Hundreds Of UK Lawyers Says IPB 'Not Fit For Purpose'

Hundreds of UK lawyers have signed an open letter addressed to the UK government that declares the Investigatory Powers Bill as "not fit for purpose".

The 200 lawyers who signed the cases have a fraction of high-profile QCs involved in cases where evidence of the new powers' inefficiency has been present.

According to the letter "a law that gives public authorities generalised access to electronic communication compromises the essence of the fundamental right to privacy and may be illegal."

According to the letter, it fails to include verification of "reasonable suspicion" for an instance of data interception and does not need a demonstration or evidence of criminal involvement or a threat to national security for the use of powers.

Meanwhile, the Conservative government has pushed the IP Bill as having passed their expectations. They said it has an 'adequate balance between privacy and security."

The Labour party said it will abstain from the second reading. The party also threatened to vote against the bill if significant changes are not made. The Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party are heavily opposed to the bill.

Tech companies have warned that the IP bill could compromise existing communication technologies because of the use of a backdoor. The new bill also threatened tech companies of arrest or suspension if they will not comply with a hack-on-demand.

UK Government Dropped Passage On Obligation To Uphold International Law

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) is to launch a legal case against the UK government for abandoning 13 words that could alter its decisions regarding the use of military force abroad. The Ministerial Code had been missing the section that indicated all ministers have an "overarching duty" to fulfil Britain's international agreements.

Lawyers from the GCHR said key issues involved decisions about involvement in international conflict , the UK's adherence to human rights legislation and the impact of International court rulings on British Law.

According to GCHR's Melanie Gingell:

“We cannot call these governments to account if at the same time western governments are diminishing their commitments to international law and the separation of powers.

“Removing international law from the code weakens ministers’ accountability to parliament and clearly signals a watering down of the UK’s respect for human rights law. I hope the court will recognise the profound consequences of removing just 13 words from ministers’ duties.”

Former Government Legal Service Head Paul Jenkins said:

“It is disingenuous of the Cabinet Office to dismiss the changes to the ministerial code as mere tidying up. As the government’s most senior legal official I saw at close hand from 2010 onwards the intense irritation these words caused the PM as he sought to avoid complying with our international legal obligations, for example in relation to prisoner voting.”

It Seems Scotland Played Into Britain's Hands

You've probably followed everything that transpired during the Scottish Independence Referendum. The SNP and Tories went head-on explaining their platforms and the consequences of both outcomes, positive or negative. Eventually, the Tories won over majority of Scots by offering them devolved, state-only powers and the exclusion of Britons from Scottish lawmaking.

It sounds like a great deal. Without having to leave the pound sterling, Scotland is soon set to prosper.

Or at least so it thought.

Scottish MPs are complaining that Scotland is now unable to vote for English-only laws. They could not criticise laws that only concern the Brits.

I mean, that's common sense for devolved powers, right?

SNP Spokesman Pete Wishart, I think was having a force-of-habit moment when he said the English have been ignoring Scotland.

But sometimes, there's that looming feeling that the tories knew what was going to happen. 

In fact, I think the tories intended Scotland to be flushed out of Westminster's issues and they agreed Holyrood's issues should be its own problems.

It's just as well because the English just submitted their first English-only law. This would mean less opposition, which usually comes from Scotland's MPs.

But that also means more English Nationalism, and also more Scottish Nationalism. Which brings us once again, to a probable new Independence Referendum in the next few years.

Law Society Condemns Small Claims Court Limit Rise For Personal Injury

To crack down on "crash for cash" incidents, the UK Chancellor George Osborne plans to increase the small claims court's compensation amounts from £1000 to £5000. The Law Society expressed its criticism.

According to the society, the proposals may undermine the ordinary citizens' right to receive proper compensation when they are hassled or injured through no fault of their own.

The Law Society said that serious injuries from employer and traffic accidents lead to complex cases and the small claims courts' £5000 can severely limit victims' compensation.

The limit would mean even facial scarring, which typically receives £10,000-20,000 in compensation including emotional and psychological damages, would only receive £5000 as it is a soft-tissue injury.

The Select Transport Committee (STC) had pushed the same complaint forward. They said victims cannot find proper legal consultation and will be forced to represent themselves before the small claims court.

This would be difficult for those who are living alone and have no legal counsel. They will also have to take care of their personal arrangements for the matter.

Britain is today known as Europe's whiplash capital following exaggerated or fraudulent claims have a 90 per cent chance of successfully earning recompense through personal injury claims.

Saudi Billionaire Gets UK Legal Immunity As Caribbean Diplomat

Billionaire Walid Juffali from Saudi Arabia owns one of Saudi Arabia's biggest conglomerates, making him one of the richest men in the country. He currently resides in the UK. He presented his legal immunity in Britain as the Caribbean Government recognises him as their 'diplomat to London. He is a representative of Foreign States and Commonwealth countries based in London.

How that happened is still a mystery. But…

No Public Record

St. Lucia from the Caribbean lists Juffali as its "Permanent Representative" to the International Maritime Organisation on its list of diplomats.

However, journalists' investigations reveal that Juffali has no public record attending meetings of the International Maritime Organisation.

When questioned, the St. Lucian Government did not reveal the amount of time he spent in the Country's High Commission in Kensington, London.

This is a clear indicator of some fishy business, I must presume.

Well-Established Businessman

However, the St Lucian government did say that Juffali was chosen because of his "well-established success as a businessman and having previously undertaken diplomatic duties.

The St Lucian government said it did not want to make official comments as it is not common practice to answer Foreign Service appointment questions.

Definitely something fishy. Maybe he invested in the country in exchange for diplomatic immunity almost anywhere? That would be useful for any billionaire. 

Legal Highs: Church Incense May Be Banned

Home Secretary Theresa May's ongoing blanket ban on legal highs include 'items that set the human mind on a higher plane'. Church incense may be included in the list following the parameters of the new law.

Fears of incense burning in churches, temples and other religious edifices in Britain the Home Office may criminalise. Religious advisers are warning about the implications of the new laws, which could bring forth religious products in the spotlight and outlawed.

The Psychoactive Substances Bill introduces seven-years jail time maximum for anybody promoting and using said legal highs. The Home Office introduced the bill to stop the proliferation of drugs blamed for youth deaths all over the United Kingdom.

The bill was originally drawn to prevent producers and dealers to make minor change to the chemical composition of substances to undermine new restrictions on legal high production.

However, the blanket ban reaches towards Church incense, even new drug research where trial patients may file claims against researchers for botched or undesirable side effects despite waivers.

The Home Office listed caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes as official exemptions from the bill's ban.

Religious officials are concerned about a trial on mice wherein incense heightened the mood of several trial mice. However, the Home Office said they would likely exclude incense because it does not fit the "intentional" use of a substances "for psychoactive effects."

New Egyptian Anti-Terror Law May Have Media By The Neck

A free voice is one of the foundations of democracy and to grapple this would mean a false belief in the political ideal. Unfortunately, Egypt would be one of the countries adopting a false belief in democracy. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday ratified an anti-terrorism law. It would heavily fine and suspend from employment false reports on militant attacks.

The new law came after the Egyptian military lashed out at the media after reporting that dozens of troops have been killed during Sinai. The military's official death toll was 21 soldiers and more jihadists. The number is negligible considering the achievement of the mission.

The fine is worth £200,000 pounds in Egypt for any media who calls 'wolf' on terrorist attacks. The fines could reach more than £500,00 of the same value in the UK.

Critics said the very high fines will shut down smaller Egyptian newspapers. Larger ones may be deterred from reporting attacks and any military operations against militants.

The Egyptian government originally planned to give a jail sentence for offenders. However, due to a backlash from Egyptian media, they backed down. The law also allows courts to prevent the convicted from practising his profession for more than one year. This did not mention whether it was journalism or any profession in general.