‘Single-sex toilets and changing rooms in England, Wales and Scotland must exclude transgender men and women, according to a new code of practice from the equalities watchdog.’
The Guardian, 21st May 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘In March, West Yorkshire Trading Standards successfully prosecuted Peter Hunter, who owned a domiciliary care company (Caring for You (Yorkshire) Limited), for multiple offences under section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006. This offence is committed when a person occupies a position in which he is expected to safeguard, or not to act against, the financial interests of another person. He dishonestly abuses that position and intends, by means of abuse of that position, to make a gain for himself or another, or to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.’
Law Society's Gazette, 20th May 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The former boss of the collapsed investment firm London Capital & Finance (LC&F) has been imprisoned for six months for contempt of court, after admitting breaching a restraining order by selling luxury items including horse saddles and a hot tub.’
The Guardian, 21st May 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘For the first time in the history of devolution, nationalist or independence-oriented parties lead all three devolved nations simultaneously: Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland, Plaid Cymru in Wales, and the SNP in Scotland. Meanwhile, Reform UK topped the national equivalent vote in England. The United Kingdom’s political geography has been fundamentally redrawn. What has not been redrawn — and what makes the May 2026 results constitutionally as well as politically significant — is the legal framework within which each of these parties must now operate. Northern Ireland has a treaty-backed statutory mechanism for a referendum on its constitutional future. Scotland has a route that is blocked. Wales has a mechanism that has never been activated. These are not minor technical differences; they are the fault lines along which the UK’s territorial constitution may be tested in the years to come.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 21st May 2026
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘The Domestic Abuse Act fails to fully recognise the danger of technology-facilitated abuse, such as location tracking or hidden stalkerware, a Lords select committee has heard.’
The Guardian, 21st May 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – the bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales – fell at the close of the 2024-2026 parliamentary session, after running out of time in the House of Lords. Attention has now shifted to whether the bill could return in the next session and, if so, whether it could be enacted using the procedures set out in the Parliament Act. This briefing explains the Parliament Act procedure, examines previous uses of the Act and the procedural lessons that may be drawn from them, and looks at the constitutional issues involved.’
Hansard Society, 7th May 2026
Source: www.hansardsociety.org.uk
‘Three teenage boys who raped two girls in separate attacks have been given sentences that are “far too lenient’, a police chief has said.’
BBC News, 21st May 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘David Lammy and the most senior judge in England and Wales are drawing up plans to accelerate the recruitment of minority ethnic and working-class solicitors into the judiciary.’
The Guardian, 21st May 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘In a wide-ranging High Court judgment, Saini J considered, and rejected, a number of distinct challenges against the Secretary of State’s decision to impose sanctions on the nephew of an associate of Vladimir Putin. In doing so, he has provided a number of interesting comments – albeit most of it technically obiter – on various aspects of public law doctrine. The case is R (Ismailov) v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (No 2) [2026] EWHC 1188 (Admin) (18 May 2026).’
Administrative Court Blog, 21st May 2026
High Court (Administrative Court)
Affleck v The Royal Borough of Windsor And Maidenhead [2026] EWHC 1137 (Admin) (15 May 2026)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Durnont Enterprises v Fazita Investment Ltd & Ors [2026] EWHC 1224 (Ch) (18 May 2026)
High Court (Family Division)
Blackpool Borough Council v RR & Ors [2026] EWHC 1100 (Fam) (14 May 2026)
Source: www.bailii.org
‘In a judgment handed down on 17 April 2026, Edmund Burge KC (sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court) dismissed a claim arising from a catastrophic act of self-harm by a young man with a documented history of suicidal ideation and attempts. The judgment is a careful and, in places, painful illustration of how the law approaches psychiatric risk assessment, the role of the Home Treatment Team (“HTT”) and the evidential burden on a claimant who must establish, on the balance of probabilities, that earlier or different action would have averted the index event.’
Quarterly Medical Law Review, 19th May 2026
Source: 1corqmlr.com
‘On 8 May 2026, Mr Justice Cotter refused the Claimant’s application to amend her Particulars of Claim, to rely on further witness and expert evidence, and to vacate the imminent trial in a clinical negligence claim arising from a delayed diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome (“CES”). The judgment adds to the growing body of first-instance authority on very late amendments under CPR 17.3, and is a salutary reminder of the discipline required when pleading causation in CES claims where breach is admitted but the counterfactual is anything but straightforward.’
Quarterly Medical Law Review, 20th May 2026
Source: 1corqmlr.com
‘The Bar Council needs to be clearer in the legal justification for its controversial 10,000 Black Interns programme, a barrister has suggested.’
Legal Futures, 20th May 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The High Court has dismissed an appeal by a barrister who was fined £15,000 for making an “unfounded and serious allegation of misconduct in public office” against a senior judge.’
Legal Futures, 20th May 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has today published its final report on Aviation Autonomy, recommending targeted changes to ensure that remotely piloted and autonomous uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) – such as drones – can operate with equivalent levels of safety to crewed flight. ‘
Law Commission, 20th May 2026
Source: lawcom.gov.uk
‘Hard on the heels of our podcast about “humane-washing” – the false portrayal of UK’s livestock in bucolic conditions, green pastures and freedom – comes broadcaster and environmental campaigner Chris Packham’s (partial) victory over the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s “Let’s Eat Balanced” Campaign before the Advertising Standards Authority.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 20th May 2026
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘Naomi Kilcoyne of Wilberforce Chambers looks at a recent decision by the Pensions Ombudsman on whether a pension scheme provision which appeared on its face to be a forfeiture clause in fact operated to deprive the member of the benefit.’
Pensions Barrister, 21st May 2026
Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com
‘The government has once again committed to anti-SLAPPs legislation, after open democracy campaigners alleged that “discreet lobbying” by media lawyers had killed off the long-promised measures.’
Law Society Gazette, 20th May 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The case against judge-only justice – and why efficiency is not enough. By Professor Leslie Thomas KC.’
Counsel, 18th May 2026
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
‘Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice.’
Counsel, 18th May 2026
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2026