Weekly Round-up: Labour Party conference, ‘one in, one out’ and competing extradition requests – UK Human Rights Blog
‘In the news […] In other news […] In the courts’
UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd October 2026
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
Back with a Bano – Nearly Legal
‘R (on the application of Bano) v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2026] UKSC22. Bano has its origins in the acceptance of a housing duty on 23 February 2017, concluding just over 9 years later in the supreme court. Central to the case is the question is whether the effect of refusal to accept accommodation is to automatically bring the homelessness duty to an end, or whether notification of the termination of the duty is required.’
Nearly Legal, 1st October 2026
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
High Court rejects claim against council over decision not to renew option agreement for stately home – Local Government Lawyer
‘The High Court has rejected a claim brought by a former US film maker against Rochdale Council over control of a grade II* listed stately home.’
Local Government Lawyer, 2nd October 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Fraudster turned will writer “should not have certified LPAs” – Legal Futures
‘The Court of Protection has cancelled six lasting powers of attorney because the certificate provider, though a member of the Society of Will Writers (SWW), was a convicted fraudster. A further 24 cases are set to be considered in light of the decision, in what were billed as test cases.’
Legal Futures, 5th October 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Rugby claimants must make £1.5m payment on account in 14 days over non-compliance with orders – Law Society Gazette
‘The claimants in the rugby head injuries group litigation must make a payment on account of more than £1.5 million to the defendants who are seeking costs of over £2.8m. After a half-day hearing on Friday Mr Justice Cotter, after retiring briefly with Senior Master Cook and Master Stevens made the order in an ex-tempore judgment.’
Law Society Gazette, 5th October 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor taking legal action against police over his arrest – The Independent
‘Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking legal action against Thames Valley Police in a bid to quash search warrants which led to his arrest. The former Duke of York has been granted permission to challenge whether the force acted lawfully in the searches relating to his arrest in February.’
The Independent, 5th October 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Court quashes block on mothers and children in Gaza joining families in UK – The Guardian
‘A decision by the Home Office to block mothers and children in Gaza from joining their families in the UK has been quashed by a court. […] A judge in the immigration court known as the upper tribunal has found the home secretary acted unlawfully in the way the [unsafe journeys] policy was applied to two families and has quashed the decision to block them.
The Guardian, 4th October 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Cult’ priest guilty of rape and assault of women – BBC News
‘A former priest who established a “cult” within the Church of England has been found guilty of raping a woman in his congregation.’
BBC News, 2nd October 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Man jailed for piloting small boat carrying 26 others – BBC News
‘A man has been jailed for 18 months for piloting a small boat carrying 26 other people, including six children, towards the Kent coast.’
BBC News, 2nd October 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
On the interlocking requirements of suitability – Nearly Legal
‘R (Griffiths-Fowell) v Birmingham City Council [2026] EWCA Civ 920 This Court of Appeal decision deals with the circumstances in which the main housing duty can be ended, and whether accommodation offered must be suitable for the main housing duty to be discharged by s.193(6)(d) HA 1996 (i.e. because the person has voluntarily ceased to occupy as his only or principal home accommodation which has been made available to him).’
Nearly Legal, 4th October 2026
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Justice reforms to be rolled out faster as Justice Secretary sets out changes to Courts Bill – Ministry of Justice
‘Plans for some criminal trials to be heard by judge alone will be scrapped, meaning more serious cases will continue to be heard in front of a jury, keeping juries the cornerstone of British justice. This will mean the Justice Secretary can be fully focussed on fast-tracking the broader changes needed to drive down the record number of cases waiting years to be heard – fixing a crisis that is leaving too many victims in limbo before they see their perpetrator in the dock.’
Ministry of Justice, 4th October 2026
Source: www.gov.uk
Birss eyes page limit for litigants in person to state their case – Legal Futures
‘A strict page limit on outlining the case would help judges struggling to cope with litigants in person (LiPs) using AI to draft their claims, the incoming Master of the Rolls has suggested.’
Legal Futures, 2nd October 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Naomi Campbell wins legal challenge over charity trustee ban – The Guardian
‘Naomi Campbell has won a legal challenge to overturn a five-year ban on being a charity trustee after judges found she was unaware of serious misconduct at the charity she set up and helped oversee for several years.’
The Guardian, 1st October 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
Ecclesiastical court and other determinations – September 2026 – Law & Religion UK
‘Review of the ecclesiastical court and other determinations judgments during September 2026.’
Law & Religion UK, 1st October 2026
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
Coroner warns of risk of future deaths at mental health unit where patient was killed – BBC News
‘A mental health trust in east London, where a man was killed by a fellow patient, has been warned further deaths may occur unless staff issues are addressed.’
BBC News, 2nd October 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Man guilty of one punch killing of younger brother during drunken ‘playfight’ at social club – The Independent
‘A man has been found guilty of killing his brother with a single punch while “playfighting” in a social club.’
The Independent, 1st October 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Back with a Bano – Nearly Legal
‘Bano has its origins in the acceptance of a housing duty on 23 February 2017, concluding just over 9 years later in the supreme court. Central to the case is the question is whether the effect of refusal to accept accommodation is to automatically bring the homelessness duty to an end, or whether notification of the termination of the duty is required.’
Nearly Legal, 1st October 2026
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Extradition retrials: what practitioners need to know – Law Society’s Gazette
‘For extradition practitioners, 29 September 2026 was a date worth putting in the diary.’
Law Society's Gazette, 30th September 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Modernisation of High Court structure comes into effect today – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘Bringing together specialist courts from across the High Court, the BPD creates a modern structure for business and property litigation, improving clarity and access to justice. These specialist courts deal with high-value, complex and often international disputes, and play a pivotal role in supporting the UK’s legal services sector and wider economy.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 1st October 2026
Source: www.judiciary.uk
Is the Child Focused Court model allowing time to really focus on children’s welfare? – The Transparency Project
‘This was a case about contact between four children and their non-resident parent, following findings of domestic abuse, and how the courts should be approaching that in the context of the new Child Focused Courts (previously Pathfinder, now generally referred to as CFC) model. Rights of Women and Cafcass were joined as “interveners” because they wanted to make some submissions that would assist the court.’
The Transparency Project, 30th September 2026
Source: transparencyproject.org.uk
