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Asbestos crisis persists in UK schools
Since 1980, over 1,400 teachers and 12,600 pupils have succumbed to mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The Joint Union Asbestos Committee’s report warns that “hundreds of thousands of students and staff… are predicted to die from mesothelioma” due to inadequate asbestos regulations. Lawyer Harminder Bains of Leigh Day, representing victims, criticises the Government’s…
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Law Society unveils AI strategy
The Law Society has introduced a new AI strategy focused on “innovation, impact and integrity” to enhance legal service delivery for firms and clients. Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society, stated: “The rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies has ushered in new possibilities and challenges for the legal sector.” The strategy aims to ensure…
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Judges urged to consider abuse in divorce settlements
Family lawyers are calling for judges to give more weight to domestic violence and economic abuse when making financial orders for separating couples. A recent report by Resolution revealed that 80% of 500 surveyed justice professionals believe that courts inadequately consider these factors, leading to unfair outcomes. Claire Blakemore, a family law partner at Withers,…
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IMF: Reeves must slash spending to get debt down
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that Rachel Reeves should cut government spending if she wants to reduce debt indicating that relying on tax rises alone would be undesirable. National debt currently stands at 100% of GDP in Britain, and the IMF says the UK, alongside the US, France and Italy are among the…
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Attorney-general makes plea to save the “rule of law”
In an interview with the FT, Lord Hermer, the attorney-general, stressed the need to protect the rule of law from the “age of populism.” He urged the current administration to take “immediate steps to restore the UK’s reputation” by adhering to international conventions and championing legal institutions. Hermer’s comments were seen as a critique of…
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Post Office considers court action revival
The Post Office is reconsidering its approach to recouping losses, which have surged to £12m annually, by potentially resuming court actions against branch owner-operators. This follows the Horizon IT scandal, where over 900 operators were wrongfully prosecuted due to faulty software. Alisdair Cameron, former finance director, testified that losses escalated from £2m to £12m a…
