No 10 faces legal challenge to PM’s support for Priti Patel on bullying claims – The Guardian

Posted November 12th, 2021 in bullying, codes of practice, government departments, judicial review, news by tracey

‘The government faces a legal challenge to Boris Johnson’s decision to back Priti Patel over bullying allegations, throwing a fresh spotlight on the prime minister’s approach to ethics in public life.’

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The Guardian, 12th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘No evidence’ that longer prison sentences will deter terrorists, watchdog warns – The Independent

‘There is “no evidence” that jailing terrorists for longer will deter them from planning terror attacks, a watchdog has warned.’

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The Independent, 10th November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Expert evidence ‘expressing opinion’ in JRs inadmissible, High Court rules – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Expert evidence in a judicial review which “goes beyond comment and expresses [an] opinion” about a decision under challenge is inadmissible, the High Court has said in dismissing an application to adduce a witness statement which consists “almost entirely of opinion evidence”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th November 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Fire safety advice for low-rise blocks to be withdrawn, Gove says – The Guardian

Posted November 9th, 2021 in fire, government departments, health & safety, housing, leases, mortgages, news, repairs by tracey

‘Safety advice that has left thousands of households unable to sell their homes after the Grenfell Tower fire will be withdrawn by Christmas, Michael Gove has announced.’

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The Guardian, 8th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

HIV patient ‘denied life-saving medication’ in UK detention centre – The Independent

‘A man with HIV who was awaiting deportation to Jamaica is being denied life-saving treatment in an immigration detention centre, The Independent has learned. The 42-year-old man relies on daily medication to manage his condition, and says the dosages for his other ailments, schizophrenia and depression, have been reduced by staff at Colnbrook Immigration Centre.’

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The Independent, 6th November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Anger over ‘grotesque abuse’ of £600,000 case to keep Mountbatten papers secret – The Guardian

Posted November 8th, 2021 in archives, costs, freedom of information, government departments, news, universities by tracey

‘The Cabinet Office has been accused of a “grotesque abuse” of public funds in a freedom of information battle over the personal diaries of Lord and Lady Mountbatten in which costs are now expected to exceed £600,000.’

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The Guardian, 7th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Priti Patel’s immigration bill will make it harder to prosecute human traffickers, top police officers warn – The Independent

‘Priti Patel’s immigration bill risks hampering the prosecution of human traffickers in the UK and making it more difficult for people to escape exploitation, senior police officers have warned.’

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The Independent, 8th November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MoD has settled 417 Iraq war compensation claims this year – The Guardian

‘The Ministry of Defence has quietly settled 417 Iraq compensation claims and paid out several million pounds to resolve accusations that British troops subjected Iraqis to cruel and inhumane treatment, arbitrary detention or assault.’

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The Guardian, 6th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog stopped ministers breaching neutrality code in top BBC and BFI hires – The Guardian

‘A watchdog had to prevent ministers breaching a strict code on political neutrality and independence during the search for new chairs for the BBC and the British Film Institute (BFI), the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 7th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lord Chief Justice warns government over ‘value of the rule of law’ in courts funding plea – The Independent

“In his annual report, published on Friday [5th November], Lord Burnett of Maldon warned that the only way to cut record waiting times was to run crown courts at full capacity for the ‘foreseeable future’.”

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The Independent, 5th November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Office sued over ‘racially disproportionate’ new stop and search rules – The Independent

Posted November 4th, 2021 in government departments, minorities, news, police, proportionality, stop and search by sally

‘Human rights groups are suing the Home Office over its decision to increase police stop and search powers, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 3rd November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Supreme Court reaffirms, in the bail context, the constitutional principle that judicial orders must be obeyed unless and until set aside – Garden Court Chambers

‘The Supreme Court has handed down judgment this morning in a case of “constitutional importance” concerning the Home Office’s non-compliance with a tribunal bail order.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 20th October 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Capita pays compensation to family of woman who died after benefits cut – The Guardian

‘A government contractor has paid out “substantial” compensation following the death of a young mother who took an overdose after her disability benefits were removed.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office must rethink ‘regressive’ plans to use X-ray asylum seekers for age assessments, say charities – The Independent

‘The Home Office must rethink its “regressive and unethical” plans to use scientific methods such X-rays to age assess asylum seekers, a coalition of children’s charities has warned.’

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The Independent, 1st November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Toughen up rules on ministers’ conduct, says standards watchdog – BBC News

‘The rules governing the conduct of ministers and senior civil servants need to be toughened up, according to a new report. The Committee on Standards in Public Life – which advises the PM on ethical standards – has been carrying out a review into processes in Westminster.’

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BBC News, 1st November 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Hodge, The Scope of Judicial Law-making in Constitutional Law and Public Law – Supreme Court

‘The scope of judicial law-making in constitutional law and public law.’

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Supreme Court, 27th October 2021

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Research Briefing: Firearms: licensing and safety – House of Commons Library

‘This Library briefing paper discusses the regulation of firearms in the UK.’

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House of Commons Library, 26th October 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Conversion therapy to be restricted but not banned in proposed bill – The Guardian

‘Equalities minister Liz Truss will consult on plans to allow counselling for non-vulnerable adults.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is An Overhaul Of The Human Rights Act Imminent? – Each Other

Posted October 28th, 2021 in government departments, human rights, news, statute law revision by sally

‘Dominic Raab has announced his intention to “overhaul” the UK’s Human Rights Act (HRA), despite widespread criticism.’

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Each Other, 27th October 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Human rights applications and statutory rights to appeal – the domestic abuse context – EIN Blog

Posted October 27th, 2021 in appeals, families, government departments, human rights, immigration, news by sally

‘For a while now, the case of MY (Pakistan) [2021] EWCA Civ 1500 has been pending before the Court of Appeal. The appealed decision, made by the Upper Tribunal (IAC) on 17 February 2020, removed the right to a statutory appeal where the Home Office had not considered any human rights arguments raised in an immigration application.’

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EIN Blog, 26th October 2021

Source: www.ein.org.uk