Delegated Powers, A.K.A Henry VIII Powers, A.K.A Secondary Legislation, A.K.A Satutory instrument (A.K.A SI)

(So many names for one thing, its almost like they don’t want people to understand, like maybe this isn’t actually a “government for the people.”)

Why should I keep reading this blog?

This is happening in your own country, This is Relevant to you and your loved ones:

Your rights are at stake 

(Rights implications of the Power Grab Bill will be dealt with in separate post.)

For now, let’s look at other vitally important reasons to read on and share.

• The balance of powers, the delicate balancing act that is democracy is at stake.

• Your access to justice is at stake

• The very independence of the judiciary on which you would rely is at stake.

What are these powers?

Ministers can unilaterally repeal or rewrite law that is either retained EU law or any uk domestic law in areas in which the EU has ever legislated.

What are the consequences of the government having such powers?

They could, for example, scrap the Human Rights Act, any of the Devolution acts, they can create a criminal offence with a prison term up to 2 years. they do all of this without any parliamentary scrutiny or involvement. they do not vote on the use of such powers. I can’t stress this enough:

Parliamentary democracy is materially diminished by these powers.

These powers didn’t have to do such damage to our democracy.

I have watched MPs and Lords make valiant, moving, heartbreaking, attempts to advance amendments that sought to defend human rights, devolution, chid refugees, EU citizens, the independence of the judiciary, and the sovereignty of our parliament.

The government had the chance to include safeguards but stubbornly refusing to place such limits on their powers, all the while claiming they don’t intent to do any of the things they refuse to accept a clear limitation in the bill that they can be held to in the bill. This is a government of double speak.

The balance of powers between the parliament and the executive has fundamentally changed

Oh shit! but that’s a central pillar of a democracy!

Indeed, and gets worse as they move on another of those pillars of democracy; the judiciary. (like every despot does.)

This would effect your likelihood of finding justice. But that’s not all.

This power grab Brexit bill has implications for your access to justice too: Judicial Review

One of the last updates to the bill was simply to add “(Judicial review.)”

Now they can use those delegated powers to make changes to Judicial Review. This is something every citizen should want to defend, it is the best route for justice for an ordinary person.

Liberty - Human rights Organisation Join us today.

👁‍🗨

So all their talk of bolstering democracy is actually guise for downgrading it?

That is literally exactly it.

“One of the ironies of how democracies die is that defence of democracy is often used as a pretext.”

— How Democracies Die by Steven Levitzky & Daniel Ziblatt

Jesus! What else does this power grab Brexit bill do?

• Driving a coach and horses through devolution.

All the parliaments of all the other countries of the UK have voted to say they do not consent to this. 

heir contempt for democracy in their denial od democracy that has been rightly devolved to governments in the other countries that make up the UK

Surely it can’t get worse. Right?

Wrong, I’m sorry to say.

I could hardly believe it when I learnt this.

In the final iteration of the bill, the one that is now the law of this land, they have kept these powers, the ones they claimed they only needed to implement brexit, forever.

F O R E V E R

let that sink in.

Also the bastards have betrayed EU citizens & unaccompanied refugee children. 

(more on this another time)

This shouldn’t even be happening.

The result of the referendum was illegitimate because:

• likely interference of Russia - The reason we don’t for sure is because Johnson (who is rumoured to be compromised by the Russians) has refused to release it so far. 

• The biggest breaches of electoral law in UK history by both Leave campaigns. 

proven beyond reasonable doubt

• Had that vote been binding it would now be void. 

Looking at the power grab made possible by brexit it's hard not to think of this as a modern coup. 

I feel alone with this truth one I know only because I have the time. but in fact, I'm really not alone.

Every human rights organisation has said that we will, we already have, lost rights. 

And now its law societies and democracy watchdogs expressing concern also. But the media never ever talk about it so in the sense of raising awareness, I kind of am.