Assisted dying / assisted suicide – an informer – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

‘In light of the publication of the Westminster Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee’s (very good) report on assisted dying / assisted suicide on 29 February 2024 and as a modest contribution to informing debate about these issues, I have recorded an ‘informer,’ in which I give an overview of the current law in England & Wales and worldwide, set out some of the reasons why people might want change, and some reasons why people are concerned about it, and then look at what the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities might say of relevance. It is quite a lot for half an hour, and it goes without saying that it is a video which engages with difficult matters.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 29th February 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

UK’s Rwanda bill ‘incompatible with human rights obligations’ – The Guardian

‘The UK government’s controversial Rwanda legislation that deems the African country as a safe place to deport people to is fundamentally incompatible with Britain’s human rights obligations and places it in breach of international law, according to a damning parliamentary report.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

MoJ Finds Public Engagement Crucial In Shaping Sentencing Policies – Each Other

Posted February 7th, 2024 in Ministry of Justice, news, select committees, sentencing by sally

‘In a significant step towards fostering transparency and inclusivity within the criminal justice system, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has acknowledged the pivotal role public opinion plays in shaping sentencing policy. This revelation comes in response to a landmark report titled “Public Opinion and Understanding of Sentencing”, published by the justice committee in November 2023.’

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Each Other, 5th February 2024

Source: eachother.org.uk

‘Women sit next to abusers at music industry parties’ MPs warn – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2024 in equality, harassment, news, reports, select committees, sexual offences by tracey

‘The music industry is still a “boys’ club” where sexual harassment and abuse are common, MPs warned in a report. The Women and Equalities Committee said musicians have to sit beside sexual abusers at parties and events, due to a “culture of silence”.’

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BBC News, 30th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Courts “could cope” with large number of Post Office appeals, says LCJ – Legal Futures

‘The courts “could cope” with a large volume of criminal appeals in the wake of the Post Office scandal, the Lady Chief Justice told MPs yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 17th January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK anti-strike rules may breach international law, MPs and peers warn – The Guardian

‘Workers in some public sector jobs will be completely prevented from striking under restrictive rules that may breach international law, parliament’s watchdog on human rights has said.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

MPs launch inquiry into lengthening probate delays – Legal Futures

Posted November 24th, 2023 in complaints, delay, HM Courts Service, inquiries, news, select committees by tracey

‘MPs have launched an inquiry into probate in the wake of mounting concern about how long the process is taking, with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) admitting to rising levels of complaints.’

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Legal Futures, 24th November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Archaic’ UK law needs urgent update for self-driving vehicles, MPs say – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK’s reputation as a “trailblazer” in the development of self-driving vehicles is at risk unless new laws are passed as a matter of urgency to better support their testing and commercialisation, a committee of MPs has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th September 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

MPs to investigate sexual harassment of female surgeons – BBC News

‘MPs will investigate the sexual harassment and sexual assault of female surgeons taking place within the NHS.’

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BBC News, 13th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Britain must become a leader in AI regulation, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted August 31st, 2023 in artificial intelligence, bills, news, reports, select committees by tracey

‘The UK should introduce new legislation to control artificial intelligence or risk falling behind the EU and the US in setting the pace for regulating the technology, MPs have said.’

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The Guardian, 31st August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

New guidance needed to stop ministers putting friends on Whitehall boards – The Guardian

‘Ministers may be bringing in political “super-spads” through the backdoor by putting them on the boards of Whitehall departments, a leading committee of MPs has found, as it called for an overhaul of appointment rules.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Call to overhaul ‘out of date’ UK abortion laws after woman jailed – The Guardian

‘Abortion legislation is “very much out of date” and should be overhauled, the chair of the Commons women and equalities committee has said, after a woman was jailed for procuring drugs to induce an abortion after the legal limit.’

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The Guardian, 13th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cryptoassets should be regulated as gambling, say MPs – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 19th, 2023 in cryptocurrencies, gambling, news, regulations, select committees by tracey

‘Bitcoin, Ether and other “unbacked” cryptoassets should be subject to gambling, not financial services, regulation, a prominent committee of UK MPs has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th May 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘Volatile’ cryptocurrency trading should be regulated as gambling, says treasury committee – The Independent

Posted May 17th, 2023 in cryptocurrencies, gambling, news, regulations, select committees by sally

‘Consumer cryptocurrency trading should be regulated as gambling, the treasury committee has urged.’

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The Independent, 17th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Committee report warns that police cooperation between the UK and EU could end without action on trade agreement – Solicitors Journal

Posted April 6th, 2023 in brexit, international trade, news, police, select committees, treaties by michael

‘The House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee published its findings on its latest analysis of the EU laws that could impact the UK on 4 April, which warns that cross-border cooperation between UK and EU police could end if proposed changes to the EU rules on police database information sharing enter into force without a deal to update the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).’

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Solicitors Journal, 5th April 2023

Source: www.solicitorsjournal.com

Illegal migration bill could topple world refugee system, lawmakers told – The Guardian

‘The government’s plans to curtail the rights of asylum seekers could lead to the collapse of the system of international protection for refugees, parliamentarians have been warned.’

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The Guardian, 29th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Conor Casey: House of Lords Constitution Committee Rejects Significant Reform to UK Law Officers – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘The Attorney General and Solicitor General are the UK government’s principal legal advisors. Known collectively as the Law Officers, the origins of these ancient constitutional officers date back to the 13th Century. Historically, the Law Officers were leading barristers who acted as the Crown’s personal lawyers, fiercely representing their interests in legal proceedings. As political power passed from the Crown to the Prime Minister and their Cabinet, the Law Officers eventually became salaried ministers. Appointed and removed by the Crown on the advice of the Prime Minister, Law Officers today are typically qualified lawyers with experience in practice who are also political figures; as members of one of the Houses of Parliament, a member of government, and senior member of the governing political party.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 31st January 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Conor Casey: House of Lords Constitution Committee Rejects Significant Reform to UK Law Officers – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘The Attorney General and Solicitor General are the UK government’s principal legal advisors. Known collectively as the Law Officers, the origins of these ancient constitutional officers date back to the 13th Century. Historically, the Law Officers were leading barristers who acted as the Crown’s personal lawyers, fiercely representing their interests in legal proceedings. As political power passed from the Crown to the Prime Minister and their Cabinet, the Law Officers eventually became salaried ministers. Appointed and removed by the Crown on the advice of the Prime Minister, Law Officers today are typically qualified lawyers with experience in practice who are also political figures; as members of one of the Houses of Parliament, a member of government, and senior member of the governing political party.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 31st January 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Bill of Rights: Call to scrap plans to rewrite human rights law – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2023 in bills, human rights, news, select committees by sally

‘Plans to rewrite UK human rights law would “damage people’s ability to enforce their rights” inside and outside court, MPs and peers say.’

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BBC News, 25th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK menopause law change rejected as it ‘could discriminate against men’ – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2023 in employment, menopause, news, reports, select committees, sex discrimination by sally

‘Proposals to change UK legislation to protect the rights of women experiencing menopause have been in part rejected by the government due to fears such a move would discriminate against men.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com