#Gavin Newlands
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MP Gavin Newlands celebrates his 1000th surgery
MP Gavin Newlands celebrates his 1000th surgery
After nine years as the elected representative for Paisley & Renfrewshire North SNP MP Gavin Newlands celebrated his 1000th surgery.
Continue reading MP Gavin Newlands celebrates his 1000th surgery
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Many MPs agree new rules to ease EV charging
Last week on the 25th October Jack Loughran published a document on the Institution of Engineering of Technology which is entitled in “MPs agree new rules to ease EV charging” that can be obtained from here. The initial words are
MPs have agreed on new regulations that will ensure transparent pricing across electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints, as well as ensuring contactless payment options are…
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#Bill Esterson#Gavin Newlands#Huw Merriman#IET#Institute of Engineering and Technology#Jack Loughran#Jesse Norman#Mark Harper#Stuart McDonald
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Since the beginning of TV girls had much fewer role models in pop culture yet women commit less crime.
A Tory MP has linked young men turning to crime to women playing traditionally male roles in TV and film.
Nick Fletcher said "female replacements" in shows like Doctor Who were robbing boys of good role models.
The only characters they had to look up to were gangsters the Krays and Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders, he said.
"Is there any wonder we are seeing so many young men committing crime?," he asked MPs taking part in a debate on International Men's Day.
His comments were met with surprise by Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds, who said she thought she had "misheard" him.
The reason boys turned to a life of crime was "far more complex" than "who should be the next 007", she added.
But later, Mr Fletcher tweeted a statement, saying his "rather nuanced point" that there were "increasingly fewer male role models for young boys" had been "misconstrued".
The Westminster Hall debate, led by Mr Fletcher, discussed numerous issues facing men, especially attainment in school and the ability to discuss mental health problems.
Mr Fletcher also listed some statistics, including the fact male suicide rates are three times higher than women and that 96% of people in prison are men and boys.
'Tough for men'
He said there had been a "creeping narrative that males have it easy, life is a breeze and they have nothing to complain about".
But, he added: "It is clear that life is tough for many men and young boys, and many of our boys in schools are far from privileged."
He attacked the phrase "toxic masculinity" - used to describe the pressure on men to stick to traditional views of how they should act - saying it "vilified" men and led them to feeling "worthless".
And then he turned to the "cultural sphere", claiming it shared the blame for rises in male violence.
Mr Fletcher said: "Everywhere... there seems to be a call from a tiny, but very vocal, minority that every male character or good role model must have a female replacement.
"One only needs to look at the discussion around who will play the next James Bond."
'Cruel joke'
But he said it went further than 007, adding: "In recent years we have seen Doctor Who, Ghostbusters, Luke Skywalker, the Equaliser, all replaced by women, and men are left with the Krays and Tommy Shelby.
"Is there any wonder we are seeing so many young men committing crime?"
The SNP's Gavin Newlands said he thought the reboot of The Equaliser - a role played by Denzel Washington, but more recently taken on by Queen Latifah - was "positive".
Speaking in the debate, he criticised the concept of International Men's Day altogether, calling it "a rather cruel joke concocted in response to feminism, women's rights and International Women's Day".
Mr Fletcher challenged him, saying the government should be helping men be "proud to be men", rather than feeling "awful" about their gender.
But while Mr Newlands said he had sympathy with the viewpoint, he added that first, "we need men in general to take responsibility for what men have done and continue to do" - including making misogynistic comments or committing violence against women.
After his speech gained attention on social media, Mr Fletcher released a statement on Twitter, saying his point "in no way linked Dr Who being female to crime being committed by men".
He said: "Teachers, parents and carers need to teach young men and boys that males can make a positive difference.
"Promoting this can be done through various means, including through films and programmes.
"Yet something not often discussed is that the only characters many boys with no good male role models in their lives see on television and online are increasingly criminal."
The MP added: "I did not link a Dr Who being female to crime being committed by men - in fact, I was making a statement that boys and young men also need positive role models within the media, just as women do."
Increase awareness
International Men's Day began is celebrated on 19 November in more than 60 countries, according to the organisers.
In the UK, there are debates and get-togethers held across the country.
The idea is to promote male role models, increase awareness of men's health issues, improve gender equality and highlight discrimination.
International Women's Day is celebrated around the world on 8 March, with events and demonstrations aimed at promoting women's equality.
#UK#Tory map Nick Fletcher#International penis owner day#Did Jodie Whittaker cause a crime wave?#Men blaming women for their issues
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THE DA-DARK INSIDE NOT OUTSIDE AND ONLINE (or something)
in true last minute fashion, the postponed Da-Dark Outside meant for last weekend (28th March) is now going ahead online via furtherin.live on Saturday 4th April from 12 noon UK time and finishing whenever it runs out of things to play that have been sent in.
Here is the list of everyone who sent in something ( not including the ones I don’t have artist names for yet ) If your name is missing, let me know I might have missed that in the folders.
In alphabetical order ( not order of play )
There will not be a tracklist, no listen again function, no archive. It’s playing once only.
1 of 100
A Farewell to Hexes
Accursed Volts
Adrian Carter
Aet
Airspace
aLTERkRANKERmANN
Andrew Lagowski
Apta
Art_no
Assassin of Sound
Atomluft
Audio Obscura
Ave Grave
Avebury Sounds
Bastard Flower
Beatman
Bev Craddock
Bipolar Explorer
Bit Cloudy
Bleep Eater
Blood Everywhere
Bloody Mountain
BMH
Bobby Horseshoe
Boodlam
Boy Called Crow
Braintape
Bridget Hayden and Conny Prantera
Cahn Ingold Prelog
Cath Holland
Catrin Perry
Choke
Chris Carter
Cliver
Clutchdaisy
Coffin Warehouse
Colony Recording Club
Concretism
Corporal Tofulung
Correlations
Cosey Fanni Tutti
Cowboy Flying Saucer
Cowp
Cromlech Shadow
CTE
Curxes
DAAM
Daniel Crompton
Danny McCann
Dave Salsbury / Dr Jolly
Dea Karina
Dead Sea Apes
Deathwatch Headband
Debord
DFF Sound System
Douglas Deep
Edith A Graves
Eduards Ozoliņš
Elf and Stacy
Elizabeth Joan Kelly
Eric Schaming
Famished for Blonds
Fantasy Sequence
Four Italian Pep Pills
Four Minute Warning
Flexagon
Forever
Friday Night Weird Dreams
Fushimi Inari 5
Futile Axe
Garden of Surreal Dreams
Gareth Blazey
Gary Finnegan
Gavin Inglis
Giants of Discovery
Gingerbread Master
Ginnel
Grey Frequency
Gusset
Hairs Abyss
Half
Headstart
Heidi Holstad
Hermann Holsgr
Hinder Corp
Hotgem
HPL
HyMettus Woods
I Start Counting
Ian Heustice
Ian Taylor
Ihcilon
IK Joyce
In the Long Summer
Interstitia
Ivy Nostrum
Jack Jackdaw
Jah Wobble Vs Megaheadphoneboy
James Sandford
James Weaver
James Yuill
Jane Pitt
Janet Philo
Jarvis Probes
JD Twitch
Jean-Paul Bondy
Jeremy Tuck
Jim Jarmo
Jim King
Jimmy Kipple Sound
John Chambers
John Kerridge
John Scanlan
John316
Jonathan Willoughby
Juju
Junklight
Juxtagon
Kat Five
Kate Arnold
Kenny Inglis
Kevin Maynard
KR Hide
L'Incal Noir
Lament Configuration
Lark
Lee Rosevere
Leiyun
Lepton
Lespectre
Liberty X
Lippy Kid & Metis
Luisa Stucchi
Luke Jordan
Luki Defacto
M*A*R*Y
M-Orchestra
Macerator
Manfred Hamil
Mark Goodwin
Matthew McCourt
Max Worgan
Megalophobe
Melony Klien
Metrix
Michael Barnes-Wynters
Mike Smalle
Mike Tupling
Moray Newlands
Mothership
Museleon
My Pleasure
Nad Spiro
Nalepa & Tony Bevilacqua
Nat Lyon
Nathan David Smith
Naturist Space Jazz Society
Neil Garvey
New Gold Dream
Nigel Ayers
Night Monitor
Nitemirror / Strident Weasel
Nonalogue
Nunn O)))
o_S_k_m
Ogham
Oma
Outside Other
Owen Sound
Palm Tree Tetsuya
Panamint Manse
Particledots
Paul Hood
Payton Black
Pete Warren
Pinochio
Possible Area
Presidiomodelo
Pulselovers
Quadraphonic Stylus Ensemble
Qualchan
Quarriers
R Tenevall
Raen Arthur
Random Dander
Rangga Purnama Aji
readyStateFail
Redwood Drift
Revbjelde
Ria Bagley
Richard Smith
Richard Turner
Robert Ellmer
Robert Shaw
Roberta Fidora
Robin Davies
Rogue Sector
Rupert Lally
Rusty Sheriff
Rysiek/Rysiunio
SABW
Sacred Oak
Salford Electronics
Sarah Sharp
Sascha Müller & Abstracto Concreto'
Scanner
Scumbag Radio
Secret Nuclear
Security
Shaun Malone
Sheer Zed
Si Woods
Signal Jammer
Simon Klee
Simon Tucker
SK123 and T.Brixson
Skeleton Worm
Sol Rezza
Sophie Cooper
Sonic Noir
Spaceship
Squirrel Natkin
St James Infirmary
Stephanie Merchak
Steve Cobby
Subject to Change
Sunday Fascination
Sunken Foal
SVR
Szuumm
Telagasunyi
The Dissonace Collective
The Great Indoors
The Guelph Basin
The Heartwood Institute
The Last Ambient Hero
The Magus Project
The Revenant Sea
There Are No Birds Here
Time Destroys All Things
Toby Warren
Todd Snow
Tomoroh Hidari
Tony Ferodo
Tuatha
TVO
Ubu King
UltraLux
Ultraterrestrials
Unknown Rockstar
Usue
vdof
Void Theory
Von Heuser
Warrior Bob
Whalt Thisney
Whettman Chelmets
Wig
William Wild & Stuart Wray
Xixada
Xtro
YOL meets DEATHWATCH HEADBAND
Yumasef
artist names for the following are currently unknown :
*******203 JL
*******fields
*******piano angel demo
*******The Keep
******aud65
******dark outside
******in search of something concrete pt 2
******patterns for merzbarn
******radio
******raspberry something
******SV1003
******The Nameless City
******we dun a dibeit
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Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 92
Ask your MP to support the Code and Resolutions in full
FIND YOUR MP
EDM (Early Day Motion) 92: tabled on 24 May 2021
Thanks to long time Code supporter Alison Thewliss SNP for sponsoring this Early Day Motion following the 40th Anniversary of the Code Celebration. HERE.
Motion text signed by 23 Members
That this House recognises that 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the 1981 International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes; believes that the Code exists to protect all babies, regardless of how they are fed; notes the Code regulates the marketing of breastmilk substitutes which includes infant formulas, follow-on formulas and any other food or drink, together with feeding bottles and teats, intended for babies and young children, sets standards for the labelling and quality of products and for how the law should be implemented and monitored within countries, and aims to ensure that choices are made based on full, impartial information, rather than misleading, inaccurate or biased marketing claims; believes that in this 40th year of the Code it would be appropriate for the UK to finally implement the Code in full; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health to make a statement to set out a plan of action for so doing.
Thewliss, Alison
Scottish National Party
Signed on 21 May 2021
Glasgow Central
Primary
Fellows, Marion
Scottish National Party
Signed on 25 May 2021
Motherwell and Wishaw
Edwards, Jonathan
Independent
Signed on 25 May 2021
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Shannon, Jim
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on 25 May 2021
Strangford
Law, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on 25 May 2021
Dundee West
Blackman, Kirsty
Scottish National Party
Signed on 25 May 2021
Aberdeen North
Grady, Patrick
Scottish National Party
Signed on 25 May 2021
Glasgow North
Dorans, Allan
Scottish National Party
Signed on 25 May 2021
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Cherry, Joanna
Scottish National Party
Signed on 26 May 2021
Edinburgh South West
Stephens, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on 27 May 2021
Glasgow South West
Williams, Hywel
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 7 June 2021
Arfon
Lucas, Caroline
Green Party
Signed on 7 June 2021
Brighton, Pavilion
McDonnell, John
Labour
Signed on 7 June 2021
Hayes and Harlington
Newlands, Gavin
Scottish National Party
Signed on 7 June 2021
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Saville Roberts, Liz
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 7 June 2021
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Hanna, Claire
Social Democratic & Labour Party
Signed on 8 June 2021
Belfast South
Antoniazzi, Tonia
Labour
Signed on 9 June 2021
Gower
Day, Martyn
Scottish National Party
Lake, Ben
Plaid Cymru
Signed on 14 June 2021
Ceredigion
McDonald, Stuart C
Scottish National Party
Signed on 14 June 2021
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
Oswald, Kirsten
Scottish National Party
Signed on 14 June 2021
East Renfrewshire
Thomson, Richard
Scottish National Party
Signed on 16 June 2021
Gordon
Crawley, Angela
Scottish National Party
Signed on 28 June 2021
Lanark and Hamilt
Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 92 was originally published on Baby Milk Action
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I was genuinely blown away by this view on Friday. Julie and I pulled into Newlands Corner, and it seemed that the world and his wife had the same idea. Fortunately for us, they were kind enough to leave a single space at the front between two cars. The view was spectacular. While Julie was walking around snapping shots, two guys approached admiring the bike. One of them, a chap called Gavin, is the president of the @surreyhillsmc and kindly invited me on a ride out when things improve. Being part of this community is one of the main reasons I love being on two wheels. You never know who you may bump into. #scrambleroftheday #ducatiuk #ducatistyle #customscrambler #ducatiofinstagram #soulfuel #motorcyclestyle #becausemotorcycle #motoculture #landofjoy #twowheelsonelove #twowheelsmovethesoul #freedomisafulltank #ducatipassion #motorcyclespirit #motographer #twowheellife #scramblerducati #ducatinsta #rideinstyle #ducatiscrambler #ducati #everydayisforriding #irodetoday #tcxboots #getoutandride (at Newlands Corner) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL8_wWmno18/?igshid=hbnt4qm0n1b4
#scrambleroftheday#ducatiuk#ducatistyle#customscrambler#ducatiofinstagram#soulfuel#motorcyclestyle#becausemotorcycle#motoculture#landofjoy#twowheelsonelove#twowheelsmovethesoul#freedomisafulltank#ducatipassion#motorcyclespirit#motographer#twowheellife#scramblerducati#ducatinsta#rideinstyle#ducatiscrambler#ducati#everydayisforriding#irodetoday#tcxboots#getoutandride
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The horror is Newland’s at grasping that his fantasies about an alternate future have been a delusion. The woman to whom he has consistently condescended has a strength of purpose he altogether lacks. Winona Ryder has been held in reserve all this time to reveal her full force at the last possible moment. It was this image of May that Scorsese described (in a 1993 interview with Gavin Smith) as an early focal point in his preparation of the film: “Later on I figured out that as she gets up from the chair we should do it in three cuts, three separate close-ups, because I think he’ll never forget that moment the rest of his life. He’ll play it back many times.” It is the closing of a trap—the trap into which Newland was born, and of which the film has been from the start a description.
That, however, is not quite the end: we are left with the extended epilogue of Newland in old age, meditating on the outcome of his life and rejecting for reasons he can barely express the chance for a reunion with Ellen in Paris. The compound of emotions that Scorsese distills here gives this most musically constructed film the sublimest possible coda
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Boris Johnson's father Stanley flies to Greece despite travel restrictions
Boris Johnson’s father has travelled to Greece to prepare his second home as a holiday let despite strict Foreign Office advice against all but essential international travel.
Stanley Johnson posted on his public Instagram page on Wednesday evening wearing a face mask in an airport queue and boasted of arriving in Athens in a separate post to his 140,000 followers.
Due to to Greece extending its ban on flights arriving in the country from the UK until the middle of July, the prime minister’s father was reported to have travelled to the country’s capital via Bulgaria.
