Washminster Reborn

I've not been writing many posts since I retired from lecturing. I enjoyed writing - and appreciated the discipline it imposed upon me to come up with something new - on a regular basis. But I have no students now - and I'm not as engaged at Westminster or in Washington as I once was. My interests have also developed. History has always been a passion for me - an essential when teaching law and politics, particularly in the UK - but of late my interests have focussed on local history - and globally on Roman, Greek and Chinese History.

I had also effectively retired from politics. From 2012 onwards I became increasingly concerned at the ways that politics, and campaigning were developing - particularly in the UK & US.

But 2019 became a key turning point for me. I put my name forward for consideration as a Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate (my previous runs for Westminster had concluded in the first decade of this century) - and was selected as the candidate in Buckingham - a huge (by British standards) constituency, but which I live only a couple of kilometres from.



It was tremendous fun - but also exhausting, and troubling.

Perhaps the time has come to revive Washminster - to comment upon current issues in law and politics, but also to share some of my activities as a retiree.

So tomorrow, the first day of 2020, I intend to start blogging again. Do let me know what you think of the new format and content.

Detroit DTW

One of my favourite airports to fly into the US is DTW (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport) - and I’ve used it a few times. (Flying Birmingham International Airport (easy to get to by train from Northampton (where we lived from 1982-2002), Rugby (2002-9) and Milton Keynes (2009 to date) to Amsterdam then to Detroit and then the final leg into National Airport in Washington DC. ) Sounds complicated, but was much pleasanter than the trips I look via Heathrow direct to Dulles, transport via London & into DC made them a much greater slog - and I found deals which made it cheaper.

Information about DTW can be found at 

  

https://www.detroit-metro-airport.com/

Platform:MK

Since the beginning of this month, I have been a researcher and presenter on the Platform:MK the lunchtime show on Milton Keynes community radio station - Secklow 105.5FM

Listen live here (12.00 to 14.00 Tuesdays [UK Time], Wednesdays & Thursdays) -

http://radioplayerhosting.com/stations/live/1406/index.html

To listen to earlier broadcasts - click here

The Queen's Speech 2017

After the Queen's Speech, each House will adjourn then start a series of debates on the content of the Speech and the legislative programme which the Speech has set out.

The House of Lords debates will involve a short session on Wednesday afternoon, where formal (often amusing) speeches will be made. The serious, in depth debate will begin on the following day, Thursday June 22nd. House of Lords Briefing Papers on each debate can be accessed by clicking on the links underlined for each day.

The robes will have disappeared and Peers will wear their usual working clothes.

Queen's Speech 2017: Day 1 - covering Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs; Defence; International Trade & International Development. (Thursday 22nd June)

Queen's Speech 2017: Day 2 - Business; Economic Affairs; Transport; Energy and the Environment and Agriculture . (Monday 26th June)

Queen's Speech 2017: Day 3 - Home Affairs; Communities & Local Government; Justice; Constitutional Affairs; Devolved Affairs. (Tuesday 27th June)

Queen's Speech 2017: Day 4 - Exiting the European Union (Wednesday 28th June)

Queen's Speech 2017: Day 5 - Education; Health; Welfare; Pensions and Culture. (Thursday 29th June)

The Speakers' list for each day is available for each day at calendar.parliament.uk

What is Obstruction of Justice?

From the Washington Post