Davor Jancic: The UK-EU Trade Deal: Five Important Implications for the UK Parliament – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted January 22nd, 2021 in bills, brexit, constitutional law, EC law, news, parliament by sally

‘The announcement of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) on Christmas Eve 2020 may have come as a surprise given endless media reports about the negotiators’ intransigence and the imminent threat of a cliff edge. Add to this the Covid-19 pandemic and some ten months and just nine formal rounds of negotiations make it remarkable that any deal has been reached, let alone one that spans 1246 pages. To put this in context, only a fortnight before the deal was reached, Australia concluded its own 9th formal round of negotiations with the EU; however, this was after over two and half years of negotiations, which will continue for the foreseeable future. And while the resounding parliamentary vote in favour of implementing the TCA (521 votes in favour and 73 against) is good for the political legitimacy of the deal, the swiftness of the vote is less good in terms of democratic process and participation.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 20th January 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

One day late acceptance of part 36 offer puts costs in play – Legal Futures

‘An automatic entitlement to costs under part 36 only arises if the offer is accepted within the “relevant period”, the High Court has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 21st January 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Assange cannot be extradited, but free speech arguments dismissed — an extended look – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In The Government of the United States v Julian Assange (2021), the District Judge sitting at Westminster Magistrates’ Court discharged the American extradition request against the founder of WikiLeaks because there is a substantial risk that he would commit suicide. Given Julian Assange’s political notoriety as an avowed whistle-blower, however, the judgment is significant for its dismissal of the defence’s free speech arguments. This article analyses why these human rights submissions were unsuccessful.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 21st January 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Alexia Walenkaki swing death: Tower Hamlets Council fined £330,000 – BBC News

‘A council has been fined £330,000 after a five-year-old girl died when a swing set collapsed on her in east London.’

Full Story

BBC News, 22nd January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Professionally embarrassed’ lawyers wrong to withdraw during murder trial – Legal Futures

Posted January 22nd, 2021 in appeals, barristers, evidence, firearms, forensic science, murder, news, trials by sally

‘The legal team of a man accused of murder was wrong to withdraw during the trial citing “professional embarrassment” but the move did not render his subsequent conviction unsafe, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 22nd January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ronan Cormacain: Protecting Veterans or Protecting the Ministry of Defence? Clarity in the Overseas Operations Bill – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Legislation needs to be clear so that citizens can understand it and parliamentarians know what they are voting for. The need for clarity in legislation is set out as the first principle of Bingham’s definition of the Rule of Law, and the need for intelligibility in legislation is a requirement of the Venice Commission Checklist on the Rule of Law. This is one of the rationales for a parliamentary democracy. The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill is designed to offer legal protections to UK armed forces, and the Ministry of Defence, in relation to overseas military operations. The Bill’s Second Reading took place this week in the House of Lords. But the Bill is disingenuous: in form it is about protecting veterans, whilst in substance it is about protecting the Ministry of Defence.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd January 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

TV licence fee decriminalisation decision shelved – BBC News

Posted January 22nd, 2021 in BBC, consultations, criminal justice, fines, government departments, licensing, news by sally

‘The government has decided not to move ahead with plans to decriminalise non-payment of the TV licence fee, but said it would “remain under active consideration”.’

Full Story

BBC News, 21st January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barristers take on debt and other work to survive pandemic – Legal Futures

Posted January 22nd, 2021 in barristers, coronavirus, debts, employment, news, statistics by sally

‘Six in 10 barristers, rising to 80% of those doing publicly funded work, have taken on personal debt or used savings to get through Covid-19, Bar Council research has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 22nd January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk