British academic asks Foreign Office for formal apology over failure to spot torture during his detention in UAE – The Independent

‘The Foreign Office failed to notice signs of torture and provide help to a British academic during his detention in the United Arab Emirates, a watchdog has found.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Office breached statutory duty to ensure provision of adequate accommodation for pregnant asylum seeker and children – Garden Court Chambers

‘The Claimant was a destitute asylum-seeker who was heavily pregnant and the mother of three young children.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 31st July 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Product safety laws to be changed to better protect online shoppers – The Guardian

‘The UK’s product safety regime is to be overhauled to provide better protection for the public and make it “fit for the digital age”, ministers have announced.’

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Article 31 and inadmissibility under Part 4A Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 – EIN Blog

‘Many practitioners will be aware that the Secretary of State for the Home Department’s (“SSHD”) “Rwanda plan” met with the Court of Appeal’s disapproval recently in a majority decision in AAA (Syria) & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWCA Civ 266 (on appeal from the High Court: AAA v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Rwanda) [2022] EWHC 3230). The Court found that any attempt to remove refugees to Rwanda whose claims the SSHD adjudged to be inadmissible would breach the non-refoulment provisions of Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention (“RC”) and thereby also Article 3 of the 1950 European Convention of Human Rights (“ECHR”).’

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EIN Blog, 31st July 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Jail for van driver who smuggled children as young as one – Home Offfice

‘A British man who tried to smuggle migrant children as young as 1 into the UK by hiding them behind boxes in his van has been jailed for 4 years.’

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Home Office, 28th July 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Home Office ordered to change rules that restrict help for trafficking victims – The Guardian

‘A high court judge has ordered the home secretary to change a key part of a trafficking policy introduced just months ago.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Covid, the Cabinet and a tussle over disclosure: R (Cabinet Office) v The Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In a decision that may come as little surprise to those working in the fields of inquiries and public law, the Divisional Court consisting of Dingemans LJ and Garnham J dismissed the Cabinet Office’s application for judicial review of a notice issued by Baroness Hallett, the Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (“the Inquiry”) requesting the production of WhatsApp messages.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th July 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Sunak “undermining trust in lawyers”, says Bar Council – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Council has accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of undermining trust in the profession by claiming that a “subset of lawyers” are exploiting illegal migrants for profit.’

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Legal Futures, 26th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Infected blood scandal: Bereaved relatives in government compensation plea – BBC News

‘The son of a man who died after he was given infected blood is among those handing in a letter to the government calling for wider compensation.’

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BBC News, 25th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Suella Braverman broke law by denying asylum seekers £3 a week, judge rules – The Guardian

Posted July 25th, 2023 in asylum, children, food, government departments, news, pregnancy by sally

‘The home secretary acted unlawfully in failing to provide basic support to asylum seekers, including young children and pregnant women, a judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Abramovich ally begins high court challenge against UK sanctions – The Guardian

‘Eugene Shvidler, a longtime ally of the billionaire Roman Abramovich, has accused the UK government of “oppressive treatment” as he launched a legal challenge against sanctions imposed upon him after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ruling gives clarity on assessing cumulative carbon emissions from infrastructure development – OUT-LAW.com

‘The courts in the UK should not be drawn into considering policy when examining if climate decision-making has been lawful, a High Court judge has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th July 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Lobbying rules to be tightened in long-awaited response to Greensill scandal – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2023 in disclosure, government departments, lobbying, news, parliament by tracey

‘Lobbying rules will be toughened up across Whitehall in a long-awaited response by ministers to issues raised by the Greensill scandal, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Terror attack survivors condemn compensation body – BBC News

‘Survivors of terror attacks in the UK have described the government’s compensation scheme as “broken” in a new report.’

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BBC News, 17th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Loophole lets farmers pollute England’s rivers with excess manure – report – The Guardian

‘A loophole in pollution legislation allows farmers to pollute rivers by spreading excess manure, an investigation has found, with those acting unlawfully not facing any action in most cases.’

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The Guardian, 13th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Airbase asylum plans: High Court gives permission to councils’ challenge – BBC News

‘A legal bid to challenge the Home Office’s decision to use former airbases to house asylum seekers has been approved by the High Court.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High court quashes rules letting agency workers cover for UK strikers – The Guardian

Posted July 14th, 2023 in government departments, industrial action, news, trade unions by sally

‘Legal changes brought by the government to let agency staff fill in for striking workers have been quashed by the high court, with ministers’ approach to the policy being labelled “irrational”.’

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The Guardian, 13th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Appeal court overturns disability strategy ruling – BBC News

Posted July 12th, 2023 in appeals, consultations, disabled persons, government departments, news by sally

‘A ruling which decided a survey used to inform the government’s National Disability Strategy was “unlawful” has been overturned at the Court of Appeal.’

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BBC News, 11th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Landmark Sizewell C ruling instructive for projects of all shapes and sizes – OUT-LAW.com

‘The High Court’s ruling that the UK government’s approval of the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power plant was lawful contains valuable reminders on how projects of all shapes and sizes should approach environmental assessments.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 6th July 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

UK government avoids ‘self-inflicted wound’ by abandoning Bill of Rights Bill – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 7th, 2023 in bills, government departments, human rights, news by tracey

‘The UK government’s decision to abandon its plan for sweeping reforms to human rights legislation comes as no surprise, according to one legal expert.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 6th July 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com