Foreign Office wants rendition case against Jack Straw to be held in private – The Guardian

‘The Foreign Office is asking the high court to sit in secret when former foreign secretary Jack Straw faces a damages claim over his alleged role in the abduction and torture of a Libyan dissident and his pregnant wife.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jeremy Hunt and NHS ‘delayed telling patients’ about mislaid confidential documents after private firm blunder – The Independent

Posted June 27th, 2017 in data protection, health, ministers' powers and duties, news, privacy, reports by tracey

‘Jeremy Hunt has been accused of leaving Parliament and patients in the dark after hundreds of thousands of pieces of confidential medical correspondence was discovered “languishing in a warehouse”. At least 1,700 patients may have been harmed by the major blunder, according to a new report into the incident from the National Audit Office (NAO).’

Full Story

The Independent, 27th June 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Minister acted unlawfully in issuing boycotts ban for LGPS investment, judge rules – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Communities Secretary acted for an unauthorised purpose and therefore unlawfully when he issued statutory guidance on the investment strategy for the local government pension scheme (LGPS) that sought to prevent boycotts, divestment and sanctions against foreign nations and UK defence industries.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 23rd June 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

No bans on local authority disinvestment decisions – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Many people like to have a say over the investment policies of their pension funds. They may not want investment in fossil fuels, companies with questionable working practices, arms manufacturers, Israel or indeed any company which supports Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip – to choose but a few of people’s current choices. And pension funds, left to their own devices, may wish to adopt one or more of these choices to reflect their pensioners’ views.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 25th June 2017

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Foreign criminals’ deportation scheme ruled unlawful – UK Human Rights Blog

‘R (Kiarie) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; R (Byndloss) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] UKSC 42. The Government’s flagship scheme to deport foreign criminals first and hear their appeals later was ruled by the Supreme Court to be incompatible with the appellants’ right to respect for their private and family life.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, June 15th 2017

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Colin Harvey and Daniel Holder: The Great Repeal Bill and the Good Friday Agreement – Cementing a Stalemate or Constitutional Collision Course? – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘As predicted, Brexit is proving to be profoundly destabilising for the peace process and the constitutional politics of Northern Ireland. An outcome that lacks the consent of the people of Northern Ireland (a majority voted to remain) is re-opening fundamental questions about future relationships across these islands. We argue that this constitutional mess has potentially created a ‘perfect storm’, and leaves many here struggling with the troubling consequences.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 6th June 2017

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

UK government sued for third time over illegal air pollution from diesels – The Guardian

‘Environmental lawyers are taking the government to the high court for a third time in a bid to remove “major flaws” from minister’s plans to tackle the UK’s illegal levels of air pollution.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 31st May 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Diary of a Wimpy Minister – Panopticon

‘A mere three years ago, the FTT held that the Ministerial Diary of Andrew Lansley was relevantly held under FOIA and was not exempt under section 35(1)(b). Now the Court of Appeal has held, in Department of Health v Information Commissioner & Lewis [2017] EWCA Civ 374, that the FTT made no error. The fact that no-one can now remember who Andrew Lansley was (now Lord Lansley CBE thank you) or why anyone would care, is by-the-by.’

Full story

Panopticon, 25th May 2017

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Government fails to block release of Andrew Lansley diary portions – The Guardian

‘Court rules in favour of journalist Simon Lewis who made FoI request to see diary passages from period of health reforms.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th May 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministers ‘should have legal duty to combat rise in prison suicides’ – The Guardian

Posted May 3rd, 2017 in ministers' powers and duties, news, prisons, suicide by tracey

‘The next government should introduce legislation to “end the shocking rise in self-harm and suicides in prisons”, a cross-party group of MPs and peers has reported.’

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd May 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Blair prosecution opposed by attorney general, says paper – BBC News

Posted April 18th, 2017 in Iraq, ministers' powers and duties, news, private prosecutions, reports, war by sally

‘The attorney general hopes to block a private prosecution against Tony Blair over the Iraq war, a report says.’

Full story

BBC News, 17th April 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Justice Secretary Liz Truss ‘could be stripped of Lord Chancellor role’ after series of mishaps – The Independent

‘Cabinet ministers are reportedly urging Theresa May to sack Liz Truss from her role as Lord Chancellor after a series of embarrassing mistakes.’

Full story

The Independent, 6th April 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tony Blair’s rush to war could be repeated due to lack of checks, MPs warn – The Independent

Posted March 16th, 2017 in Iraq, ministers' powers and duties, news, reports, select committees, war by tracey

‘No checks have been put in place to prevent a prime minister repeating Tony Blair’s disastrous rush to war in Iraq, MPs have warned.’

Full story

The Independent, 15th March 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Why international law should trump nationalism – New Law Journal

Posted March 10th, 2017 in international law, ministers' powers and duties, news, treaties by sally

‘Recent changes to the Ministerial Code, which could undermine the UK’s commitment to the rule of law, may be subject to judicial review, as Daniel Carey explains. Interview by Jenny Rayner.’

Full story

New Law Journal, 24th February 2017

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Appeal against changes to UK’s international law obligations granted – The Guardian

‘Changes to the official ministerial code that removed a requirement that ministers must comply with international laws and treaties are to be challenged in the court of appeal.’

Full story

The Guardian, 26th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Libyan wins right to sue ex-Foreign Secretary Jack Straw – BBC News

‘Ex-Foreign Secretary Jack Straw faces being sued over allegations of abduction and torture brought by a former Libyan dissident.’

Full story

BBC News, 17th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Justice secretary under pressure from Gove to cut prison population – The Guardian

Posted November 17th, 2016 in imprisonment, ministers' powers and duties, news, prisons, reports, sentencing by sally

‘The UK justice secretary, Liz Truss, has come under severe pressure from her predecessor, Michael Gove, and the chief inspector of prisons to take urgent action to cut the prison population.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords justice spokesman condemns ‘ill-informed’ attacks on judiciary – The Guardian

‘The Lords’ spokesperson for the ministry of justice has condemned “ill-informed” media attacks on judges, as political pressure mounts for Liz Truss to speak out more clearly in defence of judicial independence.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unlawful immigration curfews under government review – BBC News

Posted November 4th, 2016 in detention, immigration, ministers' powers and duties, news by tracey

‘The Home Office has been forced to review curfews imposed on people after they leave immigration detention centres, a BBC investigation has found. It comes after the Court of Appeal ruled in March that it had imposed the curfews unlawfully.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HMRC press briefing in film tax case breached confidentiality duty, says Supreme Court – OUT-LAW.com

”Off the record’ comments made by former HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) permanent secretary for tax Dave Hartnett to journalists at The Times in 2012 breached the duty of confidentiality owed to taxpayers by the department, the UK’s highest court has ruled.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 20th October 2016

Source: www.out-law.com