Raising the standard – or a missed opportunity? – Local Government Lawyer

‘Matt Lewin reflects on the Government’s consultation on reforms to the standards and conduct framework.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer , 14th March 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law Commission seeks views on the law relating to friendly societies – Law Commission

Posted March 17th, 2025 in consultations, financial regulation, insurance, Law Commission, news by tracey

‘Today the Law Commission published a consultation paper on friendly societies as part of a review of the current law in this area.’

Full Story

Law Commission, 12th March 2025

Source: lawcom.gov.uk

Sentencing body defends changes after ‘two-tier’ row – BBC News

‘The body advising judges on criminal sentences has hit back at the justice secretary’s call for it to scrap new guidance on sentencing offenders from ethnic monitories.’

Full Story

BBC News, 10th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Justice secretary set for showdown with judges over sentencing guidelines – The Independent

‘Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood is set for a confrontation with the Sentencing Council later this week after they wrote to her warning her against “dictating” to judges over new measures which she fears will create a “two tier” legal system.’

Full Story

The Independent, 10th March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Comprehensive new guidance on imposing community and custodial sentences – Sentencing Council

‘The Council has published a significantly revised version of the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline.’

Full Story

Sentencing Council, 5th March 2025

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Mahmood to review Sentencing Council’s powers amid ‘two-tier’ justice row – The Guardian

‘Shabana Mahmood has ordered a review of the powers of the independent body that draws up judges’ sentencing guidelines in England and Wales following claims that new rules discriminate against white men.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Employment Rights Bill amendments signify additional considerations for employers – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government has introduced a large number of amendments to the already lengthy Employment Rights Bill (ERB).’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 5th March 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Ministers criticise ‘two-tier’ sentencing changes in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Ministers have criticised plans to make the ethnic background of offenders a greater factor in determining whether to jail them, saying they amounted to a “two-tier system” of justice.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Commission opens a further consultation in light of the contempt issues that arose after the Southport murders. – Law Commission

‘Since the guilty pleas by Axel Rudakubana, there has been a renewed and acute focus on liability for contempt of court, and specifically on what can be said after a suspect has been arrested. The Law Commission has today (3 March) published a brief supplementary consultation paper so that people have an opportunity to let us know their views about the law in light of those events.’

Full Story

Law Commission, 3rd March 2025

Source: lawcom.gov.uk

Law Commission proposes reforms on how possible miscarriages of justice are handled – The Guardian

‘More potential wrongful convictions could be sent back to the appeal court under proposals to change the way the miscarriages of justice watchdog decides cases.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ofcom calls on tech firms to step up action against ‘revenge porn’ – The Guardian

‘Tech platforms should combat the rapid rise in explicit deepfakes and “revenge porn” by using a database of images to protect women and girls online, according to new guidance being drawn up by the UK communications watchdog.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Landmark reform: no time limit for Child Sexual Abuse claims – Kingsley Napley Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Blog

‘Earlier this month, the Government announced landmark reform to child sexual abuse personal injury claims. In legislation expected to be put before parliament next year, the 3-year time limit to bring such claims, which begins to run from a Claimant’s 18th birthday, will be abolished. The burden of proof on determining whether there can be a fair hearing will also shift, from the Claimant to the Defendant.’

Full Story

Kingsley Napley Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Blog, 20th February 2025

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

In depth: AI regulation falters as UK snubs international accord – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Legal controls over development and use of artificial intelligence hit an obstacle this week, as the US and UK refused to back a statement in support of AI regulation signed by 60 other countries.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 18th February 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

CAP update shows complexity of UK ‘less healthy’ food and drink advertising ban – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 14th, 2025 in advertising, codes of practice, consultations, food, health, media, news by Lily

‘The Committee of Advertising Practice’s (CAP) update regarding media restrictions on advertisements for “less healthy” food and drinks products reveals the complexity of the issues to be considered by stakeholders, an expert has said.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 13th February 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

New sentencing guidelines for blackmail, kidnap and false imprisonment offences – Sentencing Council

‘The Council has published two new guidelines for sentencing offenders convicted of: blackmail, and kidnap or false imprisonment. The new guidelines are the first for these serious offences. They have been developed through consultation to help judges sentence the wide range of offending covered by cases of blackmail, kidnap or false imprisonment. The new guidelines apply to adults sentenced in England and Wales and will come into effect on 1 April 2025.’

Full Story

Sentencing Council, 12th February 2025

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Reforms to the NSIP Regime proposed in Government working paper – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 11th, 2025 in bills, consultations, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘Alastair Lewis, Emyr Thomas, Emily Knowles and James Goldthorpe look over proposed changes to the planning system in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th February 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Setting care home fees – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has quashed a decision by a city council to set an annual increase to care home fees below-inflation. Philip Rule KC looks at the lessons from the judgment.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 7th February 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court rules disability benefit reforms plan as unlawful – but Labour remains committed to cuts – The Independent

‘The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) consultation into plans to cut billions in disability benefits has been ruled unlawful by the High Court for being “unfair and misleading”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 17th January 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Incapacity benefit cuts consultation was ‘misleading’ and unlawful, judge rules – The Guardian

‘Labour’s plan to push through £3bn of cuts to incapacity benefits has received a setback after a judge ruled an official consultation setting out the proposals was misleading and unlawful.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th January 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government announces reprieve for archive of historic wills – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 13th, 2025 in archives, consultations, Ministry of Justice, news, wills by sally

‘Controversial proposals to replace archived will documents with digital copies in order to save storage costs have been dropped, the Ministry of Justice has announced. In a move that will be welcomed by historians, a minister said the ‘indispensable bridge’ to the past would be preserved.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 10th January 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk