Bar Council warns regulator over plans for chambers – Legal Futures

Posted March 7th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, mergers, news, standards by sally

‘The Bar Council has warned the Bar Standards Board (BSB) not to go too far in its oversight of chambers and said its idea of encouraging smaller sets to merge is “inappropriate”.’

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Legal Futures, 7th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK advertising regulators issue update on body image and enhancement review – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 11th, 2024 in advertising, codes of practice, news, standards by sally

‘Businesses must ensure any advertisements including digital alterations made to body images are not “irresponsible” or “misleading”, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th January 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Calvin Klein ad with singer FKA twigs banned for making her ‘stereotypical sexual object’ – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2024 in advertising, complaints, news, standards, women by sally

‘A Calvin Klein advertisement featuring the British singer FKA twigs has been banned by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority, on the grounds that it presented her as “a stereotypical sexual object”.’

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The Guardian, 10th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Chambers “should not have to merge for regulatory reasons” – Legal Futures

Posted January 11th, 2024 in barristers, inns of court, mergers, news, standards by sally

‘The new chair of the Bar Council has pushed back at the idea floated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) that chambers could merge to make regulatory compliance easier.’

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Legal Futures, 11th January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK watchdog rules Eurostar’s £39 seat sale advert was misleading – The Guardian

Posted January 4th, 2024 in advertising, complaints, news, railways, standards by sally

‘Eurostar has been censured by the advertising watchdog after misleading potential customers over the cost of seats during its sale last summer.’

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The Guardian, 3rd January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Doctor who sexually harassed nurses to stay in work – BBC News

‘A hospital doctor who admitted sexually harassing two nurses should not be suspended, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

James Milton: Rule of Law, Political Accountability and the Importance of Culture – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted November 30th, 2023 in news, parliament, political parties, rule of law, standards by sally

‘Political accountability plays a key role in the operation of the rule of law. This is the main claim I seek to defend through this blog post. My framework here is that the rule of law is just as concerned about the ethos of public officials as it is their actions. Political accountability acts as a mechanism through which the ethos behind public officials actions and decision-making can be monitored. As a result, political accountability plays a crucial part in the operation of the rule of law.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th November 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Watchdog head ‘does not know’ if UK parliament is safe workspace for women – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2023 in bullying, complaints, harassment, news, parliament, standards by sally

‘The head of parliament’s complaints watchdog has said she “does not know” if the Palace of Westminster is a safe workplace for women.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

BSB could publish assessments of chambers and encourage mergers – Legal Futures

Posted October 24th, 2023 in barristers, consultations, mergers, news, standards by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has floated the idea of publishing assessments of individual chambers as part of a new “graduated supervision strategy”.’

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Legal Futures, 24th October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tory peer cleared for second time of breaking lobbying rules over PPE contracts – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2023 in contracts, coronavirus, lobbying, news, parliament, standards by tracey

‘A Conservative peer has been cleared of breaking lobbying rules for a second time by the House of Lords watchdog over introducing a company that was awarded government PPE contracts worth £50m.’

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The Guardian, 27th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK sustainability disclosure standards expected by July 2024 – OUT-LAW.com

‘New UK sustainability corporate disclosure standards are expected to be endorsed by the UK government by July 2024.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th August 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Warehouse ad showed unhealthily thin model, ASA finds – BBC News

Posted June 22nd, 2023 in advertising, complaints, news, standards by tracey

‘Fashion retailer Warehouse has been told an image on its website made a model “appear unhealthily thin”.’

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BBC News, 21st June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mike Gordon: Creating an Integrity and Ethics Commission in the UK: The Case for Reform and Challenges for Implementation – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘In an era of intense and continuing controversy over the rules of political responsibility, the question of how to reform the current framework of constitutional standards applicable to politicians requires serious consideration. In addition to the regularity with which allegations about ministerial irresponsibility are being raised and sometimes (eventually) addressed, there are clearly structural challenges relating to these accountability processes and practices. There are legitimate concerns about the consistency, certainty, efficacy, independence and transparency of decision-making in this context. These concerns apply to the way in which potential violations of ethical standards are investigated, and also to the way in which sanctions are (or are not – or are not for long) imposed on political actors who are found to have broken the rules. The systemic nature of the UK’s failings in this area shows the need to consider potentially radical constitutional reforms.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd June 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Firm called in to review bar’s struggling enforcement system – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 22nd, 2023 in barristers, enforcement, law firms, news, standards by tracey

‘International firm Fieldfisher LLP has been given the job of assessing whether the under-fire system for punishing errant barristers is fit for purpose.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

NHS Trust chief to publicly apologise to victims of maternity care scandal – The Independent

Posted May 25th, 2023 in birth, families, hospitals, news, pregnancy, standards by tracey

‘The head of an under-fire NHS Trust will publicly apologise to victims of a maternity scandal as the chair of a review into the episode said the trust has “a lot of learning to do”.
Anthony May, chief executive of the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, will apologise on its behalf to parents who were affected by poor maternity care at its annual public meeting on July 10, the trust said on Wednesday.’

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The Independent, 24th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Adverts claiming products are carbon neutral by using offsetting face UK ban – The Guardian

Posted May 16th, 2023 in advertising, climate change, consumer protection, news, standards by sally

‘Adverts that claim products are carbon neutral using offsets are to be banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog unless companies can prove they really work, the Guardian can reveal, as Gucci becomes the latest company to struggle with a high-profile environmental commitment based on offsetting.’

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The Guardian, 15th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tougher licensing rules for taxi drivers come into force – BBC News

Posted April 27th, 2023 in licensing, local government, news, road safety, standards, taxis by sally

‘Tougher rules for taxi and private hire drivers will be introduced in England in a bid to make passengers safer.’

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BBC News, 27th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

London boroughs issue report on going beyond statutory and regulatory housing responsibilities, admitting there is “more they must do” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 13th, 2023 in housing, local government, London, news, reports, standards, statutory duty by sally

‘The London Housing Directors’ Group, with support from London Councils, has issued a report setting out best practice principles on how boroughs can go beyond their statutory and regulatory responsibilities to deliver the “highest possible housing standards”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th April 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

PwC fined for Babcock audit failings including creating false record – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2023 in accounts, auditors, financial regulation, fines, news, standards by sally

‘The consultancy group PwC has been hit with a £7.5m fine over a string of serious breaches while auditing the engineering company Babcock’s accounts, including creating a false record of documents reviewed for a sensitive government contract.’

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The Guardian, 8th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government proposes new professional requirements for social housing managers – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 28th, 2023 in examinations, health & safety, housing, landlord & tenant, news, standards by sally

‘The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced yesterday (26 February) that social housing managers must gain professional qualifications under new rules to “protect residents and raise standards in the sector”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th February 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk