As Londoners take to defending their own lives, property and communities, it seems the state is failing in its first duty: to defend life, liberty and property. A good number of my constituents have written — dismayed by the shameful, reckless behaviour they have seen on TV — demanding that […]
Read MorePost Tagged with: "Justice"
Control orders disgust me
I spoke last night in the debate on the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill, expressing my contempt for the surrender of our highest values in the face of cowardly enemies. 9.10 pm Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con): As I follow my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Sleaford and […]
Read MoreEquitable Life Update
Recently, my researcher Tim attended the APPG on Equitable Life. The biggest issue discussed was that of pre-1992 policy holders who have been excluded from the compensation mechanism. The group heard from Honor Blackman, who is set to receive a full 100% compensation, while two other victims of the Equitable Life collapse […]
Read MoreSpeech on the retention of DNA from those arrested but not charged or convicted
I spoke yesterday on clause 3 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill in committee. It relates to the retention of DNA from those arrested but not convicted. Via Hansard: Steve Baker: I support the clause. We have heard a great deal this afternoon about balance; in particular, the balance between […]
Read MoreOn Inflation
Later, I’ll set out the case against inflation, which is caused by the instutional design of the banking system. For the moment, here’s a relevant article from the Cobden Centre: Mr Smith works hard, plans carefully, and saves what he can, putting his money into a building society. He pays […]
Read MoreSycamore Tree | Prison Fellowship
A couple of weeks back, I visited a prison to see the Sycamore Tree Prison Fellowship in action, delivering victim awareness and restorative justice. I was able to see prisoners take clear responsibility for their actions and the hurt and harm caused to victims. It was moving to see men (in […]
Read MoreThe European Investigation Order
There is to be a statement on this subject later today. It will be interesting to see what powers are transferred, to what extent British people are subjected to overseas police powers by this measure, and what democratic control is to be exercised over those powers… Update: The Home Secretary’s […]
Read MoreOn trial by jury
Via The Last Ditch: Another step toward the abyss: I despair. The right to trial by jury has protected Englishmen from an over-mighty state since long before democracy was born. Combined with the Great Writ of habeas corpus, it meant you could not be detained without trial and that your […]
Read MoreCSJ: Dying to Belong
We are losing a generation of young people to gang violence. An incoming Tory government will have to start from scratch if it is going to make a difference. As Gavin Knight notes in “How to really hug a hoodie”, gang culture is increasingly plaguing deprived inner-city communities, and for too […]
Read MoreAn invitation to consider some fundamental questions
I have often said that politics is, or should be, a serious conversation about society. Here are some fundamental questions to consider: Should society be organised by peaceful or forceful means? Who owns each person’s life? That is, is your life your own? Ethically, can you compel people to do […]
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