‘The rationality (or Wednesbury) test in judicial review operates notoriously as a “sliding scale”, depending on the particular facts in which it is raised. In what is now the leading case on the application of rationality review, Chamberlain J in KP v Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary [2025] EWHC 370 (Admin) (21 February 2025) (covered by this blog here) articulated the view that whether the heightened standard of review applies depends on the “gravity of [the] potential consequences” of a challenged decision”; importantly, in many situations where anxious scrutiny applies, “the claimant will have no prior right, whether under statute or at common law, to the benefit which the decision denies him” ([76]).’

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Administrative Court Blog, 10th October 2025

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘A man who was fined for setting fire to a Qur’an outside the Turkish consulate in London has won an appeal against his conviction after a judge backed his “right to offend”.’

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The Guardian, 10th October 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Millions of people are on track to receive payouts averaging £700 after details of a planned compensation scheme for victims of the UK’s car finance scandal were published.’

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The Guardian, 8th October 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The number of hate crimes recorded by police in England and Wales has risen for the first time in three years, including increases in race and religiously motivated offences, Home Office figures.’

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BBC News, 9th October 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘A High Court judge has strongly criticised the actions of an unnamed local authority in a care proceedings case – including its failure to progress an approved care plan and to keep the young person informed as to what was happening.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th October 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Legal experts have questioned the explanation given by the Crown Prosecution Service for its sudden decision to drop charges against two Britons accused of spying for China amid a political row over who was responsible.’

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The Guardian, 8th October 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘When an adult refugee settles in the UK, they can apply for their children and partner to join them – the applicable policy suggests that reunion rights should be granted, in most cases, “automatically”. When a child refugee settles in the UK, their situation is different. According to the applicable policies in place, children cannot rely on automatic reunion rights. Instead, they can only apply to have their parents or siblings join them in the UK if a refusal to allow this would have “unjustifiably harsh circumstances”.’

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Administrative Court Blog, 9th October 2025

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘A multimillionaire “problem gambler” who blew nearly £1.5m on football wagers is suing Betfair for his money back in a landmark case, claiming it was under a duty to protect him from himself.’

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The Independent, 8th October 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘All victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal who are claiming compensation will now be entitled to free legal advice to help them with their offers, the government has announced.’

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BBC News, 9th October 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘It is now 25 years since the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) entered into force and far from this endurance cementing its legitimacy, the judicial protection of human rights in the UK finds itself in the perennial political spotlight. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is also never far from the headlines, not least in the context of the supposed ‘small boats crisis’ and the debate over immigration more generally. Legal academics and practitioners (with the exception of those working for high-profile think-tanks) who interject in this debate often struggle to be heard above the cacophony of the more salacious claims about abuses of human rights that are the fodder for the right-wing dominated British press. Human rights abuses are refashioned to abuse the protection of human rights. This can be deeply demoralising for defenders of the judicial protection human rights, among whom I count myself. However, rather, than wallowing in self-pity over the state of rights discourse in the UK, I believe that there is actually a glimmer of hope in this otherwise bleak debate.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 9th October 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has decided to go ahead with rule changes requiring barristers to tell it every year, via their chambers or BSB-regulated entity, about any complaints they receive.’

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Legal Futures, 10th October 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The biggest legal claim ever brought in the UK over environmental pollution in the country has been filed at the High Court.’

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BBC News, 7th October 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Law firms should consider prohibiting non-authorised staff from being clients’ main point of contact in the wake of the Mazur ruling, a leading insurance broker has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 9th October 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘An engineering storeman sacked after saying to a colleague “top of the morning to ya” in a mock Irish accent has won more than £16,000 for unfair dismissal.’

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BBC News, 8th October 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘A high-powered Court of Appeal has overturned and completely rejected a High Court ruling that had opened a crack in advocates’ immunity.’

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Legal Futures, 9th October 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The justice secretary, David Lammy, has ruled out reintroducing charges for employment tribunals after a backlash from unions over the proposals.’

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The Guardian, 8th October 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A man who imprisoned and beat his partner, and forced her to wear a full face-covering to hide bruising, has been found guilty of coercive control, strangulation, unlawful wounding, actual bodily harm and fraud.
‘

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BBC News, 8th October 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘The Prime Minister insists that the dropping of China-related espionage charges occurred for reasons entirely outwith the control of his government — but his argument that his hands were tied by the previous government’s position on China is, at best, highly contestable.’

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Public Law for Everyone, 8th October 2025

Source: publiclawforeveryone.com

‘A British Transport Police officer who put a 15-year-old girl in a headlock during an arrest has been found guilty of assault.’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Paul Newman KC looks at a recent High Court case dealing with further issues arising from the enforcement of judgment debts against pension schemes.’

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Pensions Barrister, 9th October 2025

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com