I’m looking forward to the first legal challenge on behalf of the first detainee, as it inevitably wends its way through the High Court to the Supreme Court, where the judges will apply the proper tests as to whether any legislation can simply disapply tenets of international law or treaty obligations (aside from those in another explicit jurisdiction such as ECHR), and can direct the government that, whilst it is free to declare an official opinion and append it to a law, it is utterly unable to bend reality to its will, such that the question of a person’s safety will be assessed on the basis of material facts - “notwithstanding” any assertions of safety in a statute. The government cannot tell the courts to disregard facts.
Yeah - those cases, and they will exist, will be fascinating. A lot will come down to judicial discretion over the distinction between individual cases and general Rwandan status.
So have you calculated how many years the UK judges will still be independent? Since the Tories have copied so much from the "successful" (in the sense of grabbing and keeping power for themselves, no matter how bad for the people and the country) playbook of US Republicans, and Hungary's Orban, the obvious step if independent judges keep saying No is to either replace retiring judges with "loyal" (to a person like Johnson, or the party) Judges - Republican-Trump method - or just outright pass a new law about who determines the makeup of the Supreme Court, or which Judges are unpatriotic and can be sacked- Orban method, easier since UK has no written constitution which would forbid such a thing?
Well done Ian. Once again I’ve unashamedly lifted chunks of this in my latest letter to my MP ‘Sir’ Michael Ellis. If I’m paying good money to be called a cunt I’m going to maximise my investment.
Hi again...Substack has now emailed to activate the subscription...but they’re asking for more than I pledged & I cannot find a way to contact them with a specific rather than generic question. Any advice? I know the cost of good wine is soaring but...
That's annoying. I specifically checked the box that said people could pay less if that was their original pledge. It might be the switch between dollars and sterling. Not sure how to fix, but please don't worry about it - never want anyone paying what they can't afford.
I was explaining to my wife last night that the new bill simply “states that Rwanda is a safe country” and that’s about all it does. She thought it was some farcical joke. Sadly not. The independent court declared a country as not safe so our govt wants to pass a law that says “hey courts, Rwanda is safe ‘cause we said so, and you can’t say otherwise”. You are correct. We are well and truly through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole.🙄😭
I was going to ask if this stupidity might 'bring down the government', but I don't even know what that means anymore. I don't think it means anything - if Sunak gets shitcanned, we'd just have another leadership election instead of what we all so desperately want, a general election.
Honestly, I just really want a nice, boring, stable and vaguely competent government for a bit.
Excellent piece thank you. I wish we had a politician willing and capable of making a speech like this in Parliament.
The expression about covering the place with sh1t has never been more true, with people unable to keep up and increasingly just giving up. With the Covid enquiry confirming our worst fears about those responsible, whilst public services and the economy head ever further down the toilet to join the rest of the sewage being poured over us.
We need more angry analysis like this, and some politicians and leaders prepared to call it out and propose the kinds of more radical answers that are needed. Actually they are not radical - they just look radical compared to the rubbish that has been dumped on us for the last 13 years by this bunch of corrupt and callous incompetents.
As a non-expert on UK politics and politicans, just going by recent projects that made headlines (eg the Covid masks via MP Pub owner via T-shirt factory scandal), I'd say a big part goes to a few friends of the party who get contracts to "organise" this stuff, and the rest disappears down a drain.
After all, who's going to hold the government accountable for mis-spending a few millions? Wasting millions on "plans" for a bridge that was never built didn't bother anyone enough to take steps.
Actually, costing millions would be used by the government as another stick to beat all immigrants with, too. Since Labour repeats the same lies about immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers etc as the Tories, I doubt Labour would change it, if they got elected.
This made me laugh, cry and bash my head against the wall in equal measure. Wondering if it's too early to crack open a good bottle of wine to numb myself from the stupidity
This is brilliant Ian. It brought to mind my Uni days when I discovered the Canadian scholar, John Ralston-Saul. In particular, his lecture series that culminated in the book “The Unconscious Civilisation”, is proving extremely predictive.
Hi Ian, I'm now very interested in how this Rwanda stuff plays out for the Tories. Jenrick resigned, saying legal advice was the Bill wouldn't work. Sunak says that's a misinterpretation. Matt Dathan article in the Times says essentially Jenrick was right on the legal advice. Despite reports of "cooling-off" by potential rebels, this has clear potential to be forced to a split. VONC territory? Early election now seems to be Sunak's only lever to restore party discipline....and it looks like that's gone already?
Excellent summary. In what sense is our judiciary independent any more if the Government can tell them to ignore reality and rule that the moon is made of cheese?
By the way I wouldn't wish a bad Pinot Grigio on my worst enemy, would like to offer you a chilled Chablis at the very least - but why are the subscription options all in dollars, and why is there no one-off payment option rather than ongoing subscriptions, of which I am less fond?
