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NLJ this week: ‘Isolationist mindset’ on display in government’s approach to human rights

21 January 2022
Issue: 7963 / Categories: Legal News , Constitutional law , Human rights
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Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC laments the direction of travel of the UK government when it comes to human rights and turns his attention to the current Lord Chancellor’s stated views, in this week’s NLJ

In an excoriating piece, Bindman notes the government’s proposals for reforming the Human Rights Act 1998 ignores the advice of the Gross review, in fact ‘flatly contradicting Gross’s recommendations’.

He warns that, rather than wanting to remove weaknesses in the law, the government appears motivated by an ‘isolationist mindset at the very time when international commerce, climate change, the spread of disease, and even the very survival of life on the planet demand maximal commitment to international coordination and jurisdiction’.

Bindman writes: ‘The government must not throw away Britain’s long-established role as champion of the rule of law and human rights worldwide. The government’s retreat in the opposite direction is paradoxical. It betrays a proud tradition. It is inward-looking and isolationist.’ 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

London promotion underscores firm’s investment in white collar and investigations

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Private client team strengthened by partner appointment

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

Kate Gaskell, CEO of Flex Legal, reflects on chasing her childhood dreams underscores the importance of welcoming those from all backgrounds into the profession

NEWS
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
In Ward v Rai, the High Court reaffirmed that imprecise points of dispute can and will be struck out. Writing in NLJ this week, Amy Dunkley of Bolt Burdon Kemp reports on the decision and its implications for practitioners
Could the Supreme Court’s ruling in R v Hayes; R v Palombo unintentionally unsettle future complex fraud trials? Maia Cohen-Lask of Corker Binning explores the question in NLJ this week
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