Latest UK COVID travel restrictions
What are the latest COVID travel restrictions affecting arrivals into the UK? Travel corridors closed All quarantine-free travel corridors for people arriving into the UK have been closed indefinitely, and all arrivals from anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man must now present a negative Covid-19 test issued no more than […]
Why Ladies Night is Illegal: Nightclub Policy & Equality Act
From refusing entry to groups of men to offering discounted drinks for women, nightclubs risk breaking the law with discriminatory policies that could see them face claims for discrimination. Nightclub policies & discrimination: what the law says While nightclubs may have a general right to refuse entry, by law they have to ensure […]
Tier 2 General Visa Guide
The Tier 2 (General) visa is now closed to new applicants, and has been replaced by the Skilled Worker route. This article relates to the requirements for the old Tier 2 visa. If you are making a new visa application, you should apply under the Skilled Worker route. What is the Tier 2 (General) Visa? […]
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (How to Claim)
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 31 March 2021. The Chancellor has effectively reverted the scheme back to the August provisions, namely, that the Government will cover 80% of furloughed employees’ wages for businesses affected by the COVID-19 restrictions. Employers will be required to pay national insurance and pension contributions. Government contribution up […]
New food labelling guidance issued ahead of Natasha’s Law
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued detailed guidance for companies on new labelling laws coming into force in 2021. Under Natasha’s Law, allergen labelling rules will become a legal requirement on all ‘prepacked for direct sale’ food, with labels on affected products required to state all ingredient and allergen information. This includes food that […]
Conveyancing & witness-free electronic signatures – guidance imminent
HM Land Registry is expected to shortly release draft guidance on the use of electronic signatures that would exempt the requirement to have a witness to a conveyancing transaction. In a blog post last week, HMLR general counsel Mike Harlow said the organisation was “close” to sharing draft practice guidance for qualified electronic signatures. Land […]
Indoor & Outdoor Social Gatherings Above Six Banned in England from 14 September
Social gatherings of more than six people in England will become illegal from Monday 14 September. The new rule applies to people of all ages and will ban larger groups meeting anywhere socially indoors or outdoors. This includes gatherings in private homes, indoors and outdoors, and places such as pubs, restaurants, cafes and public outdoor […]
Compulsory Face Covering Rules Now in Force
The rules on wearing face coverings in England and Scotland have been extended from 8 August 2020. People must now wear face masks in museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship, as well as shops, indoor shopping centres, transport hubs, supermarkets, takeaways, banks and on public transport. The mandatory requirements have become enforceable by law. […]
Home Office to End Use of Controversial Algorithm
The Home Office has confirmed it will cease use of its controversial algorithm within UK visa application processing. The announcement comes as migrant rights groups the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) and Foxglove prepared to challenge the use of the software by way of judicial review. Campaign groups claimed the tool was […]
High Court Rules Humanist Marriages Not Legally Recognised – Yet
Six UK couples have lost a landmark challenge over the legal recognition of humanist marriages. The High Court found that, despite constituting “discrimination”, humanist weddings are not legally recognised in the same way as religious ceremonies, but stopped short of saying the government is acting illegally. Under current law, couples marrying in a humanist ceremony […]
P2B Regulation Takes Effect in EU & UK
Online platforms and search engines are now operating under new rules designed to promote fairness and transparency for their business users. The Platform to Business Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 (P2B Regulation) took effect in the UK and EU member states on 12 July 2020. The new rules apply to online intermediation services and search engines based […]
UK Unveils New Hong Kong BNO Visa
The UK is opening a new immigration route that will allow British National (Overseas) citizens from Hong Kong to come to the UK to live, work or study and will offer a path to British citizenship. The Hong Kong BN(O) visa will be available from January 2021 to Hong Kong’s British National (Overseas) passport holders […]
Landlord ‘No DSS’ Bans Ruled Unlawful & Discriminatory
A court in England has ruled that blanket bans on letting properties to people claiming housing benefits are unlawful, discriminatory and contrary to equality laws. The decision relates to the case of a single mother of two who became homeless after a letting agent refused to rent a property to her. She had been looking […]
MPs Back Immigration Bill & End of EU Free Movement
MPs have voted in favour of new legislation that will bring EU free movement to an end. Passing the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill is a critical phase in the government’s plan to introduce a new points-based immigration system for Britain from 2021. The Bill was approved at third reading by 342 […]
Contesting A Will (A Complete Guide!)
If you are considering contesting a will, there will be a number of questions to ask about the process, the costs and whether you in fact have the right to bring a legal challenge. In all cases, you will need to act quickly as strict time limits apply and the more time that passes, the […]
Trial By Jury Could Be Abolished In Some Cases As Courts Address Backlog
Jury trials could be temporarily abolished within a matter of weeks under new legislation, according to suggestions from Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland QC. The Lord Chancellor told MPs on the justice select committee that the measure was under ‘serious consideration’ as a potential solution to address the mounting backlog in criminal cases. All jury trials […]
Rebekah Vardy Brings Defamation Claim Against Coleen Rooney
Rebekah Vardy has issued legal proceedings against Coleen Rooney for libel. The dispute centres on what has become known as the ‘Wagatha Christie’ scandal, the two women’s highly public social media fall-out. In October 2019, Rooney took to Twitter to accuse Vardy of leaking personal information about her to the Sun newspaper, with stories that […]
What Is Slander? (Essential Defamation Guide)
What is slander? Slander is one of two types of defamation. For a statement to be defamatory, it must be false and have caused or have the potential to cause harm to the reputation of another party. Slander covers defamatory statements that are temporary in nature and includes spoken statements, gestures as well as conduct. […]
Licensing Law Changes Expected To Boost Crisis Recovery
Pubs, restaurants and cafes are expected to be allowed to provide food and drink outdoors in a change to licensing laws designed to support businesses through the coronavirus crisis. The changes would see every pub, bar and restaurant automatically given permission to serve alcohol for people to drink on the pavement and in the street. […]
Lockdown Legal Challenge Set For High Court
A crowdfunded legal challenge to the government’s lockdown policy will be heard at the High Court on 2 July. A Crowdjustice campaign, led by businessman Simon Dolan, has to date raised more than £182,000, with almost 5,500 people having donated to fund legal action against the government over ‘unlawful’ lockdown measures. The High Court will […]