Still if it doesn't work, can we have you back on OGWN?
Heh, no return to OGWN regardless unfortunately. Will see if subs can be made sterling and if there's a one off payment option when I get my head around it this weekend. Both will be available if it's possible.
If there is a case on what the government has done it'll indeed concern the basic separation of powers in the British Constitution.
I think this is one of the hidden bits of meat on the bone. In every other liberal democracy - where there is a written constitution - one of the tasks of the judicial arm is to determine if the laws passed by the legislative arm are “legal”.
The Supreme Court was very clear about why the previous law was illegal, but it wasn’t exhaustive list. When they eventually get a case in front of them challenging this new law (and they will), the Supreme Court has every right to simply say “Look mate, the reality is unchanged, Rwanda is still unsafe, No Flights!”
You can’t legislate that black is white and still maintain a separation of powers and an independent judiciary. In order for it to work, you have to make courts subordinate to parliament. I wonder if that may be the ultimate goal? Certainly there are members of the ERG who would be happy with that outcome.
If this “Safety of Rwanda” bill makes its way into law, it will result in a constitutional crisis. I was so proud to become a citizen of the UK in 2013. Then Brexit happened and I wondered what I had done. If this law passes I fear it might be the end for the UK in its current political form.
If you go to Settings > Payments you can choose GBP for your main currency and can turn on local currency support under 'Localized pricing' for 12 other currencies.
There isn't a one-off payment option, unfortunately.
It’s the impact investors who are driving the Rwandan obsession - I’ve written about this. PFIs are Sunak’s aims. And CCP owns that important border with DRC.
I’m looking forward to the first legal challenge on behalf of the first detainee, as it inevitably wends its way through the High Court to the Supreme Court, where the judges will apply the proper tests as to whether any legislation can simply disapply tenets of international law or treaty obligations (aside from those in another explicit jurisdiction such as ECHR), and can direct the government that, whilst it is free to declare an official opinion and append it to a law, it is utterly unable to bend reality to its will, such that the question of a person’s safety will be assessed on the basis of material facts - “notwithstanding” any assertions of safety in a statute. The government cannot tell the courts to disregard facts.
Yeah - those cases, and they will exist, will be fascinating. A lot will come down to judicial discretion over the distinction between individual cases and general Rwandan status.
So have you calculated how many years the UK judges will still be independent? Since the Tories have copied so much from the "successful" (in the sense of grabbing and keeping power for themselves, no matter how bad for the people and the country) playbook of US Republicans, and Hungary's Orban, the obvious step if independent judges keep saying No is to either replace retiring judges with "loyal" (to a person like Johnson, or the party) Judges - Republican-Trump method - or just outright pass a new law about who determines the makeup of the Supreme Court, or which Judges are unpatriotic and can be sacked- Orban method, easier since UK has no written constitution which would forbid such a thing?
Ah but you forget the much trumpeter “notwithstanding” clause. Apparently that covers EVERY possible legal challenge.
Ffsake.
I’ve seen self-defeating acts before, but this might be the first act of self-devouring.
It is stupid, arbitrary, will hurt and you end up eating yourself and your own shit until you die as a result.
Utter, utter nutters - attempting to appease the headbangers is arguably more moronic than being one, as at least you have the option not to.
God, we needed an election after Johnson, urgently after Truss and now it’s verging on the palliative.
Please, please make it stop.
Well done Ian. Once again I’ve unashamedly lifted chunks of this in my latest letter to my MP ‘Sir’ Michael Ellis. If I’m paying good money to be called a cunt I’m going to maximise my investment.
I'm worried I will develop a sado-masochist following at this stage.
Hi again...Substack has now emailed to activate the subscription...but they’re asking for more than I pledged & I cannot find a way to contact them with a specific rather than generic question. Any advice? I know the cost of good wine is soaring but...
That's annoying. I specifically checked the box that said people could pay less if that was their original pledge. It might be the switch between dollars and sterling. Not sure how to fix, but please don't worry about it - never want anyone paying what they can't afford.
Very happy to support you. If you have a human email contact I’ll sort it directly with them?
Too late for that!
Superb summary of the theatre of the absurd we are witnessing daily if not hourly now and how numb we have become to it.
I was explaining to my wife last night that the new bill simply “states that Rwanda is a safe country” and that’s about all it does. She thought it was some farcical joke. Sadly not. The independent court declared a country as not safe so our govt wants to pass a law that says “hey courts, Rwanda is safe ‘cause we said so, and you can’t say otherwise”. You are correct. We are well and truly through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole.🙄😭
It’s not the grape variety that’s the problem, Ian. Pledge so this man can get a decent bottle of Pinot Grigio
I was going to ask if this stupidity might 'bring down the government', but I don't even know what that means anymore. I don't think it means anything - if Sunak gets shitcanned, we'd just have another leadership election instead of what we all so desperately want, a general election.
Honestly, I just really want a nice, boring, stable and vaguely competent government for a bit.
Excellent piece thank you. I wish we had a politician willing and capable of making a speech like this in Parliament.
The expression about covering the place with sh1t has never been more true, with people unable to keep up and increasingly just giving up. With the Covid enquiry confirming our worst fears about those responsible, whilst public services and the economy head ever further down the toilet to join the rest of the sewage being poured over us.
We need more angry analysis like this, and some politicians and leaders prepared to call it out and propose the kinds of more radical answers that are needed. Actually they are not radical - they just look radical compared to the rubbish that has been dumped on us for the last 13 years by this bunch of corrupt and callous incompetents.
Where is the money actually going? Who benefits from this? It’s some sort of a scam, what else do Tories do but rob us all?
As a non-expert on UK politics and politicans, just going by recent projects that made headlines (eg the Covid masks via MP Pub owner via T-shirt factory scandal), I'd say a big part goes to a few friends of the party who get contracts to "organise" this stuff, and the rest disappears down a drain.
After all, who's going to hold the government accountable for mis-spending a few millions? Wasting millions on "plans" for a bridge that was never built didn't bother anyone enough to take steps.
Actually, costing millions would be used by the government as another stick to beat all immigrants with, too. Since Labour repeats the same lies about immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers etc as the Tories, I doubt Labour would change it, if they got elected.
I don’t doubt you are correct in all you say. It’s a sad state of affairs.
This made me laugh, cry and bash my head against the wall in equal measure. Wondering if it's too early to crack open a good bottle of wine to numb myself from the stupidity
Never too early.
This is brilliant Ian. It brought to mind my Uni days when I discovered the Canadian scholar, John Ralston-Saul. In particular, his lecture series that culminated in the book “The Unconscious Civilisation”, is proving extremely predictive.
Hi Ian, I'm now very interested in how this Rwanda stuff plays out for the Tories. Jenrick resigned, saying legal advice was the Bill wouldn't work. Sunak says that's a misinterpretation. Matt Dathan article in the Times says essentially Jenrick was right on the legal advice. Despite reports of "cooling-off" by potential rebels, this has clear potential to be forced to a split. VONC territory? Early election now seems to be Sunak's only lever to restore party discipline....and it looks like that's gone already?
A prime example of escalation of commitment https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escalation_of_commitment
Sunak-cost fallacy in action whilst our children starve in hovel-standard housing.
Excellent summary. In what sense is our judiciary independent any more if the Government can tell them to ignore reality and rule that the moon is made of cheese?
By the way I wouldn't wish a bad Pinot Grigio on my worst enemy, would like to offer you a chilled Chablis at the very least - but why are the subscription options all in dollars, and why is there no one-off payment option rather than ongoing subscriptions, of which I am less fond?
Still if it doesn't work, can we have you back on OGWN?
Heh, no return to OGWN regardless unfortunately. Will see if subs can be made sterling and if there's a one off payment option when I get my head around it this weekend. Both will be available if it's possible.
If there is a case on what the government has done it'll indeed concern the basic separation of powers in the British Constitution.
I think this is one of the hidden bits of meat on the bone. In every other liberal democracy - where there is a written constitution - one of the tasks of the judicial arm is to determine if the laws passed by the legislative arm are “legal”.
The Supreme Court was very clear about why the previous law was illegal, but it wasn’t exhaustive list. When they eventually get a case in front of them challenging this new law (and they will), the Supreme Court has every right to simply say “Look mate, the reality is unchanged, Rwanda is still unsafe, No Flights!”
You can’t legislate that black is white and still maintain a separation of powers and an independent judiciary. In order for it to work, you have to make courts subordinate to parliament. I wonder if that may be the ultimate goal? Certainly there are members of the ERG who would be happy with that outcome.
If this “Safety of Rwanda” bill makes its way into law, it will result in a constitutional crisis. I was so proud to become a citizen of the UK in 2013. Then Brexit happened and I wondered what I had done. If this law passes I fear it might be the end for the UK in its current political form.
If you go to Settings > Payments you can choose GBP for your main currency and can turn on local currency support under 'Localized pricing' for 12 other currencies.
There isn't a one-off payment option, unfortunately.
Brilliant - thank you
It’s the impact investors who are driving the Rwandan obsession - I’ve written about this. PFIs are Sunak’s aims. And CCP owns that important border with DRC.
It’s defined as ‘safe’ because the WHO and WEF has decided that - it’s one of the 4th Industrial Revolution test sites.