Commanding Humour

Lawyers are meeting the increasing hysteria over the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 in October with a healthy dose of humour.

Stephen Grosz, a partner at leading civil liberties law firm Bindman & Partners, has produced a spoof report on the Ten Commandments Act 1998, which he says is set to overshadow its companion legislation.

'Trade unions have hailed the new rights on the sabbath, which they see as an important addition to the Working Time Regulations,' he writes.

'Animal rights campaigners intend to mount early challenges based on the new laws against coveting...

Parents' groups intend to test the limits of the controversial "honouring" provisions of the Act.' Under the slogan 'New Labour - Old Testament', the government is to emphasise the traditional values the Act embodies, although Cherie Booth QC has formed a new set of chambers, known as Exodus, to take advantage of the Act.

Litigation is set to come thick and fast, Mr Grosz warns: leading human rights lawyer Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC is representing graven image makers who are petitioning the European Court of Human Rights about the destruction of their industry without compensation.

Michael Howard et al are not, we assume, amused.