Nothing to do with us, guv, honest

After some days of deliberation the Canal and River Trust has produced a statement on the Appeal Court decision that went against it, writes Peter Underwood

In it it appears to suggest it did not attempt to persuade the lower courts to ignore the human rights of the boater Matthew Jones and that the Appeal Court judgement said it should reconsider its procedures in relation to human rights.

Here it is in all its glory:

"STATEMENT: CANAL & RIVER TRUST v MATTHEW JONES

The decision on Tuesday 7th March was not about the Canal & River Trust’s internal processes or procedures, or our interpretation of the British Waterways Act 1995. The learned judges also did not criticise the Trust in this or any other enforcement case. Instead, the decision concerned how arguments about the human rights of live-aboard boaters should be considered by the courts. We welcome the clarification provided by the Court, which should provide more certainty to boaters and the Trust in enforcement cases. 

We will continue to work with boaters to find ways of keeping them and their boats on the waterways wherever we reasonably can."