Category: news

‘The UK Government’s Earned Settlement consultation proposes a fundamental shift in how migrants achieve Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Instead of a time-based system, settlement would be earned through measurable contributions and integration. For the tech sector – one of the UK’s fastest-growing industries – these changes could have far-reaching consequences. If someone has ILR it means that there is no time limit on their ability to stay in the UK. They can work and study without restrictions and they are eligible for welfare benefits. For some people ILR is a step towards applying for British citizenship, usually one year after being granted ILR.’

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Kingsley Napley Immigration Law Blog, 22nd January 2026

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

‘The prescriptive nature of Diocesan Churchyard Regulations provides parochial clergy with delegated authority to allow memorials which fall within the certain specified criteria, although they are perfectly at liberty, should they wish, to decline to permit a memorial even though it complies with the Regulations. The case Re St. Cuthbert Kentmere [2025] ECC Car 12 demonstrates the progress of a petition to erect a headstone in the churchyard of St Cuthbert’s, Kentmere, from the initially unsuccessful approaches – informal and via the DAC – to discussions with the Chancellor, and final approval of the agreed format[*].’

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Law & Religion UK, 23rd January 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

‘The Supreme Court has ruled that a contractor does not have the immediate right to terminate a construction contract simply because a client has made two late payments.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 22nd January 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘The financial campaigner James Daley has launched a £1.5bn class action lawsuit against Apple over its mobile phone wallet, claiming the US tech company blocked competition and charged hidden fees that ultimately harmed 50 million UK consumers.’

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The Divisional Court (Males LJ, Bourne J) has dismissed a claim seeking to enforce unincorporated treaty obligations in strident terms. The judgment makes new points paving the way for the eventual disavowal by an appellate court (likely the UKSC) of the EOG principle, the principle that an executive commitment in policy to comply with unincorporated treaties provides a domestic foothold for a court to adjudicate compliance. The case is R (The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada and others) v Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology [2026] EWHC 91 (Admin).’

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Administrative Court Blog, 21st January 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘Under conditions of managerial adaptability, employers structure their commercial affairs in such a way that they are able to access a ready and available pool of workers when demand is high, while retaining the flexibility to offload excess labour when business pressures tail off.1 And the relevant legal arrangements are usually put into effect in a manner that both insulates the hirer of services from exposure to external liability and saves labour, tax, social security, pension and other commercial costs. They are formalized via a plethora of elaborate commercial contracts, sometimes involving legal entities that are inter-positioned between the individual service providers and the business itself. This might be seen as “having one’s cake and eating it”, but it is undoubtedly a distinctive marker of the contemporary labour market currently serving both product and services markets.’

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Industrial Law Journal, 9th January 2026

Source: academic.oup.com

‘A coroner has warned that more babies could die without greater clarity and guidance over the role of home birthing assistants, after the death of a baby girl raised concerns about a doula delaying access to hospital treatment.’

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The Guardian, 21st January 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘There is a disproportionately high prevalence of mental health problems among women in prison. While research has acknowledged the heightened vulnerabilities of this population, there remains a paucity of studies examining the provision and quality of mental health services across the women’s prison estate. This study employs Thematic Analysis of the most recent unannounced inspection reports from each women’s prison in England to explore the quality of mental health care and factors influencing its effective delivery. The analysis identified key themes highlighting the critical role of the prison regime, physical environment, and service provision in supporting women with mental health needs. Although examples of good practice were evident – including effective communication between clinical teams, staff skilled in identifying vulnerable individuals, and access to a range of psychological interventions – significant inconsistencies persist. Barriers such as long waiting times for therapy, chronic staff shortages, and high levels of mental illness contribute to the overwhelming demand placed on prison mental health services, resulting in unmet need. To address these challenges, increased investment in prison-based mental health services is essential. Moreover, greater funding for community-based mental health support is needed to alleviate systemic pressures and ensure continuity of care for women both during and after imprisonment.’

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Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 14th January 2026

Source: www.tandfonline.com

‘A primary school teacher has lost her £60,000 compensation fight with Go Ape after shattering her leg on a slide “aimed at children” as young as three.’

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The Independent, 22nd January 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘David Lammy’s plans to introduce judge-only criminal trials in England and Wales will save less than 2% of time in crown courts, the Institute for Government (IFG) has said.’

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The Guardian, 22nd January 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A teenage girl was forced to work as a “house slave” for over 25 years, a court has heard.’

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The Independent, 21st January 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘The new judicial diversity strategy has prioritised increasing the number of Black judges and ensuring reasonable adjustments are provided for disabled judges as areas of “acute need requiring urgent attention”.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd January 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The Court of Appeal has criticised Saini J’s high-profile judgment on the scope of jury equity in HM Solicitor General v Warner [2024] EWHC 918 (KB). The case is Webster v The King [2026] EWCA Crim 9.’

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Administrative Court Blog, 21st January 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘The Covid lockdown period provided unexpected opportunities to discover the advantages and disadvantages of holding court hearings ‘remotely’ online.’

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Transparency Project, 19th January 2026

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

‘At a recent group action case management hearing in White and others v Uber London Ltd and others [2025] EWHC 2972 (Comm), Mrs Justice O’Farrell helpfully explained the approach the courts will take when determining whether to order costs budgeting in group litigation. The case concerns 13,000 claims by London black cab drivers against the defendants, the Uber Group, for damages in respect of allegations of unlawful means conspiracy.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th January 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘On 2 December 2025, the Lord Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy announced significant reforms to criminal trials in England and Wales. Defending his proposals on the BBC Sunday programme on 4 January 2026, Lammy justified restricting jury trial on the basis of his strong sense of justice, explicitly pointing to the fact he had a photograph of Martin Luther King alongside Rabbi Heschel marching during the civil rights movement in his office. Lammy’s usage of one of the most historically significant examples of civil disobedience to explain his motivations for jury reform is troubling. The effect of the reforms will lead to jury trials for offences committed in the course of civil disobedience being replaced with summary proceedings before magistrates’ courts, or, if the offence is deemed sufficiently serious, before new ‘swift courts’ composed of a single judge. Since defences for peaceful protesters have been successively removed since 2021, jury acquittals, particularly through jury equity, frequently constitute the last option for protesters to avoid the increasingly harsh sentences legislated for by Parliament and imposed by courts. The removal of jury trial from those convicted of protest-related crimes is the final nail in the coffin for peaceful protesters, ensuring that those who dissent are predictably convicted.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 21st January 2026

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘The former nurse Lucy Letby will face no new charges on suspicion of murdering or harming babies, prosecutors have announced.’

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The Guardian, 20th January 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A woman who was sexually abused as a child by groups of men has said she feels insulted after her compensation claims were denied.’

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BBC News, 21st January 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘The High Court has overturned the finding of misconduct made about the solicitor for former Conservative Chancellor Nadeem Zahawi.’

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Legal Futures, 21st January 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘A former prison officer has been jailed for having romantic relationships with two inmates and plotting to smuggle drug-soaked envelopes into prison.’

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BBC News, 20th January 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk