Katie Lines: Law and Guidance in a Public Health Emergency – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted January 29th, 2025 in constitutional law, coronavirus, government departments, health, news, rule of law by tracey

‘The use of law and guidance in a public health emergency was one of the issues explored by the Independent Commission on UK Public Health Emergency Powers. The Commission, chaired by the Rt. Hon. Sir Jack Beatson FBA and supported by the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, conducted an intensive review of the constitutional and rule of law dimensions of the UK’s Covid-19 response and emergency powers framework. Neither the UK nor Scottish Covid-19 Inquiries are focussing on these aspects of the pandemic response, and so the Commission was launched to fill this gap. Its report was published last spring and makes 44 recommendations for changes in law, policy, practice and procedure.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 29th January 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Unfair dismissal and clerical employment: Reverend S Bozos – Law & Religion UK

‘Fr Stavros Bozos was the priest of the Greek Orthodox parish of the Three Hierarchs in Leeds, seconded from the Church of Greece and under the authority of the Archbishop of Great Britain and Thyateira. His contract of employment included celebrating the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and Great Feast Days and monthly at the Greek School, preaching at the Liturgy, catechism classes for children and adults, helping and supporting the community and church and taking care of the “cleanness and seemly appearance of the Church interior”. He had refused to work from the church after the COVID-19 lockdowns were lifted, insisting on working from home and arguing that he should not be obliged to commute to the church because the community’s computer was located at his home, making the commute a waste of time.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 10th January 2025

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

In depth: Should law firms pile pressure on staff to return to the office? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 14th, 2025 in coronavirus, flexible working, law firms, news by tracey

‘UK plc and public sector organisations are ramping up pressure on staff to come in to the office as pandemic memories fade. Law firms seeking to follow suit need to be aware that there are risks attached.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 14th January 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Covid corruption commissioner starts fraud probe – BBC News

Posted December 3rd, 2024 in coronavirus, corruption, fraud, news, protective equipment by tracey

‘The new Covid corruption commissioner has started an investigation into personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud. Tom Hayhoe’s first task will be reviewing the £8.7bn of PPE bought during the pandemic that then had to be written off the government’s books.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Alex Whatley has written an analysis of Advanced Multi-Technology for Medical Industry & Ors v Uniserve Limited & Ors [2024] EWHC 1725 (Ch) – 3PB

Posted November 26th, 2024 in agency, contracts, coronavirus, misrepresentation, news, protective equipment by tracey

‘Alex Whatley has written an analysis of Advanced Multi-Technology for Medical Industry & Ors v Uniserve Limited & Ors [2024] EWHC 1725 (Ch).’

Full Story

3PB, 21st November 2024

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Covid denier who posted violent threats against Chris Whitty jailed for five years – The Guardian

Posted November 12th, 2024 in coronavirus, internet, news, sentencing, terrorism by tracey

‘A Covid denier who suggested “whacking” Prof Sir Chris Whitty with a rounders bat has been jailed for five years after being convicted of encouraging terrorism.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th November 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

GP jailed for 31 years over ‘audacious’ plot to murder mother’s partner with fake Covid jab – The Independent

Posted November 7th, 2024 in coronavirus, doctors, news, poisoning, sentencing by tracey

‘A GP who disguised himself as a nurse and poisoned his mother’s partner with a fake Covid jab in an “audacious” plot to murder him has been jailed for 31 years.’

Full Story

The Independent, 6th November 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal issue on ‘negligent’ advice from NHS England arises in long Covid litigation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A judge has declined to decide whether NHS trusts which relied on ‘negligent’ advice from NHS England during the pandemic are liable for frontline healthcare workers’ long Covid.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 31st October 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

GP admits attempted murder of mother’s partner with fake Covid jab – The Guardian

Posted October 7th, 2024 in attempted murder, coronavirus, doctors, families, news, poisoning, vaccination by michael

‘Thomas Kwan, 53, was on trial at Newcastle crown court and had initially denied attempted murder, but changed his plea after he heard the prosecution open the case against him.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 7th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stephen Tierney: Towards a Principle of Positive Engagement?: The House of Lords Constitution Committee reports on The Governance of the Union – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Over the past decade the House of Lords Constitution Committee has immersed itself in the principles, purposes and operation of devolution. Last week marked 10 years since the referendum on Scottish independence, and in that time the Committee has published multiple reports on the changing face of the territorial constitution, offering encouragement, detailed critique and practical recommendations. A number of these publications are cited in the introduction to its most recent report on The Governance of the Union: Consultation, Co-operation and Legislative Consent, which is published today. This report addresses the new system of intergovernmental relations introduced in 2022, the operation of the Sewel convention, the use of secondary legislation in devolved areas and plans by the new Labour Government for further devolution in England. Most notably, it recommends that a “principle of positive engagement” be added to the existing principles for intergovernmental relations, currently listed in The Review of Intergovernmental Relations policy document of January 2022.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 27th September 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Businessman sentenced for Government backed COVID 19 bounce back loan fraud – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 23rd, 2024 in coronavirus, Crown Prosecution Service, fraud, imprisonment, loans, news, sentencing by tracey

‘An entrepreneur was sentenced today (20 September 2024) for fraudulently obtaining a COVID-19 Bounce Bank Loans to a value of £50,000.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 20th September 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Sufficiency of directions in cases involving delay and prejudicial material: Dutta v GMC [2024] EWHC (Admin) 1217 – 2 Hare Court

Posted September 11th, 2024 in appeals, chambers articles, coronavirus, delay, evidence, news, tribunals by tracey

‘Dutta is a well-known name in professional discipline. In this more recent Dutta the High Court upheld certain grounds of appeal in relation to facts found by the MPT and remitted the matter back. However, the High Court rejected grounds which related to delay and the admissibility of evidence.’

Full Story

2 Hare Court, 9th September 2024

Source: www.2harecourt.com

Corruption review finds ‘red flags’ in more than 130 Covid contracts – BBC News

‘An anti-corruption charity says it has identified significant concerns in contracts worth over £15.3bn awarded by the Conservative government during the Covid pandemic, equivalent to one in every £3 spent.’

Full Story

BBC News, 9th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Company boss banned over £145k Covid support claims – BBC News

Posted September 4th, 2024 in company directors, coronavirus, disqualification, insolvency, loans, news by tracey

‘A businessman has been banned from being a company director after making bogus claims for £145,000 in Covid-19 support grants.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS clinical negligence agreement “encourages apologies” – Legal Futures

‘A successor agreement to the Covid-19 clinical negligence protocol has been launched , which encourages the NHS to provide a “meaningful letter of apology” where liability is admitted and identify any patient safety lessons.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 28th August 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law and religion roundup – Law & Religion UK

‘Further to the notices relating to Jonathan Fletcher posted by the Diocese of Southwark and the Metropolitan Police, it is perhaps timely to include a link to the Attorney General’s Note, Contempt of court and social media.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 14th July 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Hancock and Hunt failed to prepare UK for pandemic, Covid inquiry finds – The Guardian

Posted July 18th, 2024 in bereavement, coronavirus, government departments, health, inquiries, news by michael

‘The former health secretaries Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock have been criticised for their failure to better prepare the UK for the pandemic, in a damning first report from the Covid inquiry that calls for an overhaul in how the government prepares for civil emergencies.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

First Covid inquiry report to show UK plan failures – BBC News

Posted July 18th, 2024 in coronavirus, emergency powers, government departments, inquiries, news, reports by michael

‘The failures and weaknesses in the UK’s pandemic preparations are expected to be laid out in the first report published by the Covid inquiry.’

Full Story

BBC News, 18th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman wins payout after boss coughed in her face during Covid pandemic – The Guardian

Posted July 16th, 2024 in coronavirus, damages, news, unfair dismissal, victimisation, Wales by tracey

‘An employer has been told to pay more than £26,000 to a former worker for deliberately coughing in her face during the Covid pandemic.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court issues disclosure ruling in £100m dispute over alleged wrongful termination of contract for supply of Covid-19 lateral flow test kits – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Technology and Construction Court has granted a declaration sought by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care that certain documents relating to an aborted contract for Covid-19 lateral flow test kits are under the control of the main contractor in the dispute.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 11th July 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk