Defence of marital coercion used by Vicky Pryce to be abolished – The Guardian

‘The defence of marital coercion, unsuccessfully used by Chris Huhne’s former wife Vicky Pryce at her trial last year, is to be abolished.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Justice for asbestos victims moves forward – Litigation Futures

Posted January 17th, 2014 in asbestos, bills, compensation, industrial injuries, news, personal injuries by sally

‘In early December, I wrote about the new HMRC policy doing nothing but stifle access to justice for asbestos victims. And my opinions on that side of things still hold true.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 15th January 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Prohibiting positive action – clarification, but little practical impact – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 17th, 2014 in bills, diversity, equality, news, recruitment by sally

‘The Equality and Diversity (Reform) Bill is currently making its way through Parliament. The private members’ bill will prohibit the use of affirmative and positive action in recruitment and appointment processes.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th January 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

War Crimes, Annoyance Injunctions, and the Whole Life Tariff Saga – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 14th, 2014 in armed forces, bills, human rights, injunctions, news, sentencing, war crimes by tracey

‘This week, the International Criminal Court has received a dossier detailing the UK’s involvement in abuse in Iraq. Meanwhile, the House of Lords has put up a fight over the so-called “annoyance injunctions”, while the Government has sought to find a solution to the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling on whole life tariffs.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 13th January 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Justice minister supports government plans for mandatory mediation – The Guardian

Posted January 7th, 2014 in arbitration, bills, divorce, news by sally

‘The new justice minister, Simon Hughes, whose departmental responsibilities include family law, has backed government plans to make mediation mandatory for separating couples.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

No rational basis for denying all prisoners the vote, concludes joint Parliamentary Committee – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 19th, 2013 in bills, elections, human rights, news, prisons, reports by tracey

‘The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill today published its report.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th December 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Banking reforms become law after getting Royal Assent – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2013 in banking, bills, crime, financial regulation, news by tracey

‘Reforms to the UK banking sector aimed at making it more resilient after the 2008 financial crisis have become law. The Financial Services Bill was given Royal Assent on Wednesday after being approved by Parliament earlier.’

Full story

BBC News, 19th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoners serving less than a year should be allowed to vote, says Parliamentary committee – The Independent

Posted December 18th, 2013 in bills, elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘Prisoners serving sentences of 12 months or less should be given the vote, the Government is today told by an all-party parliamentary committee.’

Full story

The Independent, 18th December 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Modern slavery white paper published – Home Office

Posted December 16th, 2013 in bills, imprisonment, news, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘A flagship Bill to tackle modern slavery, the first of its kind in Europe, was published today by the Home Secretary Theresa May.’

Full story

Home Office, 16th December 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

‘We tinker with assisted suicide laws at our peril’, warns Baroness Butler-Sloss – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 16th, 2013 in appeals, assisted suicide, bills, human rights, judges, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Baroness Butler-Sloss’s message as Supreme Court considers landmark right-to-die challenge.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government’s Modern Slavery Bill will ‘fail victims and spare criminals’ – The Independent

Posted December 16th, 2013 in bills, consultations, news, police, reports, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘The Government’s Modern Slavery Bill is being rushed through Parliament without proper consultation and will offer almost no help to the victims of the crime, sources close to the process have told The Independent on Sunday.’

Full story

The Independent, 14th December 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Short Cuts – London Review of Books

Posted December 12th, 2013 in bills, charities, elections, lobbying, news by sally

‘The Lobbying Bill – due to complete the Lords committee stage before Christmas – is intended ‘to ensure that people know whose interests are being represented by consultant lobbyists who make representations to government’. Part One provides that lobbyists must disclose the names of their clients four times a year in a public register; there will be a registrar to enforce compliance, and sanctions for non-compliance. This should make ministers more cautious about promoting policies that favour special interests, and should make special interest groups more cautious in their dealings with ministers. Those who want to engage in this type of lobbying, and can afford it, can properly be expected to bear the costs of regulation.’

Full story

London Review of Books, 19th December 2013

Source: www.lrb.co.uk

Same-sex weddings to begin in March – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2013 in bills, Church of England, equality, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

‘The first same-sex weddings in England and Wales will be able to take place from 29 March 2014, Equalities Minister Maria Miller says.’

Full story

BBC News, 10th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judges to rule on ‘right to die’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 9th, 2013 in appeals, assisted suicide, bills, human rights, judiciary, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘A panel of Britain’s most senior judges are preparing to make a landmark ruling over attempts to introduce a ”right to die” under human rights legislation.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government backtracks on mesothelioma reforms but moves to end recoverability – Litigation Futures

‘The government has responded to widespread pressure and scrapped plans to impose an insurance industry-devised mesothelioma pre-action protocol (PAP) and the fixed recoverable costs regime (FRC) that underpinned it.’

Full story

Litigtaiton Futures, 5th December 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Court fees set to soar for commercial litigation – Litigation Futures

Posted December 4th, 2013 in bills, consultations, costs, courts, fees, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Court fees for litigants in commercial money claims could rise from under £3,000 to more than £21,000 under plans by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for a percentage-based fee system.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 4th December 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Prince Charles faces fresh challenge to secret communications with ministers – The Guardian

‘Prince Charles is to face a fresh challenge to his secret communication channel to government ministers when a court is asked to reveal whether he lobbied for an exemption to property laws affecting his £800m estate.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Children and Families Bill 2013 – all change, but is it for the better? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted December 3rd, 2013 in adoption, bills, care orders, children, families, fostering, news, time limits by sally

‘The Children and Families Bill 2013 represents one of the biggest shake-ups of the law relating to family life in years.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 3rd december 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Government to legislate to cap the cost of payday loans – OUT-LAW.com

‘The Government will introduce legislation to cap the cost of payday loans to borrowers, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 27th November 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Ministers defeated in Lords over licences for bankers – BBC News

Posted November 27th, 2013 in banking, bills, codes of practice, financial regulation, licensing, news, parliament, standards by tracey

‘The government has been defeated in the House of Lords over its plans for reforming the banking system. A Labour amendment to the Financial Services Bill, which would introduce a licensing system for senior bankers, was passed by five votes.’

Full story

BBC News, 26th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk