Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill Reference by the Attorney General for England and Wales – Supreme Court
Supreme Court, 9th July 2014
Category: bills
New judicial review test “risks undermining rule of law”, peers warn – Litigation Futures
‘The government’s plan to introduce a stricter test on judicial review outcomes “risks undermining the rule of law”, the House of Lords constitution committee has warned.’
Litigation Futures, 7th July 2014
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Ministers push for new legislation to track phone usage – The Guardian
‘Ministers are poised to pass emergency laws to require phone companies to log records of phone calls, texts and internet usage, but Labour and Liberal Democrats are warning that they will not allow any new law to become a backdoor route to reinstating a wider “snooper’s charter”.’
The Guardian, 6th July 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Serious Crime Bill: “Cinderella clause” and “Paedophile Manual” – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
‘Here is a summary of the various minor provisions of the Serious Crime Bill. This is partly a tinkering exercise, but creates two new offences that are far from uncontroversial.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd July 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
You cannot be serious! Peers call ‘out’ on Government’s judicial review reforms – UK Human Rights Blog
‘Last night saw the House of Lords’ first reaction to the Government’s proposed changes to judicial review as the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill had its second reading. Already dissected at some length in this blog, the proposals have been roundly criticised by both the senior judiciary and the Joint Committee on Human Rights. Consultations responses, including from JUSTICE, expressed concern that the measures appear, by design or coincidence, to undermine the rule of law, inhibit transparency and shield the Government from judicial scrutiny. Two key concerns arise from the Government proposals: restricting access for individuals without substantial means and limiting the courts’ discretion to do justice in the public interest. Yesterday’s debate was robust and eloquent, with former Law Lords joined by bishops and backbenchers alike to condemn the new measures.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 1st July 2014
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Top judges raise concern over plan to restrict judicial review challenges – The Guardian
‘Restrictions on judicial review challenges may be motivated more by a desire to avoid political embarrassment than the need to save money, a senior judge has suggested.’
The Guardian, 25th June 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
English landlords will not need to re-comply with tenancy deposit requirements when tenancy ‘rolls over’ – OUT-LAW.com
‘English landlords that secured deposits from fixed-term tenants would not have to re-comply with the deposit protection rules if that tenancy later ‘rolls over’ to become a statutory periodic tenancy or if the landlord enters into a new tenancy with the same tenant for the same premises, the UK government has proposed.’
OUT-LAW.com, 20th June 2014
Source: www.out-law.com
New taxi rules undermine safety, warn campaigners – The Independent
‘Ministers have been accused of undermining women’s safety by weakening the regulation of private-hire taxi drivers.’
The Independent, 22nd June 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Plans to relax licensing laws lambasted by doctors and alcohol groups – The Guardian
‘Ministers are under fire because of plans to let the Women’s Institute, bed and breakfasts and charities start selling alcohol, which doctors and local councils warn could worsen Britain’s drink problem.’
The Guardian, 23rd June 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
FGM law expanded to cover foreign nationals habitually resident in UK – The Guardian
‘The law criminalising female genital mutilation is to be strengthened so the ban can be enforced against foreign nationals deemed to be “habitually resident” in the UK.’
The Guardian, 4th June 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Slavery victims in Britain to be eligible for reparations from traffickers – The Guardian
‘Victims of “modern slavery” are to become eligible for compensation and reparations from their traffickers, in recognition of the exploitation and loss of dignity they have suffered, the home secretary, Theresa May, is to announce.’
The Guardian, 4th June 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Landlords face prosecution over criminal tenants – Daily Telegraph
‘New offence to be announced in the Queen’s Speech will make it an offence to turn a blind eye to criminal behaviour on your property – with a punishment of up to five years in jail.’
Daily Telegraph, 3rd June 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Laws to protect elderly from abuse left out of Queen’s Speech – Daily Telegraph
‘New legislation designed to protect the elderly from abusive carers will no longer be included in next week’s Queen’s Speech.’
Daily Telegraph, 3rd June 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Alexander Horne and Oonagh Gay: Ending the Hamilton Affair? – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘Article 9 of the Bill of Rights 1689 has been the subject of a variety of legal challenges. The Article, which provides (in modern parlance) that: “the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament” is usually considered to be a fundamental feature of the constitution and a cornerstone of parliamentary privilege.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 21st May 2014
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
Prisoners who have absconded should not be in open prisons, says Grayling – The Guardian
‘The justice secretary is to prevent prisoners who have absconded from being placed in open prison conditions after a convicted murderer went on the run for the third time.’
The Guardian, 19th May 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Letting agents ‘will have to publish their fees in full’ – BBC News
‘The government has said letting agents in England face a new obligation to display full details of their fees both on their websites and in their offices.’
BBC News, 14th May 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Giving the green light to (minor) unlawfulness – Hardwicke Chambers
‘Some big news for public bodies: it’s now alright to act unlawfully. Don’t get too excited though, there’s a catch: it’s only alright to act a little bit unlawfully. Sounds silly? I agree. But depressingly this is soon likely to be law as a result of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill currently working its way through the House of Commons.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 8th April 2014
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
High Speed 2, Hybrid Bills and Environmental Impact Assessment – Thirty Nine Essex Street
‘This paper considers the hybrid bill process, as occasionally used to promote major infrastructure projects, and how this interacts with the Environmental Impact Assessment regime. In particular it deals with the current High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill, which is seeking powers to build and operate Phase I of the High Speed 2 railway (“the HS2 Bill”).’
Thirty Nine Essex Street, May 2014
Source: www.39essex.com
Plan for Europe’s biggest children’s prison ‘would put young offenders at increased risk of harm or death’ – The Independent
‘Controversial plans to build Europe’s biggest children’s prison in the Midlands would put young offenders at increased risk of harm and even death, campaigners warned last night.’
The Independent, 11th May 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Police killers will face ‘life means life’ sentence – Daily Telegraph
‘The sentence for criminals who kill a police officer will be increased to the toughest “life means life” tariff under new reforms tabled by the Government.’
Daily Telegraph, 7th May 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
