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Reposted by Alexander Horne

The Spectator @thespectator1828.bsky.social · 2d

With even Labour now accepting that serious change is needed, it appears the status quo is politically indefensible.

✍️ Alexander Horne

This is Labour’s last chance to save the ECHR

One of Kemi Badenoch’s biggest announcements ahead of Conservative party conference was her pledge to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). On Sunday, she said that exiting the ECHR...

www.spectator.co.uk

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 2d

Not quite sure what you mean by this?

The title of the article really should have been something along the lines of ‘Kemi’s move on the ECHR leaves Labour facing some tricky questions on human rights reform’ - which I think is a more accurate summary of the argument.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 2d

Authors do not come up with the titles for pieces. I’d probably have suggested “Kemi’s move on the ECHR leaves Labour facing some tricky questions on human rights reform”

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 2d

A new piece by me for the Spectator on the ECHR.

Now Kemi has opted for the ‘simple’ option of leaving the Convention, it leaves Labour facing some tricky questions on human rights reform:

www.spectator.co.uk/article/this...

This is Labour’s last chance to save the ECHR

One of Kemi Badenoch’s biggest announcements ahead of Conservative party conference was her pledge to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). On Sunday, she said that exiting the ECHR wo...

www.spectator.co.uk

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 5d

Here is some coverage. 40 people arrested including 6 for assaults on the police. Chants from the crowd allegedly included: “Death, Death to the IDF”. Who does these things?

www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/g...

Pro-Palestine demonstrators clash with police on Whitehall as 40 people arrested

Six arrests were ‘for assaults on police officers’ and the majority were for ‘breaching conditions’

www.standard.co.uk

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 5d

A terrible state of affairs for a restaurant in London to have to hide its origins due to antisemitism.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 5d

Rather sadly, my local falafel joint (which now has 4 or 5 branches in London and is excellent) started off selling overtly Israeli stuff (Goldstar Beer, Osem snacks etc.). That’s all stopped.

These days, other than a picture of Jaffa on the wall, it doesn’t acknowledge any link to Israel.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 5d

Will definitely give Balady a go - looks great.

For some reason they don’t list an address on the website - but it looks v local to me (Leather Lane, EC1N).

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 5d

Doesn’t really answer either of the 2 points made in my post.
Namely: (1) violent disorder in Westminster on the day two Jews were murdered for being Jews is disgusting
(2) There is a peace deal on the table. Israel has agreed to it.When will pro-Palestinian campaigners pressure Hamas to accept it?

Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 5d

I commented on this back in November 2023. I argued that

“Antisemitic hate crime has soared in recent weeks. I would simply ask the police and prosecutors to take action now, before it is too late, and someone in the UK acts on these hateful calls to arms.”

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

The case for prosecuting ‘from the river to the sea’

As an international lawyer, splitting my time between London and Brussels, I dare say I might be considered one of Theresa May’s ‘citizens of nowhere’. Nonetheless, as the protests about the Israeli r...

www.spectator.co.uk

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 5d

It’s hard to comprehend how people took the view that they would ignore the events earlier in the day and cause violent disorder last night. 40 people were apparently arrested. It is shameful. Time for the Metropolitan Police to do better and end these hateful marches.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 5d

There is currently a peace deal on the table. If anything, these people should be campaigning for Hamas to end the long running conflict and accept the terms which have already been agreed by Israel.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 5d

Looking back on the events yesterday. It is truly troubling to think that - following the murder of two Jewish people outside a synagogue during Yom Kippur - some people thought it appropriate to undertake violent protests in Westminster against the world’s only Jewish state.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

Probably just goes to show that you shouldn’t leave political activists (and indeed former activists) in charge of anything!

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

How sad. One of my favourite activities when I went up to Durham University to teach public law this year was to visit Bells, the absolutely splendid fish and chip shop on the high street. It’s really great. Nothing quite as good in London.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

You may recall that the FWS case was about this issue (in terms of increasing the number of women on boards).

Happily it clarified the law on this matter, including in respect of people with GRCs.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

If you set aside spots for women, and would offer those spots to trans women, but would not offer them to trans men (natal women) you would seem to miss the point about the discrimination which apparently justified AWS.
And, if you disregard the GRA entirely, you reduce the barriers to bad actors.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

And I note that you didn’t actually answer my real question which was about GRCs. In which case I’ll assume that you don’t require them for AWS.

I’ll leave people to draw their own conclusions.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

So, rather than making special provision for trans people, the party favours trans women (who can take spots from natal women).

Meanwhile a trans man (natal female) would presumably not qualify for an AWS unless they denounced their maleness.

Otherwise known as favouring men.

Pure genius.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

As someone who doesn’t follow internal Lib Dem politics closely, can I ask:

1) Do the Lib Dems use all women shortlists (AWS)?

2) Can natal men claim to be women and be placed on an AWS? If so, do they need a Gender Recognition Certificate?

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

Of course, at the next election I am sure parties will be lobbied by activists to overturn the Supreme Court judgment. At that point it will be interesting to see how they respond.

At present, I’d just like to see compliance with the law as set out in the FWS judgment.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

In the U.K. context, the Supreme Court has done the job (recognising some of the concerns I referenced) - so no one has to vote for reactionary parties to change the law.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

Is that aimed at me? Because I posed the question ‘what is socially liberal’ these days?

I guess to make matters clearer I should say that I would like to support a party which is in favour of:

Equal marriage; abortion rights; assisted dying and isn’t racist

If that helps at all.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

I think that’s quite enough evidence to back up the fact that people had real concerns over a variety of matters.

I’ll leave Martina Navratilova and Sharron Davies to explain the issues with female sport since I think they are rather more qualified than me.

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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 9d

FACT 4. Natal male sex offenders were housed with female prisoners.

The issue was not addressed until February 2023 when it was determined that prisoners with male genitalia could no longer be housed in “mainstream women’s prisons.”

www.theguardian.com/society/2021...

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Lawful to imprison trans women sex offenders in female jails, judge rules

High court for England and Wales rejects challenge of former inmate who claims she was sexually assaulted by trans prisoner

www.theguardian.com

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