Information Commissioner’s Office challenged over Whitehall JR submissions – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Public law specialists have begun legal proceedings against the Information Commissioner’s Office over publication of Whitehall submissions on judicial review that have influenced controversial reforms.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th December 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Modern slavery victims may face barriers to justice under Priti Patel’s immigration bill, MPs warn – The Independent

‘Modern slavery victims may face barriers to seeking justice while criminal gangs “evade punishment” under Priti Patel’s immigration bill, cross-party MPs have warned.’

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The Independent, 21st December 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Culture Wars and Constitutional Statutes: The Government’s Proposed Human Rights Act Reforms – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘This week, in response to the Independent Human Rights Act Review’s report, the Government published its proposals to reform the Human Rights Act (HRA) and a call for further submissions on its proposals. A comprehensive analysis of all of the Government’s proposals would not be possible in this short two-part post; that stated, whether they deserve such an in-depth response is questionable.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 19th December 2021

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Trafficking victims entitled to back payments after court ruling – The Guardian

‘Thousands of trafficking victims who had government support payments removed in the midst of the pandemic are entitled to back payments that could run into millions of pounds, following a high court ruling that found the policy to be unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 17th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK fishing licences for bottom-trawling could be unlawful, says Oceana – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2021 in environmental protection, government departments, licensing, news by michael

‘The British government’s granting of fishing licences to more than 1,000 UK and EU vessels for 2022, which will permit bottom-trawling and dredging in marine protected areas, could be unlawful unless conditions to safeguard ocean habitats are imposed, the conservation group Oceana says.’

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The Guardian, 17th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: R (on the application of Elan-Cane) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] UKSC 56 – UKSC Blog

Posted December 16th, 2021 in gender, government departments, human rights, news, passports, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed this appeal concerning whether the Court of Appeal was wrong in its conclusion that Her Majesty’s Passport Office’s policy does not unjustifiably breach articles 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“ECHR”).The policy in question holds that (i) an applicant for a passport must declare their gender/sex as being either male or female and (ii) a passport will only be issued bearing a male (“M”) or female (“F”) indicator in the gender/sex field on the face of the passport and will not be issued with an “unspecified” (“X”) gender marker.’

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UKSC Blog, 15th December 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

Gender-neutral passports: Campaigner Christie Elan-Cane loses Supreme Court case – BBC News

Posted December 15th, 2021 in appeals, gender, government departments, human rights, news, passports, Supreme Court by tracey

‘A campaigner has lost a Supreme Court case challenging the government’s refusal to issue gender neutral passports.’

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BBC News, 15th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home Office facing legal action over rights of 2.5 million EU nationals – The Independent

Posted December 15th, 2021 in brexit, citizenship, government departments, immigration, judicial review, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The Home Office is facing legal action over its treatment of millions of EU nationals in the UK.’

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The Independent, 14th December 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Voter ID: MPs urge government to rethink plans for election checks – BBC News

Posted December 13th, 2021 in bills, elections, government departments, identification, identity fraud, news by tracey

‘The UK government should rethink its plans to require voters to show photo ID at polling stations, MPs say.’

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BBC News, 13th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal challenge to hotel quarantine policy goes to Court of Appeal – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2021 in appeals, coronavirus, government departments, health, holidays, hotels, judicial review, news by michael

‘A legal challenge to the Government’s mandatory quarantine hotel policy is to be taken to the Court of Appeal.’

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BBC News, 9th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

US Woman Wins Deportation Appeal Having Lived in the UK for 53 Years – EIN Blog

Posted December 8th, 2021 in appeals, deportation, drug offences, government departments, health, immigration, news by sally

‘Polly Gordon is a US national who has been living in the UK for over 53 years, having moved here in her early 20’s. She gained Indefinite Leave to Remain in 1977. In July 2019, she received a 12-month sentence from the Edinburgh Sheriff’s Court after she was found to have supplied a controlled drug, as a result of which the Home Office sought her deportation under section 32(5) of the UK Borders Act 2007.’

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EIN Blog, 7th December 2021

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Union loses legal challenge to PM’s decision to back Priti Patel – BBC News

‘The union for senior civil servants has lost its High Court challenge to Boris Johnson’s decision to back Priti Patel over claims she bullied staff.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Boris Johnson ‘planning reforms which would let ministers overrule judicial decisions’ – The Independent

‘Reported move triggers backlash from lawyers, with one senior QC quoted as saying the prime minister is seeking a “more compliant judiciary”‘.

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The Independent, 6th December 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Navy rape survivor backs civilian court trials for serious offences – BBC News

‘A member of the Royal Navy, whose rape case collapsed in a military court, has backed calls for serious offences committed in the UK to be investigated and tried through civilian courts.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cabinet Office fined £500,000 over New Year honours list data breach – The Guardian

Posted December 3rd, 2021 in data protection, fines, government departments, news, peerages & dignities, privacy by tracey

‘The Cabinet Office has been fined £500,000 by the UK’s data watchdog after the postal addresses of the 2020 New Year honours recipients were disclosed online.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office U-turn on Sri Lankan scientist’s asylum claim – The Guardian

‘The Home Office has U-turned on plans to deport a leading scientist carrying out groundbreaking research into affordable forms of solar energy and allowed him and his family to remain in the UK.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

HIV diagnosis or preventative treatment no longer barrier to the armed forces – MoD – The Independent

Posted December 1st, 2021 in AIDS, armed forces, government departments, HIV, medicines, news by sally

‘Being HIV positive or taking preventative treatment for the disease will no longer be a barrier for serving in the armed forces, the Ministry of Defence has announced.’

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The Independent, 1st December 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Covid: as rules on mask wearing in England return, what exactly is the law? – The Guardian

Posted December 1st, 2021 in coronavirus, fines, government departments, health & safety, news, transport by sally

‘As part of targeted measures to prevent the spread of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron, from 4am on 30 November, people in England will be required by law to wear a face covering in certain places.’

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The Guardian, 29th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

FCDO racially discriminated against black senior civil servant, tribunal rules – The Guardian

‘The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office racially discriminated against a black senior civil servant after launching an inquiry into her sex life, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 30th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Channel deaths: the UK has clear legal responsibilities towards people crossing in small boats – EIN Blog

‘At least 27 people have drowned in the English Channel attempting to cross in a small boat. There were three children, seven women, one of whom was pregnant, and 17 men. Although a joint search and rescue operation was seemingly launched in the narrow maritime area between the UK and France (which is only 20 miles wide), the highly equipped authorities of both coastal states were not able to intervene in time to save the victims. The British government has responded to these deaths by calling on France to take back anyone who attempts the crossing. Speaking in parliament following the tragedy, Home Secretary Priti Patel placed heavy emphasis on the French government’s responsibility for the tragedy, which she said was “not a surprise”.

Regardless of how these people got there, the UK has clear legal responsibilities to anyone who finds themselves in trouble in the Channel. However much French authorities bolster their own efforts, the UK is obliged by multiple international conventions to maintain robust search and rescue operations in the area.’

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EIN Blog, 26th November 2021

Source: www.ein.org.uk