Social worker wins discrimination case over gender critical beliefs – The Guardian

‘A social worker who was suspended after sharing gender critical beliefs online has won her claim against her employer for discrimination.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Students can make provocative remarks if they do not break law, watchdog says – The Guardian

‘University staff and students can make provocative statements on subjects such as Israel and Gaza as long as they do not break laws on incitement or harassment, under proposals by the government’s campus free speech tsar.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prince Harry loses battle to get Mail on Sunday defence thrown out in libel case – BBC News

Posted December 8th, 2023 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, police, royal family by michael

‘Prince Harry has lost an attempt to get part of the Mail on Sunday publishers’ defence thrown out in a libel case.’

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BBC News, 8th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

James Dyson loses libel claim against Daily Mirror publisher – The Guardian

Posted December 4th, 2023 in brexit, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news by tracey

‘Sir James Dyson has lost his libel claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror after a columnist at the newspaper stated that he had “championed Vote Leave … before moving his global head office to Singapore”.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Shamelessness” of SLAPPs has grown “but still no disciplinary action” – Legal Futures

‘The number and “shamelessness” of SLAPPs has grown but there has been no disciplinary action taken against the lawyers responsible for how they are run, a major conference was told yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 28th November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court of Appeal refuses permission to appeal in high-profile defamation claim – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 24th, 2023 in appeals, data protection, defamation, freedom of expression, news by tracey

‘Court of Appeal judges have refused permission to appeal in the latest court hearing of a high-profile defamation action brought by a Conservative Party donor against a former Tory MP.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Adviser warns UK government against tightening laws on glorifying terrorism – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in demonstrations, freedom of expression, news, reports, terrorism by sally

‘No 10 should not implement plans to amend the law on glorifying terrorism after the pro-Palestine marches as it would do “no favours” to police, MI5 or the probation service, a government adviser has said.’

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The Guardian, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Reasonable for protesters to call Iain Duncan Smith ‘Tory scum’, court rules – The Guardian

‘Two protesters were “reasonable” in calling Iain Duncan Smith “Tory scum” outside the Conservative party conference, the high court has ruled, in a rejection of an attempt to overturn their acquittal.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just Stop Oil protesters’ jail terms potentially breach international law, UN expert says – The Guardian

‘Long sentences handed to two Just Stop Oil protesters for scaling the M25 bridge over the Thames are a potential breach of international law and risk silencing public concerns about the environment, a UN expert has said.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Designed to distress and deter’: the impact of Slapp lawsuits on journalists and free speech – The Guardian

Posted November 6th, 2023 in defamation, disclosure, freedom of expression, human rights, media, news, Russia by tracey

‘Individuals and campaigners tell of damage done by powerful people using the courts to try to shut down investigative reporting.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

IBA 2023: Bar chair floats ‘ingenious’ plan to curb SLAPPs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 3rd, 2023 in barristers, damages, disclosure, freedom of expression, injunctions, news by tracey

‘The chair of the Bar Council today proposed what eminent media lawyer Mark Stephens CBE hailed as an “ingenious” new deterrent to strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 2nd November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK government to introduce new rules to restrict ‘de-banking’ – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK chancellor has announced new rules to restrict the practice of ‘de-banking’ amid reports that some banks may have closed customer accounts because of their political beliefs.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th October 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Israel-Hamas war: what are the laws about protest in England and Wales? – The Guardian

‘Police have made dozens of arrests after protests across the UK against a bombing campaign and expected ground war in Gaza after the murderous attacks by Hamas in Israel.’

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The Guardian, 16th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS prosecution guidance on protests and demonstrations in light of the Middle East conflict – Crown Prosecution Service

‘The CPS is aware that following the recent disturbing events in the Middle East, the public and many different communities may be concerned about protests or demonstrations. The CPS recognises that whilst in the main demonstrations and protests will be peaceful and lawful, there may be incidents of public disorder and it is possible that some individuals may commit criminal offences.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 13th October 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

No rule to stop Tory MP interviewing minister on GB News, says Ofcom boss – The Guardian

‘Ofcom’s chief executive has said there is nothing under current rules to stop GB News using the Conservative MP Lee Anderson to interview the Tory home secretary, Suella Braverman.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trudi Warner reveals the dark secret of English courts: juries do have the right to follow their consciences – The Guardian

Posted September 27th, 2023 in climate change, criminal justice, demonstrations, freedom of expression, juries, news by sally

‘The solicitor general taking action against a climate protester who held up a sign outside court raises a vital issue for criminal justice.’

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The Guardian, 27th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fears over right to protest after woman with sign at climate trial prosecuted – The Guardian

‘Civil liberty campaigners have warned that the prosecution of a woman for holding up a placard about the rights of jurors outside a court is part of the government’s increasing attacks on the right to protest.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Employment and “protected beliefs”: Higgs v Farmor’s School – Law & Religion UK

‘In Higgs v Farmor’s School [2023] EAT 89, Mrs Higgs worked as a pastoral administrator and work experience manager at Farmor’s School. Complaints were received about Facebook posts that she had made about relationship education in primary schools: in particular, she re-posted someone else’s post, heading it, “PLEASE READ THIS! THEY ARE BRAINWASHING OUR CHILDREN!” [5]. She also re-posted similar material. She accepted that her posts might have been seen by parents of pupils at Farmor’s School, though she pointed out that she had not mentioned the school itself [9].
She was suspended and, after a disciplinary investigation and an appeal, dismissed [16 & 17]. She took the school to an Employment Tribunal, arguing that her dismissal amounted either to direct discrimination because of her protected beliefs or to harassment relating to them.’

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Law & Religion UK, 20th June 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Curbing protest disruption – Law Society’s Gazette

‘As many will have seen in the media, environmental activist group Insulate Britain (IB) has carried out London protests in a manner deliberately designed to cause serious disruption. These protest tactics have included activists deliberately blocking highways by sitting down in the road, and often gluing themselves to its surface and/or locking themselves to each other to make their removal more time-consuming. IB has repeatedly stated that these protests will continue until its demands are met.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 16th June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK judges to be given powers to dismiss oppressive Slapps lawsuits at early stage – The Guardian

Posted June 13th, 2023 in amendments, bills, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

‘Oppressive lawsuits brought by wealthy individuals to evade scrutiny and intimidate critics are to be defined in English and Welsh law for the first time, as judges are handed powers to dismiss “Slapps” at an early stage.’

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The Guardian, 13th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com