Magna Carta

Lord Howarth of Newport Excerpts

Tuesday 7th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Benjamin]

My Lords—

[Lord Howarth of Newport]

My Lords—

[Noble Lords]

Order!

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord McNally]

Again, I am delighted by the enthusiasm with which the House is approaching this and I shall feed that idea back to Sir Robert.

[Lord Howarth of Newport]

Will the Minister confirm that Clause 29 of Magna Carta, which enshrines the right to due process, remains part of the law of England and Wales, but that it is under attack by the Government? Would it not be seemly if the Government were to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta by withdrawing Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, which removes legal aid from people on low incomes who are in dispute about their benefits entitlement or with their employer or with their landlord? If the Government should be less than gracious about this, will it not still be for the Barons to insist on the ancient constitutional principle that:

“To no man will we sell, or deny, or delay right or justice”?

[Lord McNally]

The noble Lord once again confirms that one should never take that final question.