Just off the phone with legal counsel with respect to the #PeoplesAS30. I will publish details for public access. There will be a hearing this Friday on the expedition of the case moving forward before Lord Malcolm. Then it's off to the Inner House.
It's very likely to be the First Division (Lord President Carloway presiding) on the basis of the matters under discussion rather than the extra division (Lord President not presiding). This will be along with 2 other Judges.
The aim here is to expedite the case to leave enough time to take it to the supreme court if that becomes necessary, before the May elections.
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All the Adv Generals counsel has done today by trying to character assassinate me in open court (by taking tweets out of context) is make me more determined to push for independence. One more reason being to get rid of the Office of Advocate General from Scotland. Permenantly.
For the record by the way, the RT interview, was scathing of the Advocate Generals waste of public money. He read one half of the conversation and simply said that I opined on the UK Government. Of course he wouldn't want to read that in open court. Because it gave context....
....and it also called out the office of the advocate general for wasting taxpayers money.
Mr. Webster now quoting my tweet on @joannaccherry opining that Wightman and Cherry were lost in the outer house and then won on appeal.
I assume Mr. Websters intention here is to try and make out that the intention was to proceed regardless of resources.
Which is just patently ridiculous. A few tweets about rallying the troops, he seems to be saying that I should add the caveat of "resources" dependent on the..
Mr Webster for the UK Government is arguing that because the backers of the case have donated, this is proof that I have substantive means. I think it is pretty clear that the UK Government are going hell for leather to try and bankrupt me.
He is using tweets in order to justify his submission. I do, however note that previously, the Lord Advocates counsel has stated that comments of politicians should not be taken to be anything more than rhetoric. Different rules for the common man vs politicians!
Now he is referring to tweets from back in December.
Mr O'neill QC arguing clearly that a protected expenses order is not just a protection for access to justice, but also caps liability for the respective governments (taxpayers money) therefore exercising sensible fudiaciary responsibility.
Whereas a loss by the UK Government would result in hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money in fees. It is therefore sensible for the pursuer and sensible for the taxpayer's money.
Which actually begs the question why the UK Government is opposing it and the only answer to that can be that they wish to send a message that they have access to unlimited funds from the taxpayer and will use it to prevent access to justice...
Without taking a side in anything to do with the NS/AS situation, and concentrating on the committee for a minute. I am more than a bit 'bewildered' by George Adams comments to the press. The primary function of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is to deal....
....with all things to do with the effective operation of the Scottish Parliament. That includes rendering opinions (usually with advice from their legal counsel) on whether or not something is intra or ultra vires (lawful or unlawful).
The SPCB didn't demand that the Committee on harassment release anything. It's their function to simply advise, and I have read the response from the presiding officer to the committee. All the SPCB said was that it was legally possible for the information to be released.
Surprise Surprise Surprise - The Lord Advocate and the Advocate General of the UK opposing a protected expenses order yet again in the #peoplesas30. Just to be clear - such an order would limit expenses in the case to 30K. PROTECTING TAXPAYERS MONEY.
This is not the exercise of fiduciary responsibility! It is agents working for the government blatantly and unashamedly flexing its muscles and saying "we can do what we like, we've got an unlimited tax base to draw from!" and then using that tax base to try and deprive...
...the electorate from being able to ask reasonable questions of law so they are fully informed going into a national election! It is obscene and I am no longer holding my tongue about it.