‘A multinational oil firm which was led by a major Conservative donor has been under investigation for allegedly paying million-pound bribes to secure contracts in nine countries. The anti-corruption agency the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been examining allegedly suspicious payments made by the UK-based firm Petrofac.’
The Guardian, 20th June 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Anti-corruption campaign the Good Law Project has launched a legal action over the award of a peerage to Conservative party donor Peter Cruddas. Boris Johnson overruled advice last year from the House of Lords Appointments Committee against making the businessman a Lord – the first time the watchdog’s recommendation has been ignored.’
The Independent, 13th June 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Let me begin with what should be platitudinous. The presumption of innocence is a cherished legal principle in the United Kingdom. No one is guilty of a crime unless a court so decides after a fair hearing, and anyone accused of wrongdoing short of a crime is entitled to the protection of an analogous principle. Politicians must account to Parliament, and are answerable to the voters. Politicians must obey the law and comply with relevant codes of conduct.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 4th May 2021
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘Boris Johnson is bracing for an investigation by the Electoral Commission into payments covering renovations to his Downing Street flat. What will the process will look like and what sanctions could the Conservative party face?’
The Guardian, 28th April 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Imagine. The UK May 2024 general election is finally drawing to a close. After months of campaigning, the votes are in and pundits are predicting a clear win for Party A. The leader of Party B is concerned the election was not fair and accusations of voter fraud and spoiled ballets begin to fly on social media and the national news. How will this be investigated? Will anyone be prosecuted? Could the election result really be overturned?’
4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 4th March 2021
Source: www.4-5.co.uk
‘Draconian lockdown laws imposed one year ago have been extended for a further six months, despite a major Tory revolt.
The Coronavirus Act – granting powers over everything from school closures and public gatherings to the detention of infected people – was renewed by MPs, by 484 votes to 76.’
The Independent, 25th March 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A former senior Labour staffer has taken the party to court in an attempt to force it to disclose the identity of the leaker of a report on antisemitism in the party that contained hundreds of private WhatsApp messages.’
The Guardian, 22nd February 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The government has reportedly ordered an investigation into the extreme fringes on both ends of the political spectrum, with a peer tasked with offering recommendations to the prime minister and home secretary. The review will be led by John Woodcock, the former Labour MP who now sits in the upper chamber as Lord Walney and was appointed as the government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption last November.’
The Guardian, 8th February 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The government is seeking to fend off a backbench revolt over China by giving the foreign affairs select committee new powers to investigate whether a country is so clearly breaching human rights that the UK should not agree to a free trade deal with it.’
The Guardian, 31st January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A 56-year-old man has been sentenced for spitting at former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in a “barrage of abuse” during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.’
The Independent, 28th February 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Jeremy Corbyn has lost a legal fight to force Labour to hand over documents before a possible high court challenge against his suspension from the parliamentary party.’
The Guardian, 27th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Labour is calling for juries to be cut from 12 members to seven, to stem the “gravest crisis” in the justice system since World War Two.’
BBC News, 26th January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The UK’s broadcasting watchdog is investigating the row over BBC host Emily Maitlis’ monologue about Dominic Cummings’ infamous trip to Barnard Castle.’
The Independent, 15th December 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Police have dropped their investigation into a Conservative MP and ex-minister who was arrested after a woman accused him of rape.’
The Independent, 13th December 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Lord Chief Justice press conference December 2020’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 2nd December 2020
Source: www.judiciary.uk
‘The Lord Chief Justice has warned of unprecedented levels of political interference over the work of courts in England and Wales, suggesting that MPs should be taught about “boundaries”.’
The Independent, 2nd December 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Jeremy Corbyn is to start a formal legal claim against the Labour party for suspending the whip, in a case which allies of the former Labour leader say is intended to prove there was a deal with Keir Starmer’s office to readmit him to the party.’
The Guardian, 26th November 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Lord Chancellor yesterday told lawyers who “vaunt their political views” on social media to raise their profile and attract work that they are giving the profession a bad name.’
Legal Futures, 19th November 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘A special advisor who was escorted out of Downing Street by police after a confrontation with Dominic Cummings has settled her unfair dismissal claim.’
BBC News, 13th November 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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