Sometimes you really do wonder if Labour’s wide-eyed Euro supporters realise just how tightly they have tied their own hands. Take Jack Straw, proposing new “emergency legislation” to allow anonymous witnesses in trials. No one seems to have mentioned the European Convention on Human Rights, which is senior to English law since our gullible MPs incorporated it in the 1998 Human Rights Act. In doing so, they handed to Strasbourg the right to decide what was a “fair trial”.
Straw is understandably furious about the £6m murder case collapsing when the Law Lords said anonymous witnesses were inadmissible. As The Times pointed out, dozens more cases are now at risk. But even if Straw changes those English laws, he will be unable to change the ECHR which has plenty to say on the subject of anonymous witnesses.
The test
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in