Putting the cart before the horse? The Arbitration and Media Services (Equality) Bill

As Baroness Cox’s Arbitration and Media Services (Equality) Bill was recently given a second reading in the House of Lords, Sharia law, and, in particular, the role of Sharia councils, have once again been thrust into the spotlight. The Bill which was first introduced into the House of Lords as a Private Member’s Bill in 2011 (timing out prior to reaching committee stage) and subsequently re-introduced in 2013, is now on its third, well-documented, attempted passage through the House. The timing of the Bill on this occasion appears to coincide with a growing political hostility towards Sharia law or, indeed, any ‘cultural practices that run directly counter to [British values]’ (David Cameron, Extremism Speech, 15th July 2015). In this environment, it has been suggested that it may now be ‘third time lucky’ for Baroness Cox.