High Court backs ban against teacher who condemned ‘homosexual lifestyle’ – The Independent

“The High Court has upheld a classroom ban on a Christian school teacher who condemned the ‘homosexual lifestyle’ in front of pupils.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Defamation bill faces fresh attack from Conservatives – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2013 in bills, defamation, economic loss, freedom of expression, news by sally

“The defamation bill, which was last month threatened with obliteration after a political row over Leveson press reforms, is once again under attack, but this time by the Tories who want to get rid of two key sections.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New equality guidance “recommends best practice” rather than creates new rights, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 10th, 2013 in belief discrimination, employment, equality, freedom of expression, news by sally

“Guidance on how employers should deal with requests made by employees in relation to religion or belief does not create new rights, but rather recommends ‘good practice’ to help employers comply with existing laws, an expert has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th April 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Vegans and druids to gain workplace rights under new equality rules – Daily Telegraph

“Vegetarian or vegan employees with deeply held beliefs should be allowed to exert their rights in the workplace by refusing to clean out office fridges containing meat or dairy products, according to new guidance.”

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Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ex-councillor fails to suppress story about being drunk in supermarket in charge of daughter – The Independent

“A Labour councillor fined £100 after admitting being drunk in a supermarket while in charge of her two-year-old daughter has lost a High Court anonymity fight.”

Full story

The Independent, 29th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Julie Burchill entitled to ‘offend’ transsexuals, press watchdog rules – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2013 in complaints, freedom of expression, media, news, sex discrimination by tracey

“Julie Burchill was entitled to write a controversial article about transsexuals
because she was expressing her opinion, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC)
has ruled.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Individuals ‘have no right’ to stop name being used online – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2013 in child support, data protection, freedom of expression, internet, news by tracey

“Ordinary people have no right to stop their names being used in web addresses
because they are not famous enough, according to regulators.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Blogs likely to be excluded from press reforms by House of Lords – The Guardian

Posted March 25th, 2013 in bills, damages, freedom of expression, inquiries, internet, media, news, regulations by sally

“Fears that bloggers and small-scale news websites will be dragged into the new proposed system of press regulation, so facing crippling costs, appeared to be lifting on Friday when Labour and the Liberal Democrats agreed to table last-minute amendments in the Lords to make it clear they will be excluded.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Probation officers face social media gag as outsourcing row rumbles on – The Guardian

Posted March 21st, 2013 in civil servants, freedom of expression, internet, news, probation by sally

“The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has issued instructions that probation officers face the risk of disciplinary action if they publicly criticise on Twitter or other social media his plans to outsource 70% of their work with offenders.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cameron pulls the plug on press talks – and sets stage for fight – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2013 in freedom of expression, legislation, media, news, parliament, reports by tracey

“PM’s ejector-seat diplomacy over Leveson leaves him facing a complex parliamentary battle.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Historic Royal Charter on press regulation close to being agreed – The Independent

Posted March 13th, 2013 in charters, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, regulations by sally

“The three leading political parties were last night close to signing up to a historic Royal Charter to implement the recommendations of Lord Justice Leveson on reforming regulation of the press.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

A dangerous use of police force to quell protest – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2013 in demonstrations, freedom of expression, news, police, violence, violent disorder by sally

“The Alfie Meadows ruling is a reminder of the coalition’s hypocrisy on non-violent protest.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Open up family court hearings, says senior judge – Daily Telegraph

“A senior judge has made an important ruling in favour of transparency in the family courts.”

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Campaigners unite against secret courts – The Guardian

“An alliance of more than 100 human rights groups, legal experts and free press campaigners has called on MPs to vote against government plans for ‘secret courts’ – branding them “a charter for cover-ups” that will seriously undermine the principles of British justice.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court challenge over banned ‘ex-gay’ bus advert – BBC News

“A ban on a bus advert claiming gay people can be “cured” is to be challenged in the High Court.”

Full story

BBC News, 28th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Telling tales out of school: balancing public authority employees’ duties of confidentiality with their right to freedom of expression – Employment Law Blog

“A dinner lady told a child’s parents that their daughter had been tied to a fence and whipped with a skipping rope by some other pupils, repeated the same to the press and then was dismissed for breach of confidentiality and acting in a manner likely to bring the school into disrepute. An employment tribunal found the dismissal procedurally unfair but dismissed her whistleblowing claim and reduced her compensation for unfair dismissal on the grounds of Polkey and for contributory fault. The tribunal did not, however, determine the question of whether the claimant could lawfully be disciplined for ‘telling tales out of school’ (as it put it).”

Full story

Employment Law Blog, 27th February 2013

Source: www.employment11kbw.com

Peers compromise over press regulation – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2013 in bills, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, parliament by sally

“Peers have staged a partial climbdown in their clash with the government over the introduction of Leveson-style controls on the press.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bill forcing papers to seek pre-publication approval is ‘flawed’ – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in bills, damages, defamation, dispute resolution, freedom of expression, media, news, privacy by sally

“Proposals for a new law which would require newspaper editors to seek regulatory approval for certain types of stories are flawed and should be abandoned, a number of peers have said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

ICO to publish code of practice for the press on personal data processing – OUT-LAW.com

“The UK’s data protection watchdog has outlined its intention to set new guidelines for journalists on the processing of personal data for the purposes of journalism.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 21st February 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

After Leveson: the 66-year press regulation journey that ends as it began – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in freedom of expression, inquiries, interception, media, news, privacy, telecommunications by sally

“In this extract from After Leveson, a book edited by John Mair, John Jewell, of the Cardiff school of journalism, takes us on the long journey that led publishers, editors, journalists and phone hacking victims to the royal courts of justice for the Leveson inquiry. His story begins 66 years ago…”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk