36 h. ago How does the right tear down progressive societies? It starts with a joke | George Monbiot

Whether it’s bloodshed at Glastonbury or starving people on benefits, their ‘irony poisoning’ seeps obscene ideas into the range of the possibleImagine the furore if a Guardian columnist suggested bombing, say, the Conservative party conference and the Tory stronghold of Arundel in Sussex. It would dominate public discussion for weeks. Despite protesting they were “only joking”, that person would never work in journalism again. Their editor would certainly be sacked. The police would probably come knocking. But when the Spectator columnist Rod Liddle speculates about bombing Glastonbury festival and Brighton, complaints are met with, “Calm down dear, can’t you take a joke?” The journalist keeps his job, as does his editor, the former justice secretary Michael Gove. There’s one rule for the left and another for the right.The same applies to the recent comments on GB News by its regular guest Lewis Schaffer. He proposed that, to reduce the number of disabled people claiming benefits, ...

Politics

1 week ago Tech firms suggested placing trackers under offenders’ skin at meeting with justice secretary

Exclusive: Shabana Mahmood told companies she wanted ‘deeper collaboration’ to tackle prisons crisisAnalysis: Whitehall’s ambition to cut costs using AI is fraught with riskTracking devices inserted under offenders’ skin, robots assigned to contain prisoners and driverless vehicles used to transport them were among the measures proposed by technology companies to ministers who are gathering ideas to tackle the crisis in the UK justice system.The proposals were made at a meeting of more than two dozen tech companies in London last month, chaired by the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, minutes seen by the Guardian show. Amid an acute shortage of prison places and probation officers under severe strain, ministers told the companies they wanted ideas for using wearable technologies, behaviour monitoring and geolocation to create a “prison outside of prison”. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Palestine Action is part of Britain's proud history of protest. Proscribing it is an assault on democracy | Suresh Grover

Through decades of anti-racist campaigning, I have seen that peaceful, direct action can be the only way to get results Suresh Grover is founder of the Southall Monitoring Group and has led campaigns to help the families of Stephen Lawrence, Zahid Mubarek and Victoria ClimbiéThe facts are not disputed. On 20 June, two activists spray-painted two RAF Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, where flights regularly leave for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. No person inside the compound was harmed.At worst, these actions may amount to offences around criminal damage and trespass. The former justice secretary Lord Falconer has stated that the action at Brize Norton would not justify outlawing the group.Suresh Grover is founder of the Southall Monitoring Group and has led campaigns to help the families of Stephen Lawrence, Zahid Mubarek and Victoria Climbié Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Voices: I’ve found Robert Jenrick’s next crusade helping Joan Collins clear away discarded Lime bikes

The shadow justice secretary has become a vigilante superhero since he was filmed chasing fare-dodgers on the London Underground. Could he also be the man to help Dame Joan Collins in her bid to be rid of abandoned e-bikes that clutter up our pavements, asks Clair Woodward

Transport

3 w. ago Gary Glitter freedom bid rejected due to his 'uncontrolled interest in children'

Disgraced former musician Glitter - real name Paul Gadd - had his case referred to the Parole Board by the Justice Secretary to determine whether he could be safely released.

Politics

3 w. ago Gary Glitter release rejected due to his 'uncontrolled interest in children'

Disgraced former musician Glitter - real name Paul Gadd - had his case referred to the Parole Board by the Justice Secretary to determine whether he could be safely released

Politics

3 w. ago Shabana Mahmood says UK will seek reform of human rights convention

Justice secretary says ‘public confidence in the rule of law is fraying’ but she wants to protect ECHR by changing itEchoes of Brexit as Starmer is pressed to seize initiative on human rightsThe justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has said Britain will pursue reform of the European convention on human rights (ECHR), both at home and in Strasbourg, saying “public confidence in the rule of law is fraying”.Mahmood’s warning in her speech at the Council of Europe came as the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said she would undertake an examination of how the courts were applying the right to freedom from degrading treatment. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Labour plan to stop foreign criminals exploiting human rights laws to avoid deportation rejected by Eurocrats

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood used a speech in Strasbourg to set out how the European Convention on Human Rights 'feels out of step with common sense' and needed to 'evolve'.

Events

3 w. ago Two fugitives who are wanted for murder and child rape in Brazil are allowed to stay in Britain after using human rights laws to avoid extradition

Marlon Martins Dos Santos and Nicolas Gomes De Brito have both successfully fought extradition to Brazil after claiming it would violate their rights.

Events

3 w. ago SNP Government promises not to cut Adult Disability Payment after UK benefit changes

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish Government "will not let disabled people down or cast them aside".

Politics

3 w. ago Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood calls for major reform of European Convention of Human Rights because it's blocking deportation of foreign criminals

Killers, drug dealers and radical clerics are among those who have managed to resist being kicked out of the country by citing the treaty, which is embedded in UK law.

Society

3 w. ago Senior SNP minister refuses to rule out benefit cuts in Scotland after UK welfare changes

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville could not confirm whether Scots on disability benefits would have their payments reduced.

Politics

3 w. ago Shabana Mahmood warns foreign criminals 'should expect to be deported'

The Justice Secretary will say the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which Winston Churchill helped draw up after the Second World War, needs to be overhauled

Events

3 w. ago MPs vote to decriminalise abortion in biggest change to reproductive rights in decades

Move opposed by senior politicians including the justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, who branded it ‘extreme’

Politics

3 w. ago MPs back major abortion law change to decriminalise women in landmark vote

Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi urged the Commons to take a 'once in a generation' opportunity to change abortion laws, but critics said the move would be 'dangerous'

Politics

3 w. ago Be honest with victims about prison terms for offenders, former Justice Secretary David Gauke tells MPs

David Gauke was speaking to MPs about his sentencing review

Events

3 w. ago 'Error' to wipe trans murderer's criminal record is 'isolated incident'

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has spoken about the case of trans prisoner Alex Stewart.

Events

3 w. ago ‘Disgraceful’ to suggest police wipe records of trans criminals – Constance

The Justice Secretary asked police to launch a review after a newspaper reported a transgender killer had their record ‘wiped’.

Events

3 w. ago Justice Secretary tells of opposition to ‘dangerous’ abortion decriminalisation

MPs are expected to debate and vote on amendments as part of the wider Crime and Policing Bill.

Society

3 w. ago SNP Government names date for abolition of two child benefit cap in Scotland

EXCLUSIVE: Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville provided more details of a policy that was the centrepiece of the SNP Government's Budget.

Politics