Checking the Apple legalese [1] [2] it seems that we can "choose" between Apple One Year Limited Warranty and consumer law [3] which happens to be 6 (England and Wales) or 5 (Scotland) years. Can anyone clarify that for me please? My screen is flickering on certain gradient backgrounds but my 1 year warranty was over before I noticed it.
Reading your first two links makes it seem like you get both, given that your statutory rights aren't affected by Apple's own warranty, so for the coverage for the first or 3 years you can get anything solved via AppleCare, and for the remaining 2 or 3 you'd be making the claim to Apple (if you bought it via their stores or their website) as part of your statutory rights.
In Australia a manufacturer's warranty cannot override your statutory rights. The warranty rights are useful if they are better than your statutory rights though.
Apple can't deny consumer law, so no. In countries like Norway (5 years "right of complaint" for electronics where the manufacturer is obligated to either repair or provide an equivalent product, new or refurbished), Apple has to oblige the consumer, by law.