Rule of law, or rule of men?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
MPs' expenses: Scotland Yard chief says more MPs could face investigation - Telegraph.
To me, this story is a litmus test. Do we have the rule of law in Britain in the sense of Thomas Fuller's splendid words "Be you never so high, the law is above you," or not? The files are going to the Crown Prosecution Service, the creation of which I am on record as saying might have been the worst "reform" of my lifetime. The CPS is headed by a political appointee. As the Telegraph reports:
Consider those words carefully. I mean no disrespect to my learned friend, but here are the facts. A political appointee is to choose whether members of the ruling Party that appointed him are to be prosecuted, just before a general election. Much hangs on his decision; not least public confidence in the rule of law. Not least (to me), whether I can continue to hope for the return of justice (as very much opposed to "social justice") to my country.
To me, this story is a litmus test. Do we have the rule of law in Britain in the sense of Thomas Fuller's splendid words "Be you never so high, the law is above you," or not? The files are going to the Crown Prosecution Service, the creation of which I am on record as saying might have been the worst "reform" of my lifetime. The CPS is headed by a political appointee. As the Telegraph reports:
Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, is expected to decide
whether to prosecute the politicians as early as January, before a general
election
Consider those words carefully. I mean no disrespect to my learned friend, but here are the facts. A political appointee is to choose whether members of the ruling Party that appointed him are to be prosecuted, just before a general election. Much hangs on his decision; not least public confidence in the rule of law. Not least (to me), whether I can continue to hope for the return of justice (as very much opposed to "social justice") to my country.
James sure make a point.
Question: How is this different from everywhere else?
Posted by: Moggsy | Friday, November 20, 2009 at 07:22 AM
Justice is for everyone in Britain - like the Ritz.
Posted by: jameshigham | Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 09:16 PM
I totally agree but the old system, when the police prosecuted, could easily be accused of the same problem. Chief Constables and Commissioners are appointed in a similar way to the DPP. I wouldn't have wanted Sir Ian Blair deciding which parliamentarians to prosecute either.
The whole legal justice system should have one or perhaps three democratically elected heads to represent the wishes of the public.
Posted by: Diogenes | Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 03:56 PM