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Defending Press Freedom in the Investigation into Private Lives
Read more: Defending Press Freedom in the Investigation into Private LivesIn Baroness Lawrence and others v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWHC 1637 (KB), the High Court dismissed an action brought in the tort of misuse of private information by Baroness Lawrence and other public figures (including the Duchess of Sussex and Sir Elton John) against Associated Newspapers (Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday). The basis of the case was that the newspapers and staff at Associated Newspapers had used unlawful means…
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‘Spygate’ and breaching of the FA’s rules
Read more: ‘Spygate’ and breaching of the FA’s rulesThe recent controversy over the charging of Southampton Football Club with ‘spying’ on their opponents’ training ground for the purpose of preparing Southampton for its Premiership play-off match with Middlesborough FC has caused a great deal of outrage in the footballing world, and no little embarrassment and disappointment to Southampton FC and its supporters. The net result was that Southampton FC – who won the subsequent two-match play off to…
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High Court rules that Palestine Action proscription was unlawful
Read more: High Court rules that Palestine Action proscription was unlawfulThe High Court last week held that the Home Secretary had acted unlawfully in proscribing (banning) the action group Palestine Action under s.1 of the Terrorism Act 2000: Ammori v Secretary of State for the Home Department, 13 February 2026. Nonetheless, the effect of that proscription will remain in place until the end of February, when a further hearing will take place to discuss what happened next, including the possibility…
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Liability for harassment online: I hear you’re a transphobe now, Father!
Read more: Liability for harassment online: I hear you’re a transphobe now, Father!In a recent case – R v Graham Linehan, Westminster Magistrates’ Court, 25 November 2025 – a district judge found the defendant not guilty of harassment under the Protection of Harassment Act 1997; although guilty of criminal damage for destroying a phone owned by the complainant. The harassment action was brought by Sophia Brooks, who was born a biological male but identifies as a woman and who champions LGBT rights.…
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Segregating prisoners, judicial review and complying with human rights law
Read more: Segregating prisoners, judicial review and complying with human rights lawIn a recent case (R (Abu) v Secretary of State for Justice [2025] EWHC 3026 (Admin)), the Justice Secretary and the prison authorities were found to have transgressed both their public law powers and human rights obligations by segregating prisoners. Importantly, the secretary (and her predecessor) was found to have breached Article 3 of the Convention (prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment), in what is believed to be…
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Smoking in prisons: the decision in Vainak and others v Estonia
Read more: Smoking in prisons: the decision in Vainak and others v EstoniaIn Vanik and others (Decision of the European Court, 4 November 2025; Applications nos. 17982/21 and 3 others), the European Court of Human Rights upheld prisoners’ claims that the total smoking ban imposed in Estonian prisons was a disproportionate interreference with their rights under Article 8 of the European Convention – the right to private life. Before delivering judgment, the European Court noted that it had already ruled on cases…
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Legislation, human rights and the rule of law: what was wrong with the Northern Ireland Troubles Act 2023?
Read more: Legislation, human rights and the rule of law: what was wrong with the Northern Ireland Troubles Act 2023?Steve Foster comments on the recent decision of the Northern Ireland High Court that finds the 2023 Act in breach of both the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
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Getting rid of the Human Rights Act and ‘European’ human rights law
Read more: Getting rid of the Human Rights Act and ‘European’ human rights lawDr Steve Foster examines the government’s recent proposals to repealing the Human Rights Act 1998
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Asylum Seekers, the Government’s Rwandan policy and the Domestic and European Courts
Read more: Asylum Seekers, the Government’s Rwandan policy and the Domestic and European CourtsDr Steve Foster examines the legal battle in both the domestic courts and the Strasbourg Court over the legality of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda.
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The Little Red Schoolbook re-visited. Re-inventing fairy tales, public morals and free speech
Read more: The Little Red Schoolbook re-visited. Re-inventing fairy tales, public morals and free speechDr Steve Foster looks at the upcoming Grand Chamber hearing in Macatė v Lithuania, which will consider the legality of a domestic ban on a children’s book with Article 10 of the ECHR