Brexit, Rights, and the (Potential) Scrapping of the HRA
The relationship between Brexit (British exit from the European Union) and human (and other) rights depends on what “rights” are under discussion. Although some in the media have incorrectly conflated...
Administrative Decisions and Terrorist Suspects: The UK Supreme Court’s Decision in Youssef v SSFC
The month of January witnessed an important UK Supreme Court decision in Youssef v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (“Youssef”) pertaining to civil rights. It considered a...
Zero Hours – Zero Solutions
Over the course of the past year, we have repeatedly highlighted the problems facing workers on so-called ‘zero-hours contracts’ (‘ZHCs’), and criticised the government’s inadequate regulatory response in the Small...
Let’s Talk about Sex Education and Human Rights
Despite a proposal by four prominent House of Commons Committees and various professional organisations, the Minister of Education announced on February 11, 2016 that age-appropriate sex and relationship education, including...
Journalism, Detention and Anti-Terrorism Powers
Few would dispute that journalistic sources and material deserve special legal protection in a liberal democracy. But few would suggest that this protection should confer a licence to damage national...
A Right to Change Employer for Overseas Domestic Workers
Theresa May, the UK Home Secretary, presented the adoption of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 as a ‘historic milestone’, but many viewed it as a missed opportunity. During its drafting,...
Minorities suffer as the Supreme Court supports ‘suspicionless’ stop searches
In Roberts v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and Another, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which...
Striking a Fine Balance: A Welcome Judicial Review of Executive Discretion in MM
On 3 December 2015, the High Court (Administrative Division) of England and Wales rendered an important decision in MM & GY & TY v Secretary of State (“MM”) with respect...
Griffiths v Department of Work and Pensions: Adjusting Reasonable Adjustments
What is it that UK courts don’t get about positive treatment in discrimination law? A book could be written on the historical wrong turns they’ve been persuaded to take over...
Advocating Legal Reform: The UK Transgender Equality Inquiry
In the United Kingdom (UK), the House of Commons Select Committee on Women and Equalities is currently undertaking an inquiry into the equality status of transgender (trans) persons. Among the...
A judicial ‘Plan B’? Dinah Rose QC on the Common Law in a post-UK Human Rights Act world
In recent weeks the Blog has covered the latest events at which proponents of the UK’s Human Rights Act 1998 (including Dominic Grieve QC MP and Sir Keir Starmer QC)...
Sir Keir Starmer’s Blackstone Lecture: “Human Rights: Can Britain go it Alone? And Should We?”
On 21st November, the annual Blackstone Lecture at Pembroke College was delivered by Sir Keir Starmer, the well known human rights barrister and former Director of Public Prosecutions turned Labour...
