Robert Buckland Weblog

Each year produces a crop of summer “silly season” political stories.  2008 proved to be a vintage year, with luxury yachts in Corfu and indiscretions committed by both Labour and Conservative politicians.  So far, this year has been a little more mundane.  A huge rift is supposed to have developed within the Tory Party over [...]

I had promised a further update during my week of Judicial training at the University of Warwick, but such was the intensity of the course, I didn’t have time.  In summary, the debate at Trinity College was an opportunity to discuss not only general concerns about civil liberties but the practical dangers inherent in large Government [...]

Despite the tributes that are being paid to him, and the prospect of a peerage, I suspect that the resignation of Mr. Speaker Martin will not be mourned by many.   The conduct of the various holders of this office has varied widely, but I believe that it great events will make or break holders of offices such as these.  Take Mr. Speaker Lenthall, for [...]

A blustery and showery day did not prevent Broadgreen residents from getting together for the annual Fun Day, held at the Broadgreen Community Centre.  This event, which was first held in 2007, is a particular favourite of mine because it is organised by the community itself and is a direct reflection of what is going [...]

The reality of the potential effect of the Regional Spatial Strategy on future development in Swindon is already beginning to bite.   The RSS has not yet been fully adopted, but already there are plans afoot to build over 3000 new houses on land adjacent to West Swindon, near the Swindon to Kemble railway line and [...]

The BBC have obtained figures showing that the number of “hung juries” on trials in England and Wales has doubled since 2006.  My worry is that although these figures are interesting,  they give us no clue as to why this is.  I very much hope that those who presume to control “outcomes” from the criminal [...]

A trawl through the informative and useful Conservativehome website produced a very interesting article by Tim Montgomerie.  He has attempted to list the key components of Conservative philosophy in a “statement” that is based upon a similar document generated about forty years ago in the US.
Some of the wording is a little “worthy” for my [...]

So, the vote was close, but the Government defeated the Amendment and now the main opposition parties have boycotted membership of the Inquiry Committee into the conduct of the Commons authorities concerning the police search.  One of the chief concerns of MPs has been the threat to private correspondence with constituents.  Its worth remembering last [...]

Any debate about the Government’s plan to allocate 35,000 extra homes in the Swindon area by 2026 is dominated by the question of infrastructure.  Transport is a key issue for Swindon residents, who face near gridlock already at certain peak times of the day.  Infrastructure is not just about roads, however.  What about schools and [...]

The prime of my life, the start of the Middle Ages – call it what you will, but I have reached a milestone this week.  I am marking the occasion with family and friends; George and Millie are six this week so a joint effort is required.   The kind weather this month has enabled me [...]