Not really a sensible statement that, is it?  Whatever the rights and wrongs the, "Summat worse is going on somewhere else so we shan't have an opinion on this subject within our own jurisdiction", argument is fairly daft. 

Ah, thanks! 

 

Doesn't make me happy to accept the 'truth' in it, mind you. 

I think this is more about sticking two fingers up to the Court of Human Rights, really!

 

Too true. This EU malarky has cost us billions, why did we ever sign up for this?

Well yes but 392 of them never bothered to turn up for work which is another problem in itself but you can't assume those that didn't vote would vote one way or the other if voting was compulsory. (personally I think it should be for MP's) The fact is there was a vote and the no side won by more than 10 to one. 

 

Having reread my comment I agree I should have put.the result of this vote was 234 against giving it to 22 for giving it more than 10 to 1 of our elected MP's. who turned up for work and voted. Someone should ask the other 392 why they didn't feel the need to do what they were elected for and vote.

 

There's a lot of good restaurants in Brussels.

 

 

In about 90 seconds I shall be pissing over a balcony into a fish pond. 

I suppose that some of us thought that it might form some sort of Bulwark against American hegemony. How could we have known that we would end up with a bunch of east European right wing nutjobs? If I may say so.

I can accept that, it is the daily mail but on this occassion I do belive it is true.

...oooft, that was good.

 

Anyway, where were we? 

Strasbourg, or prison, maybe? 

 

Quite. 

Hope not don't want no prisoners or worse still ECHR judges voting in this poll

Just wondering which will be the next country asking for an EU bailout? The way we are going it could be us. Get some money back from what we are paying in. Seriously though- New countries joining the EU and then needing bailouts in the form of billions doesnt do much for our economy, or other countries.

 

Do you think they're have been any benefits to the United Kingdom from being in the EU? 

But we are not eligable for a bail out as we don't use the euro. We are bailing out other countries because hmmm can't think of a good or even a fair reason.

You're confusing the EU and the ECHR, which are separate institutions with different member states.

PIGS - Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain, are hardly the new lot! 

 

Aye, but it's all Yourupp.  Bloody frog-munchers 

Yes that is true but with the EU about to sign up to the ECHR (thanks to the lisbon treaty they can, cheers brown ) that line is going to get even more blurred. Good news is we do still have a veto and can stop EU signing up bad news is we won't. As Clegg and lib dems would leave the coalition.

Blimey its worse than i thought. Peter- how are your relatives in Japan doing? Are they all OK? Hope so. Sad to see the UK coverage of the situation is waning seeing as such it is still a serious situation. Guess its the media for you- shock, horror is good- the aftermath is not so good.If you are still going there for your hols- stay safe.

I see Turkey has been rubbing shoulders with Cameron lately joining in with action against Lybia. They are a country that should be looked at carefully before being allowed to join.

If only we knew someone who could have a careful look in the next week or two.

 

Alternatively, if the EU is crap, the more countries that need to be looked carefully at, the better.  More chance of it going tits up. 

Yes, we should not allow Lybia in, yet! 

Hi Jonesy! Everyone we know in Japan is still safe, though we haven't heard for a while from a friend of ours who has gone up to the north-east to help out.

 

It really is very serious for the survivors there. They're struggling to rebuild but it's going to take years. Most of the population is still living in gyms and public halls which have been turned into refugee shelters. Supplies of electricity and fresh water are improving, but still not regular from what I can find out.

 

We've confirmed our flights for the end of July. Since we're going to Tokyo, we should be ok though it will obviously be very different to previous years. Electricity there will be rationed, so we're expecting a sticky visit. We'll be there in the hottest, most humid season. It's also likely that shops will be shutting early to save electricity. Still, I'm really looking forward to going back.

 

Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts.

I had to reread this a couple of times, but I think I've got it now...

What I believe Article 60 is saying is that the Convention defines the minimum requirements that member states must meet. That means that the UK, as a member, must allow prisoners the right to vote.

 

However what Article 60 also means is that if a member state wants to go beyond those rights (by, for example, also allowing prisoners to stand for Parliament), then that's fine: the Convention doesn't define an upper limit.

Basically, the ECHR's job is to give freedoms to those who don't have them; not take them away from those who do.

 

 

BTW: I don't think anyone-else has mentioned this, but this thread's title is misleading. The ECHR is not trying to overrule the UK Government. As a member state, the UK is bound to abide by ECHR rulings. It's the UK Government that's trying to overrule the ECHR...

 Good point! 

Bill of rights 1689 which was supplemented by the Act of Settlement in 1701 is still in force and says Parliament "can enact, amend and repeal any legislation it pleases."  British parliament is (at least according to our laws) the supreme authority in this country anything that one government does can be undone by another.

 

However when we will get a strong enough leader to stand up to ECHR and/or EU I don't know One thing is certain though it is just as simple as breaking a treaty and we all know treaties can be broken.

 

Besides I am yet to find a part of the convention that says everyone must be allowed a vote without exception (although there is a part about free elections) but I have found a bit that says anyone is entitled to leave the country including his own. Guess this will apply to prisoners too.

In answer to one of the points above MP's don't turn up for all debates or votes. It depends on the level of importance of subject, and of course some MPs pair and agree not to vote. A three line whip means everyone has to turn up. I remember ambulances bringing extremely ill MPs to vote in the past.

Exactly what I was going to say, Jenny.