Senior government lawyer quits over Brexit plans – BBC News
‘The government’s most senior lawyer is to quit his post over plans which could modify the Brexit withdrawal agreement.’
BBC News, 8th September 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: government departments
Rodney Brazier: Why is Her Majesty’s Government so big? – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘Before they entered government, both Dominic Cummings and Dominic Raab called for massive cuts in the size of the British Government. Raab suggested in 2013 that half of all government departments should be scrapped in order to save money; Cummings argued the following year that the Cabinet should consist of only six or seven people. I agree with them – at least to the extent that consideration is long overdue of whether there are too many government departments and too many Ministers.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 7th September 2020
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Campaigners start legal challenge to UK’s $1bn grant to Mozambique gas project – The Guardian
‘Environmentalists at Friends of the Earth will mount a legal challenge against the government’s decision to offer $1bn in financial support to a major fossil fuel project in Mozambique that they say is “incompatible” with the Paris climate agreement.’
The Guardian, 7th September 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Government spends £120m in taxpayer money fighting disability benefit claims in two years, figures show – The Independent
‘The government has spent more than £120m in taxpayers’ money fighting disability benefit claims in the last two years – despite losing three-quarters of tribunal appeals, The Independent can reveal.’
The Independent, 1st September 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Ban on evictions and notice periods extended in Government u-turn – St Ives Chambers
‘The stay imposed on possession proceedings was due to expire on Sunday 23 August 2020. However, in an 11th hour u-turn, Robert Jenrick announced on Friday afternoon that the ban on evictions would be extended for a further 4 weeks (taking the total ban to 6 months) in England and Wales. In a further, unforeseen twist, it was announced that a new 6 month notice period would be in place until at least 31 March 2021 (this applies to England only) in all matters save for “serious cases”, examples of which are anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse.’
St Ives Chambers, 21st August 2020
Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk
Government pledges post-Brexit qualifications recognition – Legal Futures
‘The UK government will put in place a temporary system to recognise the professional qualifications of EU lawyers post 1 January 2021 if no agreement is reached before Brexit, it has confirmed.’
Legal Futures, 28th August 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
A Conflict at the Heart of the Planning White Paper (And Some Skateboarding References)- Guildhall Chambers
‘Whilst much could be (and most of it has already been) written about the Government’s recent white paper on planning, two things struck me in particular.
First, how generous of Whitehall to offer such fertile ground to article-writing lawyers and other commentators searching for occupation during Covid-enforced idleness. There is only so much nourishment available via Zoom, and anyway, in terms of professional development, thanks to my planning bar colleagues and their prodigious supply of webinars (manifestly exceeding the need, whether assessed on a 5 year supply, standardised, or any other basis of your choice) all of us now know literally everything about the current policy and legislative regime that there is to know. Or at least, most of us do. Others have employed the unexpected gift of time more imaginatively: my two young sons and I, for example, are on the verge of perfecting the Frontside 180, which I reckon isn’t at all bad for three pre-lockdown non-skateboarders.’
Guildhall Chambers, 25th August 2020
Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk
Windrush payout scheme not fit for purpose, say lawyers – The Guardian
‘The Windrush compensation scheme is failing to provide access to justice and is worsening people’s trauma, according to a letter sent from nine law firms to the home secretary.’
The Guardian, 27th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Asylum seekers in last-minute UK legal bid to prevent removal – The Guardian
‘Dozens of asylum seekers who arrived in the UK on small boats are due to be put on charter flights over the next two days, while lawyers have launched last-minute high court challenges to prevent their removal.’
The Guardian, 25th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Successful TOEIC appellants to be granted 2.5 years Leave to Remain – Garden Court Chambers
‘The Home Office has agreed that any TOEIC appellants who succeed in their appeals on Article 8 grounds, should be granted 2.5 years leave to remain.’
Garden Court Chambers, 4th August 2020
Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk
A-level student launches legal bid against Ofqual – The Guardian
‘An A-level student has launched a legal bid against the exams regulator Ofqual to “force them to come up with a fairer system”.’
The Guardian, 16th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
High Court judge remits Leeds site allocations plan to inspectors for reconsideration – Local Government Lawyer
‘The High Court has remitted Leeds City Council’s site allocations plan to the Secretary of State For Housing, Communities and Local Government for reconsideration by planning inspectors, despite both the minister and the council opposing this course of action.’
Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
A-level results: ‘Huge mess’ as exams appeal guidance withdrawn – BBC News
‘The exams regulator is reviewing its guidance on how to appeal against A-level and GCSE grades using mock exam results – hours after publishing it.’
BBC News, 16th August 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
A-level Students Consider Legal Action Over Downgrade ‘Discrimination’ – Each Other
‘The government could face legal action over the mass downgrading of A-level results in England, with affected students saying they feel discriminated against over their school’s track-record.’
Each Other, 13th August 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
Where to now? End of eviction ban leaves tenants fearing for future – The Guardian
‘Soon landlords will be able to take action against renters again, which many fear could lead to a rise in homelessness.’
The Guardian, 9th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
UK plan to use navy to stop migrant crossings is unlawful, lawyers warn – The Guardian
‘Priti Patel’s plans to use the navy to tackle the growing number of migrants crossing the Channel from northern France would be unlawful and dangerous, lawyers have warned.’
The Guardian, 7th August 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Government announces independent review of judicial review – Law Society’s Gazette
‘On 31 July 2020 the Government launched an independent review to examine whether there is a need to reform the judicial review process in the UK. The terms of reference of the review are available here. The review follows pledges in the Conservative manifesto to ensure judicial review is “not abused to conduct politics by another means or to create endless delays”. The terms of reference make it clear that the review aims to consider whether judicial review has encroached too far into the work of the executive branch of government.’
Law Society's Gazette, 6th August 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Windrush Lawyers: ‘The Government Is Placing Boulders In The Way Of Justice’ – Each Other
‘It has been more than a year since the government launched its scheme to compensate victims of the Windrush scandal, and at least five applicants have died before receiving a penny. EachOther speaks to Windrush lawyers about the “boulders” being placed in the way of justice and what needs to be done.’
Each Other, 6th August 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
Government Scraps Immigration “Streaming Tool” before Judicial Review – UK Human Rights Blog
‘In response to a legal challenge brought by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), the Home Office has scrapped an algorithm used for sorting visa applications. Represented by Foxglove, a legal non-profit specialising in data privacy law, JCWI launched judicial review proceedings,, arguing that the algorithmic tool was unlawful on the grounds that it was discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010 and irrational under common law.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 6th August 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
