Despite Michael Howard's reported U-turn, peers have once again thrown out Big Blunkett's discredited Criminal "Justice" Bill. They were particularly concerned by Blunkett's plans to restrict the right to trial by jury, to allow people to be tried twice for the same crime and to allow evidence of "bad character" (i.e. gossip) to be used in trials.

Today is the last day of the parliamentary session, so if the Lords continue to stand up for civil liberties the whole Bill could be lost. The only way for it now to pass would appear to be significant concessions by the Government, a move that would further undermine Blunkett's position.

Cross-posted from The Chestnut Tree Cafe