Sussex University overturns £585,000 fine as high court rejects free speech breach claim – The Guardian

Posted April 29th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Sussex University has overturned a £585,000 fine by England’s higher education watchdog after the high court rejected claims the university had breached free speech regulations involving its former professor Kathleen Stock.’

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The Guardian, 29th April 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog takes action over accident management companies’ adverts – Legal Futures

Posted April 29th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Three accident claims management companies – one of which is owned by a law firm – have been found in breach of the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) rules.’

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Legal Futures, 29th April 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Freedom of expression, freedom of religion and the abortion debate: R v Skinner – Law & Religion UK

Posted April 29th, 2026 in news by michael

‘In R v Skinner [2026] EWCR 4, Mr Skinner was a devout Christian strongly opposed to abortion. He sent two identical letters, attached to e-mails, to Temporary Inspector Fern Graham of the Dorset Police and to the Office of the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner (which was opened by a female office administrator) headed “Reporting mass murder in Ophir Road” – a reference to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service’s clinic in Ophir Road, Bournemouth, which offers pregnancy termination. The letters included what were said to be photographs of aborted foetuses and comments about “brutal killings taking place in Bournemouth” and “terror and torture” suffered by foetuses in the process of termination [1-4]. (He also sent them to the Chief Constable and to local councillors, but those were not the subject of a criminal complaint [7].) He was convicted in respect of the e-mails to Inspector Graham and the Police and Crime Commissioner for improper use of the public electronic communications network, contrary to s.127(1) of the Communications Act 2003 [9 & 10]. He appealed.’

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Law & Religion UK, 28th April 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

New cyber obligations proposed for British energy businesses – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 29th, 2026 in news by michael

‘All energy companies licensed to operate in Britain will be subject to “baseline” cybersecurity requirements – with higher standards imposed on the most ‘critical’ operators – under proposals set out by the UK government and energy regulator Ofgem.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th April 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Southwark must disclose SEND safety valve documents despite section 36 exemptions being engaged, tribunal rules – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 29th, 2026 in news by michael

‘In London Borough of Southwark v The Information Commissioner & Southwark Law Centre [2026] UKFTT 628 (GRC), decided on 28 April 2026, the tribunal partly allowed the council’s appeal against a decision notice issued by the Information Commissioner in October 2025. While the tribunal accepted that the section 36(2)(b)(ii) and 36(2)(c) exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 were engaged, it held that the public interest balance nonetheless favoured disclosure.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th April 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk