United Kingdom

Papa Don’t Preach (You May be Found Guilty of Hate Speech)

Papa Don’t Preach (You May be Found Guilty of Hate Speech)

Rare is the day when the lowly District Judge sitting in the Magistrates’ Court gets the distinction of having one of his judgments reported. Kudos then to District Judge McNally...
Brexit, Rights, and the (Potential) Scrapping of the HRA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)...

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