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Sharing the full story, not just the headlines
The Foreign Office still advises British citizens against all but essential international travel due to the pandemic and under current quarantine rules, anyone arriving in the UK must also self-isolate for 14 days.
Attempting to explain his trip, Mr Johnson told the Daily Mail: “I’m in Pelion on essential business trying to Covid-proof my property in view of the upcoming letting season. I need to set up distancing measures at the property because they’re taking it very seriously here.”
He continued: “The Greeks are trying to stop bulk arrivals from the UK but they were quite happy to have me coming in. All they wanted to know where I was coming from and what I was doing. Then I had my temperature taken and was swabbed twice.
“We must get these air bridges set up as soon as possible. From what I’ve seen the arrival of the British will not be a danger to the Greeks because they’re so careful here.”
His trip, however, drew criticism from MPs, including Labour’s Rosena Allin-Khan, who said: “Most people have been following the guidelines and socially distancing – not everyone will get a holiday this year.Those closest to the prime minister have different rules though.”
The Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael added: The Foreign Office currently advises British nationals against all but essential international travel – yet here we see the prime minister’s father flouting these very rules. This is simply further evidence that when it comes to following the rules, it is one rule for the Conservatives and one rule for everyone else.”
The prime minister's official spokesman declined to comment on Mr Johnson Senior's trip, but said: "In relation to Foreign Office advice, it is advice and it's for individuals ot make judgements themselves."
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Mr Johnson’s comments on air bridges also come as the government prepares to reverse the contentious blanket quarantine on arrivals to the UK from 6 July after sustained criticism from both Conservative MPs and the tourism industry.
Ministers had been expected to announce a list of countries that would be exempt from the quarantine this week, but details have not been been published.
Appearing in the Commons on Thursday, the transport secretary Grant Shapps indicated plans to exempt certain countries from travel restrictions have been delayed by Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
Mr Shapps told the SNP transport spokesperson Gavin Newlands: “I’d appreciate his help in ensuring that air bridges can get going as quickly as possible. I’m very keen to get the devolved administrations, including the Scottish government, on board so we can get this thing announced.”
This content was originally published here.
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MP condemns Home Office “appalling communications" over Erskine Bridge Hotel
MP condemns Home Office “appalling communications" over Erskine Bridge Hotel
A Renfrewshire MP has slammed the Home Office for “appalling communications” over their use of the Erskine Bridge Hotel to house asylum seekers.
Continue reading MP condemns Home Office “appalling communications” over Erskine Bridge Hotel
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The Government must follow up the P&O issues
The Government must follow up the P&O issues
Last Thursday in the House of Commons a series of questions from a range of MPs took place on the theme of P&O. The title was P&O Ferries: Staff Rosters which can be found here. It seemed very clear that the Government is not responding anywhere as much as they need to. The people who asked the questions were Labour, SNP and Conservative MPs. The Conservative was Huw Merriman who is the Bexhill…
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03.30.20 | 4:30 PM | Huntington Beach, CA Newland St & PCH HWY
Emergency Beachfront Landing Averts Crash
A small recreational aircraft experienced a fuel malfunction earlier today, forcing an emergency landing near the PCH.
In what is possibly one of the only instances of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus actually perhaps saving a life, pilot Dr. Jon Grazer was able to land his Sonex AeroVee aircraft in an unusually empty parking lot located near Newland St and Pacific Coast Highway this afternoon. Remarkably, there were no injuries.
Grazer, the experimental aircraft's sole occupant, was out practicing safe "social distancing" per current public COVID-19 restrictions when he first noticed abnormally falling fuel levels while in flight over the Long Beach Harbor area, necessitating the emergency landing in high wind conditions.
A pilot with 45 years of flying experience, Grazer was clearly relieved to have escaped injury in the incident. The Sonex was undamaged and caused no damage on the ground.
Huntington Beach fire, police, and state beaches authorities responded quickly, remaining onsite while awaiting removal of the aircraft's wings prior to transporting it back to Orange County Airport.
Ordinarily, the Huntington State Beach area would have been packed with vehicles on an otherwise normal bright spring afternoon. However, following Gov. Gavin Newsom's protective executive orders in response to the still-escalating COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, and statewide support for the "Stay at Home. Save Lives." public awareness campaign, the bare parking lot offered Grazer a welcome clear paved landing expanse, averting the situation's potential for a crash-landing instead.
The causes of the incident are under investigation by The Federal Aviation Administration.
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#Emergency Landing#Huntington Beach Fire Department#Huntington Beach#Huntington Beach California#Orange County Californa#OCFA#LA-OC.tv#Pilot Makes Emergency Landing#Sonex#Sonex AeroVee#Coronavirus#Covid-19#Los Angeles Quarantine#Stay Home Stay Safe
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Tom Hickman: Contempt of Parliament, Political Satire and the Case of the Rt Hon Rees-Mogg MP
In dramatic scenes in the House of Commons on 3 September 2019, the House wrestled control of its proceedings from the Government so it could pass legislation to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU. The legislation received Royal Assent less than a week later. As the political and constitutional implications continue to reverberate, there is at least one constitutional issue thrown up by the events which has not so far been remarked upon, swamped as it has been by issues of far greater moment. It is nonetheless worthy of comment.
As the debate in the House of Commons stretched deep into the evening, past the 9pm watershed, the Leader of the House could be seen lounging across the front bench, at times with his eyes closed, with an affected lack of concern with events unfolding around him. Tom Brake MP (LD) asked if the Leader of the House wished to be provided with a pillow to make himself more comfortable. Gavin Newlands MP (SNP) informed reporters that Mr Rees-Mogg was having, “a (u)kip on the front bench”. The Member for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline Lucas (Green) was more direct in her criticism, accusing Mr Rees-Mogg of being “contemptuous of the House and of the people”.
An image of the Leader of the House in his especially sedentary position, apparently taken from the opposition benches by Anna Turley MP (Lab), rapidly became an internet meme. Dozens of versions of the image, variously depicting Mr Rees-Mogg in ladies stockings, in a nightcap clutching a Teddy Bear wearing an “I Boris“ T-shirt, and as an advert on a new IKEA furniture range (MÖGG), amongst many others, were soon circulating on twitter. These images were rapidly joined by others, such as Mr Rees-Mogg lying across the lap of an adjacent MP, using clips from the live Parliamentary feed. The images were reproduced on news and magazine websites shortly afterwards. Mr Rees-Mogg was even projected onto Edinburgh castle sprawled across the words “Lying Tory”. A selection of the images was reproduced in the New European, including that depicted below:
In this country, the freedom to lampoon our politicians is a cherished part of our democratic traditions and is recognised as a fundamental aspect of our freedom of speech. Parliament itself has a page on its own website praising the “distinctive and innovative” tradition of political satire in Britain and reproducing images from its own collection of Gillray, Hogarth and Doyle, amongst others.
Modern technology and the internet have enabled anyone who has some IT know-how, a sense of humour and a twitter account to participate in this fine British tradition.
What makes the Rees-Mogg affair significant is that the images that have tickled and enraged come from the debating chamber of the House itself. Because, for all that it extolls the virtues of satirical cartoons, Parliament has prevented the use of images of debates on the floor of the House of Commons or the House of Lords for satirical purposes. It has done so through austere and out-dated rules on the use of the footage of Parliamentary debates. These rules date back to the first use of television in the House of Commons in 1989 and appear to reflect concerns that the use of television images from Parliament for satirical purposes would damage the dignity of Parliament.
The rules forbid the use of copyright material from the Parliamentary feed in any “light entertainment programme” or programme of “political satire” and they state that material embedded in websites, “cannot be edited in any way”. The rules are enforced through the law of copyright (each House owns the copyright in the footage of its own proceedings) and the law of contempt of Parliament.
The issue came to the fore in 2011 when Channel 4 decided not to air an edition of the American Daily Show hosted by Jon Stewart because it included clips of proceedings in the House of Commons in which David Cameron, then Prime Minister, was robustly questioned about his relationship with Rupert Murdoch during the phone hacking scandal. The joke was not in fact on Cameron but on the deference shown to Presidents in the US. Jon Stewart teasingly extolled the robust questioning and equally robust answers of Prime Minister’s Question Time (“England is AWESOME!”). The episode remains available on the internet. Following Channel 4’s decision not to broadcast his show, Jon Stewart’s praise of UK Parliamentarians for their thick skins turned to bemusement: how can it be, he asked, that the, “people’s Parliament…the most basic expression of British democracy, is too fragile to withstand a gentle parody, a good natured kick to the clotted creams?”
The matter surfaced again in 2016 when Chris Grayling, then the Leader of the House of Commons refused a request to change the rules. At the time, Rory Bremner pointed out that the rule was unsustainable in the internet age.
Rory Bremner was right, as the Rees-Mogg episode demonstrates. The rules have long represented an unjustifiable and overly-broad restriction on freedom of expression, but they look faintly absurd today, when the internet is saturated with doctored images of Mr Rees-Mogg in various states of horizontality.
Ironically, it is European Union law that has come to the aid of British political satire. The Infosec Directive (2001/29) allowed Member States to make an exception to copyright infringement for use that constitutes “caricature, parody or pastiche”. In 2014 an exception was dutifully made to the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 to this effect (s.30(A)). Whether the consequence was fully appreciated at the time or not, the amendments were made to the part of the Act which expressly applies to the Houses of Parliament and therefore provides a defence to any use of Parliamentary copyright material for the purpose of caricature, parody or pastiche, so long as the use is “fair use” as defined in copyright law. Any licence conditions to the contrary are overridden.
The provisions of the CDPA also mean that fair use of Parliamentary copyright for caricature, parody or pastiche cannot be a contempt of Parliament: Parliament has, by amendments to an Act of Parliament, authorised such use. It is doubtful whether contempt of Parliament has any role to play in this context in any event. In Demicoli v Malta (1991) 14 EHRR 47 the European Court of Human Rights found that the House of Representatives of Malta had breached Article 6 when it found the editor of a satirical periodical guilty of contempt for describing a Minister as a clown for his performance in a parliamentary debate.
Despite these developments, the Parliamentary rules remain unreformed and over-broad. Prohibiting misleading or abusive use of copyright material does not require such restrictions. Both the common law and Article 10 of the ECHR protect freedom of expression and the ability to poke fun at our elected representatives, often with implicit political criticism, is an important form of political speech.
The rules of parliamentary contempt are currently being examined by the Committee of Privileges. There are certainly contexts where the rules on contempt need to be reinforced, such as the powers of Select Committees to secure evidence (as suggested in the March report of the Committee of Privileges admonishing Dominic Cummings). But there are other contexts where these anachronistic rules need to be limited and clarified. The use of Parliamentary copyright material is one such context.
The Rees-Mogg affair draws attention to the need for Parliament to look again at its overly deferential and outdated restrictions on the use of images of proceedings in Parliament. Political satire is a cherished aspect of freedom of expression in this country. As well as often carrying a powerful political (or anti-political) message, it provides welcome light relief in tumultuous political times.
Thanks to Professors Jeff King and Gavin Phillipson for commenting on a draft.
Tom Hickman QC, Reader in Law, UCL and Barrister, Blackstone Chambers
(Suggested citation: T. Hickman, ‘Contempt of Parliament, Political Satire and the Case of the Rt Hon Rees-Mogg MP’, U.K. Const. L. Blog (12th Sept. 2019) (available at https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/))
Tom Hickman: Contempt of Parliament, Political Satire and the Case of the Rt Hon Rees-Mogg MP published first on https://immigrationlawyerto.weebly.com/
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BOOKIES UNITE TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Renfrewshire politicians join forces with White Ribbon Scotland and local bookies to tackle violence against women A campaign to tackle violence against women is being launched in betting shops in Renfrewshire with the support of local politicians Tom Arthur MSP and Gavin Newlands MP. @Gavin Newlands MP @Tom Arthur MSP https://psly.scot/2ZDzsbK https://www.instagram.com/p/BwvDzP_nPkK/?igshid=t2y24j3p707v
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President Trump Wants To Be Repaid For The Bullet Train
By Tygre Perl, Loyola Marymount University Class of 2020
March 26, 2019
California is a large state with a high population, making travelling throughout the state rather difficult. In addition, a housing market which makes living in an urban area increasingly expensive means that finding a balance between work, life and commute can be difficult. In 2008, a proposition was passed with the aim of combating these issues. The proposition, 1A, was the “Safe, Reliable, High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act” and would have linked counties in Southern California to those in the bay area1. As it is commonly referred to, the bullet train, was passed in the senate by 27 votes yes to 10 votes no and in the assembly by 58 votes yes to 15 votes no1. With the passage of this proposition, $9.95 billion was to be allotted to a bond in order to fund the construction of the bullet train1.
While this measure was passed in 2008, now in 2019 we still do not have a fully active bullet train in California. Ground was broken in Fresno back in 20152. This in itself was not unexpected, as the bullet train was originally believed to be finished by 20292. But, as it became clear that the bullet train was an expensive and lengthy project to complete, the issue once again opened for debate of whether it was worth completing. Options for making the train travel a shorter distance have been considered. Governor of California Gavin Newsom has announced plans to scale back the gravity of undertaking of building a railway3.
Yet, while the state of California has been stepping back the bullet train project itself, they may be receiving pressure from the federal government to cancel the project all together. President Trump announced on Tuesday February 19th that he plans to cancel the funding alloted to the bullet train4. In addition to wanting to stop giving California more funds for the bullet train, President Trump has also asked to be repaid by California for the money they have already spent on the train4. This demand would amount to California having to repay $2.5 billion to the federal government4. President Trump claimed on twitter this revokal of funds was because “The failed Fast Train project in California, where the cost overruns are becoming world record setting, is hundreds of times more expensive than the desperately needed Wall!”5. President Trump and his team have further backed this claim by conveying that California is not meeting its promises, both monetarial and agreed upon completion points, in the construction of it’s wall4.
While President Trump claims the revokal of support for this project is based on California’s inability to meet funding and construction deadlines, Governor Newsom has publicly disagreed. He claims the funding is being denied for a more personal issue, the fight of California vs. Trump, referencing California’s leading role in a lawsuit against the national emergency called by President Trump6. The lawsuit Governor Newsom is referencing would stop President Trump from receiving the funding for his wall which President Trump referenced as a better use for the funding in his tweet6.
But regardless of whether the reasoning for stopping the production of the bullet train is what is claimed by Governor Newsom or President Trump, the President appears to be continuing in his pursuit to stop the train. Following the President’s tweet, The US Department of Transportation announced a cancelling of funds and explained that they were searching for the legal means to take retributions for the already spent money from California7. It is yet to be seen what these legal actions will be, though the ground on which they stand continues to be the claims that California is not holding up it’s end of the bargain while working to build the bullet train. But, even though the bullet train is building a high budget and falling behind schedule, it doesn’t appear as if it will be a smooth transition. Governor Newsom is putting up opposition to returning the money, himself tweeting back that he has no plans to return the money which he claims belongs to California7.
California’s argument has also been backed on the part of some bullet train employees, who are not in support of funding being pulled from the project8. The Federal High-Speed Rail CEO both claimed that the federal grant requirements had been met by California and that the federal government should not be taking back the money8. Regardless of who supports the bullet train currently, with no more funding it’s hard to see how the project could be continued. What is yet to be seen is in what way President Trump could legally require California to return money which they had been granted and so have already spent.
________________________________________________________________
1http://vigarchive.sos.ca.gov/2008/general/title-sum/prop1a-title-sum.htm
2https://sf.curbed.com/2017/9/19/16331308/high-speed-rail-california
3https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2019/02/california-high-speed-rail-why-green-new-deal-gavin-newsom/582655/
4https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/20/trump-wants-california-to-pay-back-billions-for-bullet-train.html
5https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1097856727020720128
6https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/us/trump-cancels-california-high-speed-rail-grant.html
7https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/19/politics/california-high-speed-rail-cancel-grant/index.html
8https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article227099229.html
Photo Credit: NC3D (Newlands&Company)
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