Live webchat with political reformer and barrister Helena Kennedy, Tues 13 April, 1-2pm

[CatherineHMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that Baroness Helena Kennedy will be at Mumsnet Towers for a webchat tomorrow (Tues) between 1 and 2pm.

A champion of civil liberties and promoter of human rights, Kennedy's work as a barrister has seen her acting in some of the most prominent cases of the last 30 years including the Guildford Four appeal and the bombing of the Israeli embassy. She also chaired an inquiry for the Royal College of Pathologists and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health into sudden infant death, in the aftermath of miscarriages of justice where mothers were wrongly convicted of murdering their babies.

Helena is also the founder of www.power2010.org.uka campaign group which aims to empower ordinary members of the general public in helping to ensure that the next Parliament makes a commitment to reform the British political system.

If you have any questions for Helena please join us.

Will think of something and come back.

This is so incredibly exciting! I love love Helena Kennedy!

Excellent. I've seen her speak and she is marvellous.

In case I can't get online at the right time tomorrow: Baroness Kennedy, what do you think about the legal aspects of Labour's manifesto? I'm thinking about libel reform (which gets one line), legal aid (which will be cut), civil liberties vs crime prevention (CCTV, DNA etc), the use of 'virtual courts', new treaty on prosecution of war criminals.

She is one of my utter and total heroines.. I am presently too starstruck to think of anything remotely intelligent to ask, but just want to say 'wooooooooooo!' - she's an amazing inspiration.

Yay!!! Love the woman. She received her honourary degree at my graduation.

Will come back with something more intelligent later on.

Baroness Kennedy, As far as the expenses scandal is concerned, how do you think this will change Parliament? Although Heather Brooke was only using legislation put in place by the Labour government via the FOIA, do you think that the whole story has damaged British democracy in that it has driven a further gulf between an already skeptical/disengaged electorate and politicians?

Oh, and which way do you lean?

How can we get more women judges?

How can we stop the government over reacting to Daily mail type sentiments on sentencing and to keep their noses out of it?

what can be done to improve the conviction rates for rape and other sexual offences?

What is your view on the recent trial of the Heathrow armed robbers without a jury? Is it leading us down a road we will regret?

Do you think the BNP will start to wind down and support will dissipate once economic recovery comes, as the seem to have gained some ground during the economic crisis, or do you think they are a real and present political force to be reckoned with? How does freedom of speech sit within the racist/facsist/misogynistic drivel that is spewed out under the guise of political manifesto? do you think our current legal framework treads the line well enough with allowing all viewpoints to be heard, and protecting people?

thank you

Ah, I was going to ask about conviction rates for rape but TotalChaos beat me to it. Would like Helena's views on this too though please.

The Labour government has introduced dozens of changes to the consitutional and legal system since 1997: abolition of the Lord Chancellorship, introduction of new criminal offences, changes to legal aid funding, creation of the Supreme Court and loads more. Which do you think was their best decision and which their worst?

Oh, and at the risk of sounding like a mad groupie, I'm a great admirer of your work.

Yes, also mad groupie. (and Keir Starmer, but kind of weird to stalk the DPP )

Yes me too re. Keir Starmer. Feels weird to have such a stand-up guy in a position of proper power.

Me three, re KS. I thought that particular crush was a bit too niche random for anyone else to share, but it seems not!

Oh, I love Helena Kennedy. She is exactly who I wanted to be when I grew up.

Oh god, I can only think of trite questions...

Do you support the Labour policy for a fully elected House of Lords? If the Lords becomes fully elected is there a danger it will no longer benefit from the expertise of members like yourself who will be replaced by third rate politicians who have little outside experience beyond local gov and who will doggedly follow a whip?

Is there anything that can be done to preserve the expert nature of the Lords membership while still introducing a democratic element?

Baronness Kennedy, how can we protect minority rights in a democratic society (freedom from discrimination, hate crime etc) whilst holding onto free speech as an absolute principle?

With reference, for example, to the shouting down of the play Bhezti in Birmingham and Dudley council's refusal to stage Moonfleece: the dilemma well expressed by Catherine Bennett in the Observer as follows:

"Now, with the ban on Moonfleece, supporters of Stonewall, which endorsed Straw's extension of hate speech to gay people, will be deploring Dudley council's suppression of a play which questions homophobic behaviour. "These people don't see," Orwell wrote, when he castigated self-censoring intellectuals, "that if you encourage totalitarian methods, the time may come when they will be used against you instead of for you." "

Baronness Kennedy, I would like to know if you have any thoughts to the millions of UK citizens who live abroad and have no voting rights after 15 years.

Why is Britain one of the only countries in Europe that disallows their expat cititzens a voting right?

Baroness Kennedy

To what extent do you think the Crown Prosecution Service has a responsibility for the low conviction rates for Rape/sexual violence? Why are so many cases deemed not worth prosecuting and how can the CPS and the Police (in some cases) be made to take these crimes seriously?

Baronness Kennedy, I have some questions, some rather trivial, others not quite so !

What is your opinion on the Pope and Catholicism in view of all the recent abuse disclosures? Does it affect your own Catholicism?

What is your opinion on recent discourse and discussion around African Aid being futile, and that despite millions in aid being sent there, things have not improved and there is a theme of corrupt governments pocketing cash and buying arms? Is this discourse fair?

What is your opinion on the secrecy of the Family courts?

How do you feel about being labelled a maverick - does it help or hinder you in your work?

What is your opinion on Proportional Representation? Considering that the two main political parties are the ones who will lose most from this system, do you think it is likely that UK will ever adopt PR?