Westminster notes
e-petitions launched
The Government has established a website (epetitions.direct.gov.uk) to allow the public to petition it online. If a petition receives more than 100,000 signatures, it could be considered for debate in the Commons.
Each e-petition will be checked by the relevant department and libellous, offensive, or petitions not related to the UK Government will be rejected. An e-petition can be open for one year.
The most popular e-petition to date is “Convicted London rioters should lose all benefits” which has received 217,072 signatures. As it has already exceeded the 100,000 mark, the Government has notified the Backbench Business Committee (which does not have any Northern Ireland MPs) which will consider its suitability for debate.
e-petition themes relating specifically to Northern Ireland include:
• a referendum in Northern Ireland on the union, Irish unity or independence (11 signatures); and
• recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder in Northern Ireland veterans of the Troubles (35 signatures.)
English disorder debated
During the 11 August debate on the English riots, Jeffrey Donaldson asked David Cameron if he would consider using the PSNI’s expertise in handling the riots “given its lengthy experience of riot control.”
Cameron insisted that the Government would “do whatever it takes to restore law and order and to rebuild our communities”, adding that it was “enormously helpful” having Sir Hugh Orde as Chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers. The PM had raised the issue of using the PSNI during a Cobra meeting. However, “every case was different” and these were looting gangs rather than political protesters.
The debate was the first summer recall since 1968, when MPs returned to the Commons to discuss Russia’s invasion of Czechoslovakia and the Nigerian civil war.
New police powers proposed by Cameron included imposing curfews and forcing people to remove face masks, although these may require new legislation.
Phone hacking inquiry
Following the phone hacking revelations which closed the News of the World, David Cameron called a public inquiry into phone hacking on 13 July.
During a debate on the Inquiry Mark Durkan asked Cameron whether it “will be proofed against the possible chicane of legal challenges to its conduct and scope that it could face from various interests?”
Durkan had also asked whether calls for legal representation have been anticipated and whether ministers who are called to give evidence will have the assistance of the law officers i.e. the Attorney General and Solicitor General.
In response, Cameron said: “That is a very good question. We think we are doing this in the right way under the Inquiries Act 2005 and all the things that flow from that, but I can perhaps consider the detail of his question about preparation for ministers.”
On 20 July Cameron announced the terms of reference of the inquiry, which is headed by Lord Justice Leveson. Part one will examine the culture, practices, and ethics of the press, including contacts and the relationships between national newspapers, politicians and the police forces.
Part two will inquire into the extent of improper conduct within News International and other newspapers or media organisations. The way in which any relevant police force investigated allegations of unlawful conduct by News International, the Met’s review of their initial investigation, and the extent to which the police received corrupt payments or other inducements will also be under its remit.
