International Law

Minister of Fuzzy Statements

By John Hirst

Well, I do declare that Jack Straw, formally known as the Minister of Justice, shall from this point on be referred to as the Minister of Fuzzy Statements. Any student of law will know that a right does not exist unless it is legally enforceable. Jack Straw, who is a qualified lawyer, will surely remember this principle from his student days. And if he doesn't, then the senile old fool should not be in the job. Therefore, it beggars belief that he is seeking to cobble together a Bill of (Unenforceable) Rights and Responsibilities. According to Jack Straw: "A Bill of Rights and Responsibilities could give people a clearer idea of what we can expect from the state and from each other, and provide an ethical framework for giving practical effect to our common values". Nothing creates greater uncertainty than being told that you have a right but you cannot legally enforce it. That is not a right; that is a wrong. What we can expect from the state and from A.N. Other, is two fingers when it comes down to trying to enforce a legitimate expectation. There is nothing ethical about this at all. In fact, it is highly unethical. It will not foster responsibility from the state, that is why the state is seeking a get out clause to allow it to be irresponsible. This shambles has the clarity of Mumbles Brown. Whenever I hear him talk about British Values, it comes across as British Walruses.
Are these British Walruses?

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on February 13, 2008 (boomark / email).