Brexit: Theresa May suggests free movement extension – BBC News
‘Free movement of people from the EU to the UK could be extended after Brexit, Theresa May has suggested.’
BBC News, 5th April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation’s efforts to block inquiry squashed – The Guardian
‘A Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation in Manchester has lost a legal attempt to block an investigation into its handling of sexual abuse allegations, after failing to convince a judge that the inquiry amounted to religious discrimination.’
The Guardian, 4th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Happy Birthday to us … We are 10!
We launched the Current Awareness Blog in April 2007 as a way of providing a free and simple way for people to keep up-to-date with legal news.
Information professionals at the Inner Temple Library monitor a range of news sources and select news items, case updates and legislation to post each day. Key-words are then added to each post, to enable readers instantly to collate items on the same topic.
Since its inception, the Current Awareness Blog has evolved to cover other materials such as long-form comment and analysis produced by Chambers, as well as information on forthcoming law lectures.
The blog has been received very positively and valuable user feedback has not only helped shape the service but also helped justify the time and effort invested. Its audience has grown from members of the Inns to the wider legal community (including academics, law firms and libraries located both in the UK and overseas).
We would like to thank everyone who has supported this project over the years and, of course, all of our readers, subscribers and Twitter followers.
Please let us know what you think! https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/9CFXB6F
EVENT: European Circuit of the Bar of England and Wales in co-operation with Middle Temple – Written Constitutions – experiences and challenges.
‘Justice of the Supreme Court Lord Mance will chair a panel made up of Sir Jeffrey Jowell QC (Hon) of Blackstone Chambers , Professor Stefan Vogenauer of Max Planck Institute for European Legal History and Jeremy Gauntlett SC (South Africa), QC of Brick Court Chambers. The panel also hopes to be joined by an Irish Constitutional Lawyer.
The panel will reflect on the challenges and benefits of having a written constitution. Given the context of the BREXIT referendum and its aftermath, this discussion may in due course be relevant for the future development of the UK constitution.’
Date: 4th May 2017, 5.00-7.00pm
Location: Middle Temple
Charge: £20.00 or £10.00 if less than 7 years call
More information can be found here.
Mobile phone thieves jailed after police pursuit on M11 – The Guardian
‘Dramatic footage showing a mobile phone thief trying to escape police by driving the wrong way on the M11 has been released as the driver and his accomplice were jailed.’
The Guardian, 3rd April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Council faces complaint to competition watchdog over incinerator contract – Local Government Lawyer
‘A community-led recycling organisation has submitted a complaint to the Competition and Markets Authority claiming that a county council’s contract with an incinerator company breaks competition law.’
Local Government Lawyer, 3rd April 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Part 36 penalties aimed at conduct, not just compensation, says appeal court – Litigation Futures
‘A community-led recycling organisation has submitted a complaint to the Competition and Markets Authority claiming that a county council’s contract with an incinerator company breaks competition law.’
Litigation Futures, 3rd April 2016
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Testamentary freedom vs claims by family members – OUP Blog
‘Should a person be free to dispose of property as she wishes on death, or be forced to leave it to certain family members? This is one of the most fundamental questions in succession law. Some (particularly continental European) jurisdictions allocate compulsory portions to certain family members, irrespective of any will. England and Wales, however, has a default testamentary freedom principle combined with the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, allowing certain people to claim discretionary provision out of the estate in limited circumstances.’
OUP Blog, 4th April 2017
Source: www.blog.oup.com
What are the six types of cybercriminals identified by BAE? – Daily Telegraph
‘Defence group BAE Systems faces “serious and persistent” cyber attacks twice a week from hackers trying to steal the defence giant’s secrets. Here are the six types of cybercriminals identified by BAE.’
Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Halstead boiling water burglary duo jailed for life – BBC News
‘Two “barbaric” men have each been given life sentences for beating a couple and dousing them with boiling water during a burglary at their home.’
BBC News, 3rd April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Keir Starmer intervention sees London shop worker released from detention – The Guardian
‘A popular shop worker who has lived in the UK for 26 years and was detained by immigration officers the day after article 50 was triggered will have two weeks to challenge his deportation following an intervention from the Labour MP Keir Starmer.’
The Guardian, 3rd April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ex-BBC worker Geoffrey Wheeler guilty of indecent assault – BBC News
‘An ex-BBC employee who indecently assaulted a woman more than 30 years ago was told his “past has caught up” as he was convicted.’
BBC News, 3rd April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Succession, partners and bright line rules – Nearly Legal
‘Did the pre Localism Act 2011 succession rules for a secure tenancy amount to a breach of article 8 and 14 (private life and non-discrimination), and if so, should a declaration of incompatibility be made if the Housing Act 1985 could not be read compatibly? This was the issue in this appeal.’
Nearly Legal, 3rd April 2017
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
UK should follow minimum alcohol price, say Lords – BBC News
‘Minimum unit pricing for alcohol should be rolled out across the UK if Scotland’s scheme is successful, a Lords committee says.’
BBC News, 4th April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
You’re hired? New levy and tougher rules signal apprenticeship shakeup – The Guardian
‘Ministers say 3m earning and learning schemes will plug the UK skills gap but critics say new levy is yet another financial burden for businesses
The Guardian, 4th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Supreme Court: contractual interpretation depends on a combination of text and context – OUT-LAW.com
‘The correct interpretation of a contract in England and Wales will depend on a range of factors, including the words of the contract and the context in which they are used, according to the UK’s highest court.’
OUT-LAW.com, 3rd April 2017
Source: www.out-law.com
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
The Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) Order 2017
The Serious Crime Act 2015 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2017
The Public Sector Apprenticeship Targets Regulations 2017
The Legislative Reform (Private Fund Limited Partnerships) Order 2017
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2017
The Immigration Skills Charge Regulations 2017
The North Wales Wind Farms Connection (Correction) Order 2017
The Electricity Supplier Payments (Amendment) Regulations 2017
The Public Guardian (Fees, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2017
The Water Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments etc.) Order 2017
The Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2017
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
Judges once again avoid right to die issue – UK Human Rights Blog
‘Noel Douglas Conway, 67, is a victim of motor neurone disease. He has just been refused permission to seek judicial review of the criminalisation of physician-assisted suicide under the Suicide Act 1961. The High Court considered that Parliament has recently examined the issue following the Supreme Court decision in the 2014 Nicklinson case , and two out of three judges concluded that it would be “institutionally inappropriate” for a court to declare that s.2(1) of the Suicide Act was incompatible with the right to privacy and autonomy under Article 8 of the ECHR. Charles J dissented (and those who are interested in his opinion might want to look at his ruling last year in the case of a minimally conscious patient).’
UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd April 2017
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Local authorities launch legal action over plans to downgrade hospital – Local Government Lawyer
‘A group of local authorities have launched a judicial review challenge over what they described as a “confusing and flawed” consultation process on plans to downgrade services at a local hospital.’
Local Government Lawyer, 31st March 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
