Help us choose a winner - The Churchill Awards

How about Michael Mansfield, Q C?
I hadn't realised he was old enough, but he was born in 1941.
He always fights in the courts for the underdog, and for legal aid.
He was barrister for the Lawrence family for years; probably still is.

Can a QC be said to be in politics? I wouldn't have thought so. The Courts are independent of any politics.

And, with due respect, the Stephen Lawrence case was hardly last year.

And the fact that he wants to chair the Child abuse investigation could muddy the waters.

#Efanu.

This year, jingle.

www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/events/cjl-2014

He's very political and there's nothing the establishment can do about him.

'The Second Annual Criminal Justice Lecture was officially sponsored by the Daily Mail and the TUC.'

Strange bedfellows!

Right. So nothing really to do with Stephen. Just general working for criminal justice.

Fine, if you have no faith in the UK's excellent justice system.

So cynical.

For those who haven't read it, these are the pertinent paragraphs.

Speaking at the Stephen Lawrence Second Annual Criminal Justice Lecture, Michael Mansfield QC said:
“Following in the wake of cash for questions, cash for special access, the expenses scandal, the constant influence of private vested interests, the Leveson and Chilcot Inquiry revelations and the Snowden files, this latest exposure of the secret state demonstrates the ultimate unaccountable face of our threadbare democratic system. There is a real disenchantment about the state of the nation”.

The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, set up in 1998, is fully committed to help secure better and more equal criminal justice in the UK.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon OBE commented:
‘I am pleased that Michael Mansfield QC agreed to deliver this year’s criminal justice lecture. The title of this year’s lecture is appropriate considering the revelation in media coverage on undercover policing and behaviour of some police officers. I think the audience appreciated having someone like Mr Mansfield QC who has great understanding of the law giving his insight and hopefully some solutions to the debate’.

The Second Annual Criminal Justice Lecture was officially sponsored by the Daily Mail and the TUC.

Stephen's mother had no faith in the criminal justice system, which is one reason the trust was set up.

As a by the by, which of the nominations on here do you think would show Gransnet up in a good light? And at the same time shed light on a worthwhile subject?

You have to take all aspects into consideration.

Not cynical at all. That Trust was originally set up under the Stephen Lawrence name, but now it has become more about criminal justice in general. And what is that to the majority of Grandparents?

I think all the nominations so far will show gransnet up in a good light.
Cari does not say how many she can put before the judging panel.

So are you saying that criminal justice is not important to the majority of grandparents? You would not say that if it was your grandson who was not getting justice because there was no way he could be supported in court because of the changes in the legal aid system.
Imagine discovering that your grandson's father was an undercover policeman and you really thought he was someone else all these years.
The Trust was set up because Stephen Lawrence did not get justice all those years ago. His mother is now in the House of Lords because she has fought for justice for her son all this time. I would not like to belittle that.

I think I have had this wrong. I thought we had to choose one nominee.
Totally so will get off the thread.

I just hope you, jendurham,are not suggesting that I am"belittling" anything to do with the Stephen Lawrence case. I have started threads on here in the past and met no response. I have every sympathy and respect for Mrs Lawrence.

"That Trust was originally set up under the Stephen Lawrence name, but now it has become more about criminal justice in general. And what is that to the majority of Grandparents?"

Your words, jingle. Perhaps you can explain what you did mean.

I meant exactly what I said. It's clear enough. Can't see any need for further explanation.

So you think that the majority of grandparents do not care about criminal justice?

Put it this way. It is probably not uppermost in their minds. Of course anyone would be distressed at injustice in the Courts, or anywhere. But it doesn't figure in most people's daily lives.

The many threads on GN do indicate that many on here care strongly about fgm. Don't you?

Anyway, no point in arguing it out if all the nominations are going to be put forward anyway.

Perhaps the occasional bit of guidance from HQ would be helpful. By if they can't be bothered, then why should we?

It's only advertising rubbish anyway.

I've got a chocolate cake to partake of now.

This 'award' is a load of shite!

Is there a monetary element to it, like the Nobel Prize?

If the late FGM lady wins will there be a donation to an appropriate charity?

Jings and Jen I'm truly surprised that you two, in particular, are getting into a spat over a prize given out by property developers!!

And one for GNHQ - you are using a pic of Winston Churchill to promote this illustrious award - does his family have anything to do with it?

Riverwalk You're quite right. I should have looked at the links provided in the OP. Like most of these awards, it's just a means of raising the profile of the sponsor.

It seems from what I've heard that retirement developments end up being bad value for money and very difficult to sell on.

I agree with you that nobody should waste their time and energy getting into a spat about it.

River walk

We don't see eye to eye on many subjects but I totally agree with your post.

I just want Efanu to get an award. What's wrong with that? Sod who's giving it out.

The Telegraph are in on it. So it will get some publicity.

You can't please all of the people all of the time.....

#butCariwishesshecould