Month: April 2013
Two men guilty of terror charges – BBC News
“Two men from Birmingham have pleaded guilty to being part of a terrorist cell whose leaders were planning a suicide bomb attack in the UK.”
BBC News, 10th April 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Stamp duty land tax sub-sale relief scheme failed because a novation was not a transfer of rights, according to Tribunal – OUT-LAW.com
A scheme to avoid stamp duty land tax (SDLT) on the purchase of a London house, involving a novation of a contract, failed because SDLT sub-sale relief was only available where there was a transfer of rights and a novation was not a transfer of rights, according to a decision of the First Tier Tax Tribunal.
OUT-LAW.com, 10th April 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
MoJ unveils tendering plans for criminal defence – Law Society’s Gazette
“Defendants will lose the right to choose their lawyer and instead be allocated a representative, under government plans to introduce price-competitive tendering (PCT) for criminal defence services.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 9th April 2013
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
London Metropolitan University continues legal fight over foreign students – Daily Telegraph
“A university which was stripped of its licence to bring overseas students into Britain is refusing to drop a legal challenge against Theresa May, the Home Secretary, even though its ability to sponsor foreigners was restored yesterday.”
Daily Telegraph, 9th April 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
The Daily Telegraph have recently introduced a limited paywall. Users will be permitted to view 20 Daily Telegraph articles per month for free, after which they will need to pay a subscription fee to access content.
Law Society president on legal aid change – BBC News
“The government has proposed cutting legal aid for prisoners, newly-arrived immigrants and people with incomes of more £37,500 to reduce the overall bill.”
BBC News, 9th April 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Margaret Thatcher and the Constitution – UK Human Rights Blog
“The consequences of Margaret Thatcher’s administration have been long lasting. In many areas of national life Thatcher took the British Bulldog by the scruff of the neck and house-trained it. In the context of the constitution her impact was no less significant.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 10th April 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Making legal aid fairer for taxpayers – Ministry of Justice
“Plans to boost public confidence in the legal aid system and tackle towering bills have today been put out to consultation by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling.”
Ministry of Justice, 9th April 2013
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Wealthy defendants to be denied legal aid in fresh cuts – The Guardian
“Wealthy criminal defendants with disposable incomes of more than £37,500 a year will no longer automatically be entitled to legal aid under a further round of cuts unveiled by the Ministry of Justice.”
The Guardian, 9th April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Marine fined £300 for wearing dress uniform and medals to which he was not entitled at family wedding – The Independent
“A Royal Marine corporal who wore the uniform of a sergeant and medals he was not entitled to at a family wedding to ‘big it up and impress his family’ was fined £300 today.”
The Independent, 9th April 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Convicted rapist was unlawfully detained, ECHR rules – The Guardian
“A convicted rapist should be compensated after being unlawfully detained for two and a half years while awaiting deportation, the European court of human rights (ECHR) has ruled.”
The Guardian, 9th April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Renting Homes in Wales – Law Commission
“In a report published today the Law Commission recommends reforms to the legal framework governing rented housing in Wales. The existing law is complex and inflexible. There are many different types of tenancy, and local authorities, social landlords, such as housing associations, and private landlords all have different forms of agreement with their tenants.”
Law Commission, 9th April 2013
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Chris Grayling: criminals should be made to pay their legal costs – The Guardian
“Convicted criminals should be made to pay for their own legal defence costs, the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, will announce on Tuesday.”
The Guardian, 9th April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Human rights have disappeared from ‘Working Together’ – UK Human Rights Blog
“‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ is the lead piece of statutory guidance on… well, working together to safeguard children. Originally published in 1999, a new edition was published in 2006 following the changes brought about following the death of Victoria Climbié. And the next edition in 2010 incorporated recommendations of the second Laming Report which followed the death of Baby P. It had grown longer over time, as we all learned lessons from Haringey; but its growing length was causing concern.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 9th April 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Philpott – why wasn’t it murder and when will he be free? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“1.3 million people tuned into Channel 5 when the schedule was changed at 9pm on 3 April 2013 to show a documentary examining the high-profile Philpott story, featuring new material about the tragic event and subsequent trial.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 8th April 2013
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Do your bit for legal fairness – The Lawyer
“As legal aid declines, there are a number of different ways lawyers can help to fill the gap.”
The Lawyer, 8th April 2013
Source: www.thelawyer.com
“More open, more transparent, and more powerful”: communications at the Supreme Court – UK Human Rights Blog
“Max Hastings greeted the new Supreme Court with the prediction that it was a ‘constitutional disaster in the making.’ For Hastings this was Blair’s Court, Blair’s legacy; its creation just one more example of Labour’s wrecking of ancient British institutions. Of course, there was also positive coverage in the early days in papers like the Guardian and Times, but ideally the Court needed to get its own message about itself. How has it gone about doing this? And what has it been saying? What challenges has it faced in its first three years?”
UK Human Rights Blog, 8th April 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Kelvin MacKenzie’s Daily Mail column sparks £200,000 libel claim – The Guardian
“Kelvin MacKenzie faces more woes after being dropped by the Telegraph as it emerged that his column in the Daily Mail has become the subject of a £200,000 libel case.”
The Guardian, 8th April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
