BSB could publish assessments of chambers and encourage mergers – Legal Futures

Posted October 24th, 2023 in barristers, consultations, mergers, news, standards by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has floated the idea of publishing assessments of individual chambers as part of a new “graduated supervision strategy”.’

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Legal Futures, 24th October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tory peer cleared for second time of breaking lobbying rules over PPE contracts – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2023 in contracts, coronavirus, lobbying, news, parliament, standards by tracey

‘A Conservative peer has been cleared of breaking lobbying rules for a second time by the House of Lords watchdog over introducing a company that was awarded government PPE contracts worth £50m.’

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The Guardian, 27th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK sustainability disclosure standards expected by July 2024 – OUT-LAW.com

‘New UK sustainability corporate disclosure standards are expected to be endorsed by the UK government by July 2024.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th August 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Warehouse ad showed unhealthily thin model, ASA finds – BBC News

Posted June 22nd, 2023 in advertising, complaints, news, standards by tracey

‘Fashion retailer Warehouse has been told an image on its website made a model “appear unhealthily thin”.’

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BBC News, 21st June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mike Gordon: Creating an Integrity and Ethics Commission in the UK: The Case for Reform and Challenges for Implementation – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘In an era of intense and continuing controversy over the rules of political responsibility, the question of how to reform the current framework of constitutional standards applicable to politicians requires serious consideration. In addition to the regularity with which allegations about ministerial irresponsibility are being raised and sometimes (eventually) addressed, there are clearly structural challenges relating to these accountability processes and practices. There are legitimate concerns about the consistency, certainty, efficacy, independence and transparency of decision-making in this context. These concerns apply to the way in which potential violations of ethical standards are investigated, and also to the way in which sanctions are (or are not – or are not for long) imposed on political actors who are found to have broken the rules. The systemic nature of the UK’s failings in this area shows the need to consider potentially radical constitutional reforms.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd June 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Firm called in to review bar’s struggling enforcement system – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 22nd, 2023 in barristers, enforcement, law firms, news, standards by tracey

‘International firm Fieldfisher LLP has been given the job of assessing whether the under-fire system for punishing errant barristers is fit for purpose.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

NHS Trust chief to publicly apologise to victims of maternity care scandal – The Independent

Posted May 25th, 2023 in birth, families, hospitals, news, pregnancy, standards by tracey

‘The head of an under-fire NHS Trust will publicly apologise to victims of a maternity scandal as the chair of a review into the episode said the trust has “a lot of learning to do”.
Anthony May, chief executive of the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, will apologise on its behalf to parents who were affected by poor maternity care at its annual public meeting on July 10, the trust said on Wednesday.’

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The Independent, 24th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Adverts claiming products are carbon neutral by using offsetting face UK ban – The Guardian

Posted May 16th, 2023 in advertising, climate change, consumer protection, news, standards by sally

‘Adverts that claim products are carbon neutral using offsets are to be banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog unless companies can prove they really work, the Guardian can reveal, as Gucci becomes the latest company to struggle with a high-profile environmental commitment based on offsetting.’

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The Guardian, 15th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tougher licensing rules for taxi drivers come into force – BBC News

Posted April 27th, 2023 in licensing, local government, news, road safety, standards, taxis by sally

‘Tougher rules for taxi and private hire drivers will be introduced in England in a bid to make passengers safer.’

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BBC News, 27th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

London boroughs issue report on going beyond statutory and regulatory housing responsibilities, admitting there is “more they must do” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 13th, 2023 in housing, local government, London, news, reports, standards, statutory duty by sally

‘The London Housing Directors’ Group, with support from London Councils, has issued a report setting out best practice principles on how boroughs can go beyond their statutory and regulatory responsibilities to deliver the “highest possible housing standards”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th April 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

PwC fined for Babcock audit failings including creating false record – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2023 in accounts, auditors, financial regulation, fines, news, standards by sally

‘The consultancy group PwC has been hit with a £7.5m fine over a string of serious breaches while auditing the engineering company Babcock’s accounts, including creating a false record of documents reviewed for a sensitive government contract.’

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The Guardian, 8th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government proposes new professional requirements for social housing managers – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 28th, 2023 in examinations, health & safety, housing, landlord & tenant, news, standards by sally

‘The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced yesterday (26 February) that social housing managers must gain professional qualifications under new rules to “protect residents and raise standards in the sector”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th February 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Anti-strike bill discriminates against women, say campaigners – The Guardian

‘Feminist campaign groups have raised the alarm about the government’s anti-strike bill, which will enforce minimum service levels, saying women’s rights will be disproportionately affected by the restrictions.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Huel adverts banned in UK for claiming shakes could help cut food bills – The Guardian

Posted February 16th, 2023 in advertising, complaints, food, health, news, standards by sally

‘Huel adverts that claimed its meal replacement shakes could help consumers save money during the cost of living crisis have been banned after the advertising watchdog ruled they were misleading and irresponsible.’

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The Guardian, 15th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

BSB leaves door open to reaccreditation of barristers – Legal Futures

Posted February 16th, 2023 in barristers, continuing professional development, news, standards by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has said it is open to “revisiting” its position that a reaccreditation scheme to ensure the competence of barristers is unnecessary.’

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Legal Futures, 16th February 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Covid: Powys doctor given nine-month ban for false claims – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2023 in coronavirus, disciplinary procedures, doctors, news, standards, tribunals by tracey

‘A private doctor who put false claims about Covid-19 treatments online has been banned from practising for nine months after a medical tribunal.’

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BBC News, 30th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS trust failed in care of baby who died 23 minutes after birth – The Guardian

Posted January 26th, 2023 in birth, guilty pleas, hospitals, news, prosecutions, standards by sally

‘The mother of a baby girl who died in hospital 23 minutes after being born has said she was “failed in the most cruel way” by an NHS Trust that has admitted failings in their care.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Illegal vapes are biggest threat on High Street, say Trading Standards – BBC News

Posted January 19th, 2023 in advertising, children, health, news, smoking, standards, trading standards by tracey

‘Shops selling illegal vapes and the sale of vaping products to children are the top threats on the UK’s High Streets, according to Trading Standards officials.’

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BBC News, 19th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BSB performance in the red as LSB raises SRA enforcement concerns – Legal Futures

Posted January 12th, 2023 in barristers, complaints, news, standards by sally

‘Pressure on the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to improve its performance ratcheted up today after it scored by far the worst of all the legal regulators in the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) annual assessment.’

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Legal Futures, 12th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BrewDog boss pays almost £500k to unhappy ‘solid gold’ beer can winners – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2023 in advertising, compensation, complaints, news, standards by sally

‘The chief executive of BrewDog has paid out almost £500,000 from his own pocket to winners of a bungled “solid gold” beer can promotion which he has admitted made the controversial brewer look “dishonest and disingenuous”.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com