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Secret court laws to lose backing of Liberal Democrats Secret court laws to lose backing of Liberal Democrats
(7 days later)
Nick Clegg is preparing to abandon support for laws expanding the use of secret courts just six months after forcing the Liberal Democrats to vote for the controversial legislation.Nick Clegg is preparing to abandon support for laws expanding the use of secret courts just six months after forcing the Liberal Democrats to vote for the controversial legislation.
David Laws, the education and Cabinet Office minister, said on Tuesday that the leadership had listened to members after two revolts at the party's conferences.David Laws, the education and Cabinet Office minister, said on Tuesday that the leadership had listened to members after two revolts at the party's conferences.
In March, Clegg asked Lib Dem MPs and peers to vote with the coalition in support of the Justice and Security Act, which allows some civil proceedings to be held in private over matters of national security. However, the issue split the party, with several high-profile figures tearing up their membership cards over accusations the laws are against liberal principles of open justice.In March, Clegg asked Lib Dem MPs and peers to vote with the coalition in support of the Justice and Security Act, which allows some civil proceedings to be held in private over matters of national security. However, the issue split the party, with several high-profile figures tearing up their membership cards over accusations the laws are against liberal principles of open justice.
Acknowledging it had been a "very, very difficult" issue, Laws signalled that the Lib Dems could push to repeal the laws after the next election and replace them with a "better package".Acknowledging it had been a "very, very difficult" issue, Laws signalled that the Lib Dems could push to repeal the laws after the next election and replace them with a "better package".
He will propose a motion next week, at the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow, in support of a new manifesto themes paper, setting out possible policies for the next election. This document, which has a foreword by Clegg, pledges to "find practical alternatives to the use of closed material proceedings within the justice system, including the provisions of the Justice and Security Act 2013, with the aim of restoring the principle of open justice".He will propose a motion next week, at the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow, in support of a new manifesto themes paper, setting out possible policies for the next election. This document, which has a foreword by Clegg, pledges to "find practical alternatives to the use of closed material proceedings within the justice system, including the provisions of the Justice and Security Act 2013, with the aim of restoring the principle of open justice".
Laws said: "What this sends out a signal of is not that we simply intend to sweep [the laws] away without considering what the replacement would be ... but that the party is concerned and has said this twice through conference motions about the existing legislation and the way the protections are balanced. Therefore we will be as a party, through the manifesto process, looking very closely at this to see whether we can bring forward a better package that would more satisfy the concerns people of people in the party and beyond."Laws said: "What this sends out a signal of is not that we simply intend to sweep [the laws] away without considering what the replacement would be ... but that the party is concerned and has said this twice through conference motions about the existing legislation and the way the protections are balanced. Therefore we will be as a party, through the manifesto process, looking very closely at this to see whether we can bring forward a better package that would more satisfy the concerns people of people in the party and beyond."
With the party struggling in the polls, Laws promised the Lib Dems would only commit to credible and deliverable policies at the next election, after the party backed out of a 2010 pledge to oppose tuition fees. Clegg later apologised, saying the policy had never been feasible.With the party struggling in the polls, Laws promised the Lib Dems would only commit to credible and deliverable policies at the next election, after the party backed out of a 2010 pledge to oppose tuition fees. Clegg later apologised, saying the policy had never been feasible.
Laws said his party would now have to be much clearer about its priorities because a coalition government was more of a possibility after the 2015 election. He said the Glasgow conference would begin a debate about potential policies for the 2015 manifesto, which will begin to take shape over the next 18 months. The coalition parties will soon begin to differentiate themselves and become more "independent", he said.Laws said his party would now have to be much clearer about its priorities because a coalition government was more of a possibility after the 2015 election. He said the Glasgow conference would begin a debate about potential policies for the 2015 manifesto, which will begin to take shape over the next 18 months. The coalition parties will soon begin to differentiate themselves and become more "independent", he said.
"I think it will be pretty clear to many people who attend the conference and it will be pretty clear from Nick [Clegg]'s speech what we think are our priorities, but actually we are not going to make those final decisions until the second half of 2014," he said."I think it will be pretty clear to many people who attend the conference and it will be pretty clear from Nick [Clegg]'s speech what we think are our priorities, but actually we are not going to make those final decisions until the second half of 2014," he said.
Laws said two major ambitions of the Libe Dems were to "finish the job" of reducing the deficit and pushing for the income tax threshold to rise to about £12,500.Laws said two major ambitions of the Libe Dems were to "finish the job" of reducing the deficit and pushing for the income tax threshold to rise to about £12,500.
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