Brexit: EU launches legal action against UK for breaching withdrawal agreement – The Guardian

‘The EU has launched legal action against the UK after Boris Johnson failed to respond to Brussels’ demand that he drop legislation that would overwrite the withdrawal agreement and break international law.’

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The Guardian, 1st October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Uighurs could be allowed to seek genocide ruling against China in UK – The Guardian

‘Uighurs and other Muslim minorities would be given the right to petition a UK high court judge to declare that genocide is taking place in China, requiring the UK government to curtail trade ties with Beijing, under proposals brought by MPs and peers.’

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The Guardian, 29th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coalition calls for new laws to end sewage discharges into UK waters – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2020 in bills, environmental protection, news, pollution, statistics, waste, water, water companies by sally

‘A coalition of river and sea organisations is calling for targets for water companies to reduce sewage discharges to be included in the upcoming environment bill.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ronan Cormacain: The United Kingdom Internal Market Bill and Breach of Domestic Law – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Huge controversy has already been generated over provisions in the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill granting Ministers the power to disapply the Withdrawal Agreement. Most of the debate (Elliott, Armstrong) has been focused on the potential breaches of international law. This could severely damage the reputation of the United Kingdom in the world. However, what has been relatively overlooked is that this Bill is also a flagrant attack on the Rule of Law at the UK domestic level. This remains the case even if amendments proposed by Sir Bob Neill MP (and apparently accepted by the Government) pass.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 23rd September 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Bethany Shiner and Tanzil Chowdhury: The Overseas Operation (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill and Impunity of the British State – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘The Overseas Operation (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons in March 2020 and is due its second reading on 23 September 2020. In short, the Bill aims to limit prosecution and civil proceedings against military personnel, as well as to enable the UK government to derogate from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) during combat operations. The Bill emerges in response to what numerous Defence Secretaries have referred to as the “judicialisation of war”, a term which has been used to resist the application of the ECHR to overseas military combat operations. Despite the Bill being described as a way to protect soldiers from the “industry” of “vexatious claims” and preserve the ability of combat forces to fight wars effectively, there is every suggestion that this is really about precluding, or at least severely limiting, the accountability of the British state in its overseas military deployments.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd September 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

UK set to introduce bill allowing MI5 agents to break the law – The Guardian

Posted September 24th, 2020 in bills, human rights, intelligence services, murder, news, terrorism, torture by sally

‘A bill allowing confidential informants working for MI5 and the police to break the law will be introduced on Thursday amid a row about whether committing crimes such as murder and torture should be explicitly banned.’

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The Guardian, 24th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Changes to gender recognition laws ruled out – BBC News

‘Ministers have ruled out changes to make it easier for transgender people in England and Wales to have their gender legally recognised.’

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BBC News, 22nd September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EP 125: Transition towards Brexit in December 2020 – Law Pod UK

Posted September 21st, 2020 in bills, brexit, news, podcasts by sally

‘Professor Catherine Barnard discusses the difficulties to be overcome in the negotiations and the challenges presented by border issues as Parliament debates the Internal Market Bill.’

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Law Pod UK, 21st September 2020

Source: audioboom.com

Terrorist prisoners hit record high in British jails amid warnings of radicalisation – The Independent

Posted September 18th, 2020 in bills, Ministry of Justice, news, prison officers, prisons, recidivists, statistics, terrorism by sally

‘A record number of terrorists are being held in British prisons, new figures show amid warnings over radicalisation inside “chaotic” jails. Statistics released by the Home Office on Thursday indicate there were 243 people in custody for terror-related offences, up 24 on the previous year.’

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The Independent, 17th September 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Crossbows: What are the UK’s laws on weapons after man shot in London? – The Independent

‘The shooting of a man with a crossbow in London has sparked fresh questions over the lack of restrictions on such weapons in the UK.’

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The Independent, 15th September 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Brexit: barristers question selection of legal team leading UK drive to override deal – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2020 in attorney general, barristers, bills, brexit, EC law, government departments, news by michael

‘The government is facing increasing scrutiny over its decision to use “committed Brexiteer” lawyers to provide advice on the legality of breaching the EU withdrawal agreement.’

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The Guardian, 15th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Kenneth Armstrong: Can the UK Breach the Withdrawal Agreement and Get Away With It? – the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Can the UK Breach the Withdrawal Agreement and Get Away With It? – the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 9th September 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Senior government lawyer quits over Brexit plans – BBC News

‘The government’s most senior lawyer is to quit his post over plans which could modify the Brexit withdrawal agreement.’

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BBC News, 8th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Helen McCourt’s mother ordered to pay killer £40,000 legal fees – BBC News

Posted September 8th, 2020 in bereavement, bills, burials and cremation, costs, murder, news, parole by sally

‘A murdered woman’s mother has been told to pay her daughter’s killer £40,000 in legal fees.’

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BBC News, 7th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK sets out law to curb illegal deforestation and protect rainforests – The Guardian

Posted August 25th, 2020 in bills, environmental protection, news, trees by sally

‘The government has announced plans to introduce a new law to clamp down on illegal deforestation and protect rainforests by cleaning up the UK’s supply chains.’

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The Guardian, 25th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prosecution strategies in AR cases (1) – Counsel

‘A two-part series from Laura Hoyano and John Riley modelling investigation and prosecution strategies in cases of abusive relationship offending. Part one of this worked case example shows the typical challenges, tactics to surmount them, and the need for innovative thinking.’

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Counsel, August 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Christopher McCorkindale, Aileen McHarg and Tom Mullen: The Continuity Bill is Dead; Long Live the Continuity Bill – Regulatory Alignment and Divergence in Scotland Post-Brexit – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted July 30th, 2020 in bills, brexit, devolution, EC law, news, Scotland by sally

‘Readers of this blog will be aware of the dispute between the Scottish and UK Governments over who should legislate in areas hitherto covered by EU law after Brexit (or more accurately after the end of the post-withdrawal Implementation Period). That dispute saw the Scottish Parliament enact its own Continuity Bill intended as an alternative to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA). That Bill – the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill (the “first Continuity Bill”) (discussed here and here) – was subsequently referred to the Supreme Court and held to be outwith devolved competence so far as it conflicted with the EUWA (discussed here). Although some provisions of the Bill survived the Supreme Court reference, the Scottish Government decided not to proceed with Bill, but undertook to bring back the remaining provisions on a future occasion.’

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UK Constitutional Law Associations, 30th July 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Judges urged to quash Helen McCourt killer’s parole – BBC News

‘The mother of a 22-year-old insurance clerk murdered in 1988 has asked judges to quash a Parole Board decision to release her daughter’s killer.’

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BBC News, 29th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family courts carry out ‘state sanctioned abuse’ of domestic abuse survivors by letting perpetrators see children, commissioner warns – The Independent

‘Family courts are responsible for “state-sanctioned abuse” of domestic abuse victims as they allow violent parents to torment their ex-partners through the legal process, London’s victims commissioner has warned.’

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The Independent, 22nd July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Could This Emergency Law Prevent Thousands Becoming Homeless? – Each Other

Posted July 21st, 2020 in bills, coronavirus, housing, news, repossession by sally

‘Housing campaigners are urging the government to introduce emergency legislation to protect tens of thousands of private renters at risk of being made homeless.’

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Each Other, 20th July 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk