Data shows 900 women in UK affected by benefit cap ‘rape clause’ – The Guardian

‘Official figures show 900 women were forced to disclose that their child was conceived as a result of rape to claim social security help under the government’s two-child cap on benefits.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

EU citizens will be deported for minor offences under Priti Patel’s post-Brexit immigration crackdown, lawyer warns – The Independent

‘EU citizens will be deported for minor offences under Priti Patel’s post-Brexit immigration crackdown, despite having permission to stay, a leading lawyer has warned.’

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The Independent, 14th July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Self-ID for transgender people ‘unlikely’ to get ministers’ support – BBC News

‘Ministers are unlikely to back a major reform to the Gender Recognition Act, it is understood, amid fresh uncertainty over when the government will actually announce its plans.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pressure mounts on Priti Patel over case of 11-year-old at risk of FGM – The Guardian

‘Barristers, former judges, politicians and campaigners are among 300 people who have signed an open letter to the home secretary, Priti Patel, urging her to grant asylum to an 11-year-old girl at high risk of female genital mutilation if taken abroad.’

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The Guardian, 10th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers plead with peers for government Covid support – Legal Futures

‘Criminal defence barristers have made a desperate plea to peers for government support to survive the Covid-19 crisis, with solicitors agreeing that the profession was in dire straits.’

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Legal Futures, 13th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Client Earth/Drax Case – No. 5 Chambers

‘This case is a High Court challenge by statutory judicial review to the Secretary of State’s decision to grant a development consent order for the construction and operation of two gas-fired generating units at an existing coal-fired power station site in Yorkshire. The decision was contrary to the recommendation of her examining Panel. The challenge was unsuccessful largely because the Panel itself had made an error which the Secretary of State declined to follow. The Panel had misinterpreted national policy on the assessment of “need” for the development and the Secretary of State had been entitled to conclude that that need outweighed the substantial adverse environmental impacts of the proposed development.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 30th June 2020

Source: www.no5.com

London-born twins face deportation to different countries – The Guardian

‘Twins who were born in London and have never left the UK face deportation to different countries in the Caribbean where they have no close relatives, their families have told the Guardian.’

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The Guardian, 7th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal action threatened over Boris Johnson’s ‘unlawful’ green recovery plans – The Guardian

‘Boris Johnson’s much-vaunted green recovery plans are inadequate and “clearly unlawful” as they do not match up to the government’s legal obligations under the Paris climate agreement and the UK’s own net zero emissions target, green campaigners have said.’

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The Guardian, 7th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lockdown challenge — permission refused – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Mr Justice Lewis has refused permission to bring a judicial review in what is arguably the most comprehensive and wide-reaching challenge brought to date to the legality of the lockdown Regulations and the decision to stop providing education on school premises (save for the children of key workers) in R (Dolan and Ors) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Secretary of State for Education [2020] EWHC 1786 (Admin).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 7th July 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Windrush: at least five who applied for compensation die before receiving it – The Guardian

‘At least five people have died before receiving the Windrush compensation they had applied for, the government has revealed, reigniting concern about the slowness of the scheme.’

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The Guardian, 7th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dunn v FCO — the opening skirmishes – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In R (Dunn) v The Foreign Secretary and the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire [2020] EWHC 1620 (Admin) the Divisional Court dismissed two applications made in anticipation of the forthcoming rolled up judicial review arising out of the death of Harry Dunn.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th July 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

New UK law could challenge China over Hong Kong, but will it go far enough? – The Guardian

‘New UK human rights sanctions legislation set to be published in the next few weeks is being touted as a possible tool with which to confront Chinese officials over Hong Kong, but questions loom about whether the law’s range and impact can meet such high expectations.’

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The Guardian, 2nd July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

High court hears legal challenge to England’s lockdown restrictions – The Guardian

‘The government’s lockdown, which has closed schools, premises and companies while limiting free movement, is the “most sweeping and far-reaching” restriction on fundamental rights since the second world war, the high court has been told.’

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The Guardian, 2nd July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office increases support for trafficking victims after lawyers argue rates are ‘discriminatory’ – The Independent

‘The Home Office has increased support for suspected modern slavery victims after facing a legal challenge claimed the current levels were discriminatory and left vulnerable mothers unable to afford basic essentials.’

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The Independent, 1st July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Iraq veterans urged to join group action against MoD – Litigation Futures

‘Claims on behalf of British soldiers falsely accused of brutality and abuses against Iraqi civilians have added to this week’s rush of group actions.’

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Litigation Futures, 25th June 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Government and watchdog ‘are totally failing problem gamblers’ – The Guardian

Posted June 29th, 2020 in gambling, government departments, news, ombudsmen, select committees by sally

‘The government and the gambling watchdog have an “unacceptably weak understanding” about the harmful effects of gambling and how to tackle them, a parliamentary committee has warned.’

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The Guardian, 28th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK could be breaking international law over cladding, says UN – The Guardian

‘The UN has warned Britain that its failure to strip combustible cladding from high-rise buildings containing tens of thousands homes may be a breach of international law.’

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The Guardian, 28th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

EP 117: Systemic Racial Inequality – Windrush and the Bar – Martin Forde QC – Law Pod UK

‘In Episode 117, Emma-Louise Fenelon talks to Martin Forde QC on systemic racial inequality relating to Windrush, immigration history and at the Bar.’

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Law Pod UK, 25th June 2020

Source: audioboom.com

What You Should Know About The UK’s 14-Day Quarantine Rule – Each Other

‘As many Britons bask in a summer heatwave, Kylie Neuhaus will remain housebound for the next week or else she could face a fine of up to £1,000.’

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Each Other, 24th June 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Universal credit rules irrational and unlawful, judge says – The Guardian

‘Four single mothers have secured a victory over the government after the appeal court ruled that rigid universal credit payment rules that leave tens of thousands of working benefit claimants out of pocket were irrational and unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com