Watchdog updates technical guidance for schools regarding pupils with protected characteristics – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has updated its technical guidance for schools in England and Scotland, outlining the obligations the Equality Act places upon schools regarding pupils with protected characteristics and the provision of their education.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Less transparent and democratic’: damning verdict on rule of law – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Law-making has become less transparent, less accountable, less inclusive and less democratic, legal thinktank Justice has said in a damning report published today on the government’s approach to the rule of law.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK failing to protect disabled people, says equalities watchdog – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned of the consequences of “continuing inaction” from governments in addressing problems faced by disabled people.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK equality watchdog restarts inquiry into bullying claims against chair – The Guardian

‘Britain’s equality watchdog has restarted an investigation into complaints of bullying and harassment made against its chair, Kishwer Falkner.’

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The Guardian, 18th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tarun Khaitan: A Fourth Branch of the State? On Constitutional Guarantors in the UK – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘In its Report setting the agenda for a likely Labour government after the next elections, the Brown Commission has set out an ambitious programme of constitutional reform. In a previous post, I examined its recommendation in relation to a fully elected second chamber to replace the House of Lords. In this post, I will examine its recommendations concerning bodies that comparative constitutional scholarship calls ‘fourth branch’ or guarantor institutions. The Report recommends the setting up of three new independent constitutional guarantors: an Integrity & Ethics Commission to enforce the code of ministerial conduct, an Appointments Commission for merit-only appointments to public bodies, and an Anti-Corruption Commissioner. It also recommends further empowerment of the Equality and Human Rights Commission to provide evidence on the implementation of the new proposed social rights, ‘with a remit, membership and staffing substantially altered to give it capacity to do so.’ It seeks to offer a new constitutional mandate to the UK Infrastructure Bank and rename it as the British Regional Business Investment Bank.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th March 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Ikea UK makes agreement with EHRC to improve policies on sexual harassment – The Guardian

‘Ikea UK has made an agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to improve its sexual harassment policies and practices after a complaint by a former employee.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Equalities watchdog criticises councils for leaving adults receiving social care “in the dark” about how to challenge decisions – Local Government Lawyer

‘Adults receiving social care in England and Wales are being failed if they try to challenge decisions made by local authorities, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has claimed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Footballer Quitongo loses race discrimination claim against former club – The Independent

Footballer Rico Quitongo has described losing his race discrimination claim against his former club as a “bitter blow”.

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The Independent, 24th November 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Equalities watchdog to hold inquiry into methods of challenging decisions about adult social care – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has launched an inquiry that will consider the effectiveness of existing methods of challenging local authority decisions about individuals’ entitlements to adult social care or support in England and Wales, including – but not limited to – complaints to local authorities and Ombuds, and judicial review.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th July 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bar instructs lawyers to fight Covid-19 operating hours plan – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The criminal bar has instructed heavyweight law firm Mishcon de Reya to help it fight controversial proposals to extend Covid-19 operating hours to more courts. HM Courts & Tribunals Service is considering rolling out the model from January. A rapid consultation on the proposals closed yesterday.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th December 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Jeremy Corbyn to start legal action over suspension of Labour whip – The Guardian

‘Jeremy Corbyn is to start a formal legal claim against the Labour party for suspending the whip, in a case which allies of the former Labour leader say is intended to prove there was a deal with Keir Starmer’s office to readmit him to the party.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office broke equalities law with hostile environment measures – The Guardian

‘The Home Office broke equalities law when it introduced its hostile environment immigration measures, a critical report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 25th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Changes to gender recognition laws ruled out – BBC News

‘Ministers have ruled out changes to make it easier for transgender people in England and Wales to have their gender legally recognised.’

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BBC News, 22nd September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EHRC reports on inclusive justice – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Ten years after the Equality Act came into force, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published their findings and recommendations in a report entitled “Inclusive Justice: a system designed for all”. Although the report recognises where progress has been made, it also identifies very significant problems.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 16th June 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

EHRC urges compulsory disability training for lawyers – Legal Futures

‘Disability awareness should be a professional requirement, and a mandatory element of criminal lawyers’ CPD, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has recommended.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Equalities watchdog to investigate hostile environment policy – The Guardian

‘The Home Office is being investigated over whether it breached equality law when it introduced the “hostile environment” immigration measures that caused catastrophic consequences for thousands of Windrush generation residents living legally in the UK.’

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The Guardian, 12th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK equality watchdog to launch inquiry into entrenched racism – The Guardian

‘The UK’s equality watchdog is launching an inquiry into “long-standing, structural race inequality”, which has been thrown into stark relief by the coronavirus pandemic.’

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The Guardian, 5th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Remote hearings and inclusive justice – Transparency Project

‘How effectively are people with a cognitive impairment, mental health condition and/or neuro-diverse condition able to participate in proceedings in the justice system, particularly when they engage with that system via video or telephone link?’

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Transparency Project, 24th April 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

EHRC warning on use of video hearings in criminal cases – Legal Futures

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHCR) has called on the government to take action to reduce the risk of disabled people being wrongly convicted because of video hearings in criminal cases.’

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Legal Futures, 24th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New Judgment: MS (Pakistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] UKSC 9 – UKSC Blog

‘MS’ application for asylum was rejected in August 2013 and the Secretary of State decided to remove MS from the UK. Appealing this decision to the FTT, on human rights grounds, the FTT had found that MS had been under compulsion and control but nonetheless dismissed the appeal. The UT then re-made the decision in view of errors of law by the FTT, finding in favour of MS. The UT observed that the decision of the National Referral Mechanism could only be challenged by judicial review proceedings, not through the immigration appeals system. However, the UT also held that if an NRM decision was perverse or otherwise contrary to some public law ground, the UT could make its own decision as to whether an individual was a victim of trafficking. Otherwise, the decision to remove him would be contrary to the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (‘ECAT’) and the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’).’

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UKSC Blog, 18th March 2020

Source: ukscblog.com