Robert Buckland Weblog

For once, we were lucky with the weather.  The Isle of Wight proved to be a much-needed family break in the sun for a week before tomorrow’s return to Parliament.  The Summer has been a very useful opportunity for me to take some time to visit local groups and to catch up on some reading.  [...]

Whatever happened to the idea that August was a time of quiet reflection and relaxation for politicians?   I am trying to have a few days here and there, and am looking forward to a longer break around the Bank Holiday, but this month has kept me busy in and around Swindon.  I have used the [...]

A thought-provoking article in a recent edition of the Spectator, which is an abridged version of a lecture given by Peter Jones to the recent Inner Temple Conference on Democracy and the Law.  Entitled “Who will Judge the Judges?”, he makes the point that in their fervent desire to maintain their independence from the Executive, [...]

Yesterday’s Surgery at Walcot Community Library and Shop brought  wide variety of issues to the table.  They ranged from the barriers that face deaf people when they are called for Jury service to the particular needs and concerns of a severely disabled young man whose parents live apart from each other.  I was extremely grateful [...]

We are now coming to the end of the Parliamentary session, which has been an extraordinary few months for me.  I am now delighted to say that the new office in Swindon, jointly run with North Swindon, is up and running.  I have tried to learn as much of the procedures of Westminster as possible [...]

The last week in Parliament alllowed me to discuss a few issues in which I have either a professional or personal interest.  My first Prime Minister’s Question last Wednesday was on the admission of children with Special Educational Needs into new Academies.  The PM gave me an assurance that new Academies would be obliged to [...]

John Redwood’s blog carries an impressive list of legislation that he wants to be repealed by the new Bill.  I am thinking of some more detailed and less glamorous provisions that need to be changed.  I have blogged before about my concern whenever a politician threatens someone with a libel suit if they are criticised.  [...]

The broadcast media have failed again to properly report what was a considered and important speech from the Lord Chancellor yesterday.  Let’s get things straight here; no-one is saying that serious violent or sexual offenders should not receive proper jail sentences.  One of the primary functions of terms of imprisonment is to protect the public.  [...]

Prior to the Adjournment Debate, I wrote an article for epolitix about development in Swindon.  The link is http://www.epolitix.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/building-a-sustainable-swindon  The link to the transcript of the speeches in the Adjournment Debate is http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2010-06-21a.135.0&s=speaker%3A24843#g135.2

Another varied week has passed, which started with an interesting discussion on the BBC Politics Show West programme on Sunday with David Nutt, former Chair of the Advisory Panel on Drugs.  Dr. Nutt favours decriminialisation of cannabis.  I favour its criminalisation, but we agreed that the current class system of drugs was no longer workable.  [...]