Monday 15 March 2010
Friday 26 February 2010
Libel Law Reform
Yesterday I emailed my MP about reforming libel laws, here is the response I received this morning.
26th February 2010
Dear Ms Brown,
I understand your concerns on this issue. It is important that those who contribute so much to research and culture in this country do not feel restricted from publishing intellectually challenging and informative articles. Fear of libel action should not curb debate by scientists, academics and journalists. Freedom of expression is the hallmark of a free society, and must be strongly protected.
If libel cases do succeed, the costs are often so crippling to defendants that even large newspapers are in difficulty in resisting some claims. It is evident that Britain has become an attractive place for individuals to bring about speculative libel action since lawyers will often bear the brunt of the costs in exchange for the potential awards available to winning litigants.
I do believe, however, that we must be careful when changing libel law itself. People have the right not to be defamed unless necessary; any changes to this law should not risk this principle. I believe that the burden of proof should remain on individuals who make defamatory claims about other people to justify their assertions about others
You may be aware that the Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP, has recently announced that the Government is currently drawing up plans to alter liable law. Let me assure you that my colleagues on the Shadow Justice Team will continue to press the Government on this issue, to ensure that any changes to the law adequately protect individuals without placing too great a burden on, for example, scientists, academics and journalists.
I have raised this issue with the Home Secretary and will come back to you in due course.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely
The Rt. Hon Douglas Hogg QC MPSleaford & North Hykeham
26th February 2010
Dear Ms Brown,
I understand your concerns on this issue. It is important that those who contribute so much to research and culture in this country do not feel restricted from publishing intellectually challenging and informative articles. Fear of libel action should not curb debate by scientists, academics and journalists. Freedom of expression is the hallmark of a free society, and must be strongly protected.
If libel cases do succeed, the costs are often so crippling to defendants that even large newspapers are in difficulty in resisting some claims. It is evident that Britain has become an attractive place for individuals to bring about speculative libel action since lawyers will often bear the brunt of the costs in exchange for the potential awards available to winning litigants.
I do believe, however, that we must be careful when changing libel law itself. People have the right not to be defamed unless necessary; any changes to this law should not risk this principle. I believe that the burden of proof should remain on individuals who make defamatory claims about other people to justify their assertions about others
You may be aware that the Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP, has recently announced that the Government is currently drawing up plans to alter liable law. Let me assure you that my colleagues on the Shadow Justice Team will continue to press the Government on this issue, to ensure that any changes to the law adequately protect individuals without placing too great a burden on, for example, scientists, academics and journalists.
I have raised this issue with the Home Secretary and will come back to you in due course.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely
The Rt. Hon Douglas Hogg QC MPSleaford & North Hykeham
Friday 8 January 2010
Finlay's 1st Christmas Review
Well we have had a wonderful 1st Christmas with little Finlay. Our first engagement was at Wendy & Gary's house for a pre-Christmas family getogether at the start of December, I think Fin enjoyed being the centre of attention for most of the day!
Christmas Day itself was spent at Nannie & Grandad Brown's house. Fin got enough toys to open his own shop and seemed to enjoy watching his cousins play with theirs too. Scott & I got some great pressies as well including a motorised Lego AT-AT, Harry Potter Blu Ray and a drive in an Aston Martin!
After his lunch he crashed out on the sofa for a little nap!
He spent the evening and Boxing Day playing with all his new things.
On the 27th we went to my mum's in Stockport for a 2nd Christmas where Fin got a ton more pressies including loads of books. We stayed over and the next day he spent the afternoon with granny while Scott and I hit the sales at the Trafford Centre and picked up a few bargains.
Friday 4 December 2009
My 1st Christmas!
Check it out, here's me on my first ever Christmas day sat on Wendy's knee. Made this earlier in the week with the new kit from Designs by Tater - Greatest Time of Year. Get it www.scrapmatters.com
Wednesday 2 December 2009
December Update
Wow, it's been almost a month since I last wrote anything here, and what a month!
In the past few weeks I've been to hospital and had my surgery, now on the final few miles of my road to recovery I hope. Finlay has taken his first trip out of Lincoln and also had his first mild illness, a little tummy bug. We've also been geting ready for Christmas to descend so the office now sports an enormous pile of presents of all shapes and sizes!
The final few weeks of the year are set to be rather hectic too, starting this Friday when my mum is coming to stay. We are hoping to visit the local school's Christmas fair and introduce Finlay to Santa before heading to the huge and historic Lincoln Christmas Market. The next day we're setting off to Stoke for a family get together where Fin will finally meet his Great Aunt Elaine.
The following weekend is the NCT meal with the other parents from our birth classes and their wee ones - all of whom are doing really well as we saw them on Monday at the class reunion. That day is also our nephew Will's 3rd birthday celebration at his house. Just a few days later is the hospital finance department meal which I'm looking forward to as I haven't seen a lot of people for quite some time. I'm especially looking forward to seeing Paul and Rachel as they'll be getting married just a few days before, much to all our shock as they only told everyone this week! Finally that week I'm off to Manchester for Depeche Mode at the MEN Arena on Merran's birthday!
So much to do before Christmas, plus cards to write and presents to wrap! Best not linger too long here then!
In the past few weeks I've been to hospital and had my surgery, now on the final few miles of my road to recovery I hope. Finlay has taken his first trip out of Lincoln and also had his first mild illness, a little tummy bug. We've also been geting ready for Christmas to descend so the office now sports an enormous pile of presents of all shapes and sizes!
The final few weeks of the year are set to be rather hectic too, starting this Friday when my mum is coming to stay. We are hoping to visit the local school's Christmas fair and introduce Finlay to Santa before heading to the huge and historic Lincoln Christmas Market. The next day we're setting off to Stoke for a family get together where Fin will finally meet his Great Aunt Elaine.
The following weekend is the NCT meal with the other parents from our birth classes and their wee ones - all of whom are doing really well as we saw them on Monday at the class reunion. That day is also our nephew Will's 3rd birthday celebration at his house. Just a few days later is the hospital finance department meal which I'm looking forward to as I haven't seen a lot of people for quite some time. I'm especially looking forward to seeing Paul and Rachel as they'll be getting married just a few days before, much to all our shock as they only told everyone this week! Finally that week I'm off to Manchester for Depeche Mode at the MEN Arena on Merran's birthday!
So much to do before Christmas, plus cards to write and presents to wrap! Best not linger too long here then!
Friday 6 November 2009
My DSD Layouts
Digital Scrapbook Day is almost here and my designers have been getting busy releasing two amazing Grab Bags over at http://www.scrapmatters.com/. Somehow I've also managed to squeeze in some time to work with these great products, inbetween hospital appointments and dealing with a rather unhappy baby with an upset tummy!
In case the secret isn't out yet, a few days after accepting my place on MickeyB's Design Team, I was also asked to join the first ever creative team for Designs by Tater. Obviously I immediately accepted and took my place amongst the Tater Tots!
So, onto my DSD layouts. Here's my page using the new kit from Designs by Tater. You can snag it here: http://scrapmatters.com/shop/product.php?productid=2938&cat=0&page=1 and check out some more great layouts by the rest of the Tater Tots here: http://taterscraps.blogspot.com/
In case the secret isn't out yet, a few days after accepting my place on MickeyB's Design Team, I was also asked to join the first ever creative team for Designs by Tater. Obviously I immediately accepted and took my place amongst the Tater Tots!
So, onto my DSD layouts. Here's my page using the new kit from Designs by Tater. You can snag it here: http://scrapmatters.com/shop/product.php?productid=2938&cat=0&page=1 and check out some more great layouts by the rest of the Tater Tots here: http://taterscraps.blogspot.com/
MickeyB has teamed up with Man in the Moon Designs to produce her great Grab Bag. You can snag it here: http://scrapmatters.com/shop/product.php?productid=2897&cat=0&page=1 and see lots of layouts using it here: http://mickeybdesigns.blogspot.com/ and also here: http://maninthemoondesigns.blogspot.com/ where Rochelle is giving away a little coordinating freebie.
Ok, time for a few more layouts from me, here are two using Designs by Tater products. First up uses Boogity Boo:
And here is one using Expectant Moments:
Remember as it's Digital Scrapbooking Day tomorrow, Scrap Matters is having a huge sale so everything is at bargain prices! Also remember that I'm a creative team member and receive all these products for free.
Before I go, I just need to give a shout out to Sahlin Studio (who I don't design for.) She just launched her new kit Innovation at http://www.thedigichick.com/ and she has an amazing EPCOT themed freebie on her blog - go grab it!
Tuesday 3 November 2009
Digital Scrapbooking Day
This weekend is Digital Scrapbooking Day and I'm working hard on some layouts for my creative teams for this Friday's new releases. Can't wait to see them up in the shop and on the designer's blogs.
For now, here's a layout I did recently for MickeyB using the Caribbean Wedding kit - remember I'm one of her creative team so I kindly got her kit for free. That's probably the last time I'll be wearing a bikini in public, I think my pregnancy may have put a stop to all that!!!
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