July 2011

Without Prejudice

July 29, 2011

I’ve been away for a few days (drinking beer by the canals of Amsterdam among other things), but of course that hasn’t stopped my colleagues talking about law on Without Prejudice. In fact, this week I’ve been somewhat more than adequately replaced – by Joshua Rozenberg. He joins Charon QC and David Allen Green to [...]

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The select committee, the Murdochs and Brooks

July 19, 2011

I’m not sure what purpose will be served by today’s grilling of Rupert and James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks (whose portrait still hangs at the National Portrait Gallery, I found on Sunday) by the Culture, Media and Sport select committee. I have to admit I suspect MPs of wanting to be seen to bear down [...]

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Without Prejudice

July 15, 2011

In Without Prejudice this week, John Cooper QC joins Charon QC, David Allen Green and me to talk mainly about all the legal issues raised by the News of the World phone hacking scandal, in particular: the powers of Commons select committees in respect of witnesses the “judge-led” inquiry set up by the government possible [...]

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News Corp withdraws its undertakings: but why?

July 11, 2011

This changes everything. As Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in the House in his statement this afternoon, News Corporation has withdrawn its proposed “undertakings in lieu” in relation to BSkyB. These were its undertakings, for instance “spinning off” Sky News to make it independent, and protect it from News Corp dominance. Since it was that [...]

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Without Prejudice special: phone hacking, the News of the World and the BSkyB deal

July 8, 2011

We couldn’t gather urgently in the same room with wine, but today Charon QC spoke to both David Allen Green and me about the News of the World phone hacking scandal, and the range of legal issues it raises. He speaks first to me about whether the NewsCorp-BSkyB deal can be stopped and about potential [...]

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Supreme Court judgment: R (MacDonald) v Kensington & Chelsea

July 7, 2011

Because of bladder problems, Elaine McDonald needs to go to the toilet several times during the night; and because of mobility problems, she can’t get there safely on her own. Kensington & Chelsea have decided that her needs can be met by the use of incontinence pads, which is about £22,000 a year cheaper than [...]

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“You and Yours” on Monday

July 7, 2011

I’ve forgotten to mention I was on Radio 4′s You and Yours on Monday – I was interviewed briefly by Peter White as a trailer to the programme’s discussion on legal aid the following day. If you’re interested, the bit with me starts at 47’07″.

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Can the NewsCorp-BSkyB deal be stopped?

July 6, 2011

A lot of people must be wondering this, given recent allegations and revelations about phone hacking by the News of the World. So can the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt now block the planned merger of News Corporation and BSkyB? He has already said he is minded to allow it, subject to certain undertakings relating in [...]

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Outing, idle gossip and sexuality discrimination

July 4, 2011

An interesting discrimination law judgment came the Court of Appeal on Friday in Grant v H.M Land Registry. Chris Grant worked for the Land Registry, initially at Lytham, where he was “out”; but when he got promoted to a job in Coventry, he decided to keep quiet about at first about being gay, intending perhaps [...]

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Without Prejudice

July 1, 2011

In the latest Without Prejudice podcast, Charon QC, Timothy Pitt-Payne QC, Amanda Bancroft of Beneath The Wig and I discuss Lady Hale’s comments on legal aid the law on checking out potential employees the Milly Dowler murder trial, and treatment of her parents Alex Salmond’s spat with the UK Supreme Court over human rights Ken [...]

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