying a woman the right to consent to sexual intercourse in marriage. Unfortunately, this belief has been a source of subjugation and exploitation of women at the behest of their husbands. Despite recommendations to revoke it, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 has retained the marital exception. The purpose of this article is to examine this dichotomy in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 that punishes rape as such, but does not penalise a husband raping his wife of fifteen years or above. Employing doctrinal method of research, this article analyses the various discrepancies and ambiguities in the Act of 2013 that perpetuate this culture of oppression and violence. Consent is the antithesis to rape. Thus, having examined the need for a married woman‟s right to consent, this note examines the ensuing lacunae that grant legal sanction to child marriages, create an unexplained discrepancy in the punishment for rape, and create variations in the age of consent and the age for availing exception. The recognition of marital rape when spouses live separately and not otherwise appears to be a mysterious distinction. Further, treatment of marital rape * Doctoral Research Scholar (Legal Studies), South Asian University, New Delhi; [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Wisconsin's Role in the Uniform Law Commission
    LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU Wisconsin’s Role in the Uniform Law Commission: 2021–22 Legislative Session Aaron Gary senior legislative attorney Alex Rosenberg legislative analyst WISCONSIN POLICY PROJECT • April 2021, Volume 4, Number 1 © 2021 Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau One East Main Street, Suite 200, Madison, Wisconsin 53703 http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb • 608-504-5801 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA. Introduction The Uniform Law Commission1 (ULC), composed of state delegations and financially supported by the states, crafts legislation for potential enactment by state legislatures. The mission of the ULC is to create uniformity among the states in areas of law in which uniformity is desirable and practicable,2 such as those involving cross-border business transactions or the dissolution of marriages with spouses living in different states. To this end, ULC Commissioners research and draft proposed legislation and the ULC, through deliberative, formal proceedings resembling those of state legislatures, votes to adopt drafted proposals as “final acts” ready for state consideration. The ULC describes its work as providing states with “non-partisan, well-conceived and well-drafted legislation that brings clarity and stability to critical areas of state statutory law.”3 The quintessential uni- form law is the Uniform Commercial Code, developed to facilitate multistate commer- cial transactions by applying uniform rules for all of the transaction’s participants, wher- ever located.
    [Show full text]
  • International Law in the Nigerian Legal System Christian N
    Golden Gate University School of Law GGU Law Digital Commons Publications Faculty Scholarship Spring 1997 International Law in the Nigerian Legal System Christian N. Okeke Golden Gate University School of Law, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/pubs Part of the International Law Commons Recommended Citation 27 Cal. W. Int'l. L. J. 311 (1997) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty Scholarship at GGU Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications by an authorized administrator of GGU Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INTERNATIONAL LAW IN THE NIGERIAN LEGAL SYSTEM CHRISTIAN N. OKEKE· Table ofContents INTRODUCTION 312 ARGUMENT OF THE PAPER 312 DEFINITIONS 317 I. UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 321 II. HISTORICAL OUTLINE 323 A. Nigeria and Pre-Colonial International Law 323 B. Nigeria and "Colonial" International Law 326 C. The Place ofInternational Law in the Nigerian Constitutional Development 328 III. GENERAL DISPOSITION TOWARD INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE ESTABLISHED RULES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 330 IV. THE PLACE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN NIGERIAN MUNICIPAL LAW 335 V. NIGERIA'S TREATY-MAKING PRACTICE , 337 VI. ApPLICABLE LAW IN SELECTED QUESTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 339 A. International Human Rights and Nigerian Law 339 B. The Attitude ofthe Nigerian Courts to the Decrees and Edicts Derogating from Human Rights ............ 341 c. Implementation ofInternational Human Rights Treaties to Which Nigeria is a Party 342 D. Aliens Law .................................. 344 E. Extradition .................................. 348 F. Extradition and Human Rights 350 VII.
    [Show full text]
  • Electoral Law an Interim Report
    Electoral Law An Interim Report 4 February 2016 Law Commission Scottish Law Commission Northern Ireland Law Commission ELECTORAL LAW A Joint Interim Report © Crown copyright 2016 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence: visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3; or write to Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU; or email [email protected]. Where we have identified any third party copyright information, you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/electoral-law/ www.scotlawcom.gov.uk ii THE LAW COMMISSIONS The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission were set up by section 1 of the Law Commissions Act 1965. The Northern Ireland Law Commission was set up by section 50 of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002. Each Commission has the purpose of promoting reform of the law. The Law Commissioners for England and Wales are: The Right Honourable Lord Justice Bean, Chairman Professor Nick Hopkins Stephen Lewis Professor David Ormerod QC Nicholas Paines QC The Chief Executive is Elaine Lorimer The Scottish Law Commissioners are: The Honourable Lord Pentland, Chairman Caroline Drummond David Johnston QC Professor Hector L MacQueen Dr Andrew J M Steven The Chief Executive is Malcolm McMillan The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Law Commission is: The Honourable Mr Justice Maguire The terms of
    [Show full text]
  • 831 Forty Years of the Alberta Law Reform Institute
    FORTY YEARS OF THE ALBERTA LAW REFORM INSTITUTE 831 FORTY YEARS OF THE ALBERTA LAW REFORM INSTITUTE — PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE THE HON. JUSTICE MICHAEL KIRBY* I. REMEMBRANCE OF TIMES PAST I have come across the great ocean, and over the mountains, to join the celebrations of 40 years of institutional law reform in Alberta. My credentials for joining the party are beginning to look a little threadbare. It is 24 years ago, in 1984, that I concluded my term as the inaugural chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC). One can take the person out of law reform but never law reform out of the person. Yet it is indisputably a very long time since I worked in a law reform agency. Still, it only seems like yesterday that I was sharing thoughts with the founders of the Alberta Institute and learning from them ideas that we would implement in distant Australia, where we too were creating a new and national law reform agency. Canada and Australia, the oldest dominions of the British Empire outside the British Isles, shared more in common with each other than was generally recognized in those days. Developed countries of the common law tradition, and parliamentary democracies. Responsible government. Federal systems of divided power. Links both in war and peace. Economic and social similarities. Important indigenous communities. An integrated judicature across continental nations. Similar court and professional traditions. Yet in 1975, legally speaking, we did not really know each other. We looked past each other to England, the centre of the Empire and the Commonwealth.
    [Show full text]
  • London Elections Manifesto
    An age-friendly recovery Age UK London’s Manifesto for the London Mayoral Elections 2021 Manifesto Greater London Forum supported by: For Older People Foreword The impact of the pandemic on older Londoners The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the quality of life of many older Londoners, and revealed the extent of social isolation experienced by many prior to the impact of COVID-19. Too many older people have been cut off from friends and family, faced barriers to engaging with vital community services, struggled to access food and essentials, and tragically many have seen their physical and mental health decline. These challenges have disproportionately affected those on low incomes, people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, those with a long-term condition or Abigail Wood dementia, and older disabled Londoners. Chief Executive Age UK London The crisis support for older people delivered by the local Age UK network to older people has been truly exceptional and a lifeline for thousands. Despite this vital work, too many Londoners still struggle to access the support they need to age well. An age-friendly recovery The plan to build back London after the pandemic cannot ignore the contribution of older Londoners. As volunteers, carers, community leaders and active citizens, older Londoners play an important role in the city’s social and cultural life. Through paid work alone, older Londoners contribute at least £47 billion to the capital’s economy. As well as acknowledging their contribution, the plan for London’s recovery as led by the London Recovery Board must also address the needs of older people that have arisen or been exacerbated by the pandemic.
    [Show full text]
  • Extrinsic Materials As an Aid to Statutory Interpretation
    THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION OF HONG KONG REPORT EXTRINSIC MATERIALS AS AN AID TO STATUTORY INTERPRETATION This report can be found on the Internet at: <http://www.hkreform.gov.hk> MARCH 1997 The Law Reform Commission was established by His Excellency the Governor in Council in January 1980. The Commission considers such reforms of the laws of Hong Kong as may be referred to it by the Attorney General or the Chief Justice. The members of the Commission at present are: The Hon Mr J F Mathews, CMG, JP (Attorney General) (Chairman) Mr Tony Yen (Law Draftsman) The Hon Mr Justice J Chan Mr Eric Cheung Professor Yash Ghai, CBE Professor Kuan Hsin-chi Dr Lawrence Lai Mr Andrew Liao, QC Mr Gage McAfee Mr Alasdair G Morrison Mr Robert Ribeiro, QC Professor Derek Roebuck Professor Peter Wesley-Smith Mr Justein Wong Chun, JP The Secretary of the Commission is Mr Stuart M I Stoker and its offices are at: 20/F Harcourt House 39 Gloucester Road Wanchai Hong Kong Telephone: 2528 0472 Fax: 2865 2902 E-mail: [email protected] A summary of this report can be found on the Internet at: http://www.hkreform.gov.hk Miss Paula Scully, Senior Crown Counsel, was principally responsible for the writing of this Commission report. THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION OOF HONG KONG REPORT EXTRINSIC MATERIALS AS AN AID TO STATUTORY INTERPRETATION _____________________________________ CONTENTS Chapter Page Introduction 1 Terms of reference 1 Background Paper 1 Membership and method of work 2 What is the importance of statutory interpretation? 2 What are extrinsic aids to interpretation? 3 Scope of report 3 1.
    [Show full text]