Ronald Biggs has been released, then, Jack Straw having decided he could now be released on compassionate grounds, rather than on parole, which he earlier refused. Straw's statement explains the new decision in terms of the different criteria he had to take account of in relation to the two issues. Still, my feeling is that for the law to be respected it must be inexorable: I'd have made Biggs repay every moment of his debt of time, even if (since he's in a hospital, not in prison) only symbolically.Perhaps I'm the only one who'd have applauded Jack Straw had he taken that hard line.

Lord Lester, writing in the Guardian today, explains why he resigned as the government’s independent adviser on constitutional change. I have some sympathy for Lord Lester – he had the experience (that many civil servants have had) of finding […]

You hardly mention Lord Lester for ages, then suddenly two posts about him come in the same week. He resigned the other day as the government’s adviser on constitutional stuff, which news gives me another chance to kick […]

Both the Guardian and the Telegraph have reported this week that the government’s plans for a “Bill of Rights and Responsibilities” is facing a Cabinet revolt, led by Jacqui Smith. I’m not at all surprised that it’s running […]