New Charter of Player Data Rights for Professional Football Players
New guidelines have been released by the football world players’ union, FIFPRO, outlining football players’ rights to control how their personal data is used. The Charter of Player Data Rights, which was created in collaboration with FIFA, the world players’ association, aims to establish a structure for managing and accessing performance and health-related data for […]
Queen’s Death: From Money to Passports – What Will Change?
The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022 will lead to many changes in the UK. While some have already taken immediate effect, others are expected to be introduced over the coming months and years. British coins & notes New coins and notes will be designed and printed, but are not realistically […]
UK’s Rwanda Asylum Policy Challenged in High Court
UK legislation to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is being challenged today at the High Court. The legal action is being brought by a group of refugees and charities who are arguing that Boris Johnson’s controversial immigration policy is unlawful and breaches human rights conventions. The hearing is expected to last five days. The Nationality […]
Barristers Take Indefinite Strike Action Over Pay in England & Wales
Criminal barristers in England and Wales are taking indefinite, uninterrupted strike action from Monday 5 September in a dispute over Legal Aid rates. The action is an escalation of the staged intermittent walkouts since the end of June, escalating to week-long strikes on alternate weeks throughout August. According to the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), which represents […]
Ofgem Threatened With Legal Action Over Price Cap Rise
The UK energy regulator, Ofgem, is being threatened with legal action over the new energy price cap and its impact on customers. The action is being brought by the not-for-profit Good law Project, campaign group Fuel Poverty Action and Dion Alexander, the Chair of the Highlands & Islands Housing Associations Affordable Warmth Group. The groups are […]
Law Reforms Proposed For Digital Assets
Reform of the law on cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has been proposed by the Law Commission of England and Wales. In its 549-page proposal document, the Commission has put forward recommendations for new laws relating specifically to digital assets — or “data objects” — given their differences to ‘traditional’ assets. The new laws would […]
TV Cameras Allowed To Film Criminal Court Proceedings
TV cameras will now be allowed in some criminal courts in England and Wales for the first time from today. Due to a change in the law, broadcasters will be able to video judges when they sentence dangerous offenders during some criminal trials at the Old Bailey and other Crown Courts. Unlike in the US and […]
New Law To Plug Staffing Gaps Caused By Strike Action
A new law has been passed allowing companies to bring in agency workers on a temporary basis to address staffing shortages caused by industrial action. Under the new rules, employers are able to fill vital roles with temporary, skilled workers to help ensure crucial public services and people’s daily lives remain uninterrupted by workforce strikes. […]
Home Secretary Announces Plans for UK Contactless Digital Border
The UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has outlined government plans to roll out safe “contactless” border crossings for the UK. In an announcement on the future of the UK border, Patel has detailed the new measures which will see new testing technology that would let some travellers enter the country and go through automated border […]
New Aviation Passenger Charter to Make Consumer Rights Clear
A new Aviation Passenger Charter has been announced by the UK Government in an effort to improve consumer awareness of travel rights. With passengers expected to face continued travel disruption this summer, the charter is intended to help passengers with issues such as flight delays and cancellations. The charter will act as a ‘one-stop shop’ […]
Additional £1 Million Funding For Legal Aid Services
Charities and organisations that offer legal aid are set to receive an addition £1 million from the government this financial year. This takes the amount awarded for legal aid funding to £4 million, up from £3 million in previous years. The grants are used to enable eligible individuals to access legal advice without having to […]
New Bill to Safeguard Fair Pay for Seafarers
A new bill has been introduced in the UK to guarantee that sailors receive pay at least equal to the National Minimum Wage. From 6 July, 2022, the Seafarers’ Wages Bill brings in new pay protection intended to prevent businesses from relying on lawful excuses to pay low wages and from underpaying seafarers who routinely visit […]
Home Office Faces Legal Challenge Over Post-Brexit EU Citizens’ Rights
The UK Home Office is facing legal action brought by a statutory body established to oversee the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit. The Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) has made an application to the High Court to challenge the decision by the Home Office to take away the rights of EU nationals […]
Defendant Told to Represent Herself at Court in Legal First
A woman accused of tampering with evidence in a murder trial has been told she must defend herself in court because there are no criminal defence barristers available. In what is believed to be a legal first, the defendant, Elishah Anderson, has now been instructed by Judge Peter Rook QC to defend herself. The trial, being held […]
UK to Abolish Human Rights Act & Override ECHR after Blocked Rwanda Deportations
The UK Government is set to introduce new legislation allowing it to ignore certain decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). A new British bill of rights is being put before Parliament on Wednesday 22 June, with the aim of abolishing the Human Rights Act (HRA) and reducing the influence of the ECHR […]
Government Orders Urgent Review into Petrol Pricing
Kwasi Kwarteng, the UK’s business secretary, has asked the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) to conduct an urgent investigation into petrol station operators following concerns that retailers have not passed on the recent cut in fuel duty to consumers. In a letter to the UK’s competition watchdog, Mr Kwarteng wrote that people were “rightly frustrated” […]
Failing Social Landlords Face Inspections & Unlimited Fines
Failing social housing landlords risk unlimited fines and Ofsted-style inspections, under the Social Housing Regulation Bill. The new Bill is part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda, aimed at reducing the number of low-quality rental housing by half by 2030 and ensuring people live in decent, well-maintained homes. Under the Bill, the Regulator of Social […]
World’s Biggest Four-Day Working Week Trial Starts in UK Today
More than 3,300 staff at 70 UK companies will begin trialling a four-day week from today with no pay cut. In what is understood to be the world’s largest experiment of the new working pattern, participating employers will continue to pay their employees 100% of their wages on the understanding that they maintain maximum productivity. The trial […]
Government Doubles Mediation Scheme for Separating Families
An additional £5.4 million in funding is being made available to separating families under the Government’s mediation voucher scheme. Under the scheme, divorcing couples receive £500 of vouchers to access mediation services to assist in resolving legal issues outside of court, such as child contact arrangements. The funding announced on 3 June 2022 more than […]
Councils Given New Powers to Issue Motoring Fines
Local authorities in England and Wales now have additional powers to fine motorists for “moving traffic offences” in a substantial change to the laws on fixed Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs). From 1 June 2022, councils can issue on the spot fines of up to £70 for motoring offences such as illegal turns, driving in cycle […]