Mark Symes is part of the legal team acting for the Appellants in EM (Eritrea) & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 1336, challenging the lawfulness of removing asylum seekers to inadequate reception conditions in another
Employment News New timetable for employment law changesA new document from the government, Employment Law 2013: Progress on Reform, sets out, amongst other things, a revised timetable for its proposed changes to employment law. The following measures are still due to be introduced in April 2013: changes to collective redundancy, and cost-of-living increases to statutory […]
Immigration Rules HC 1039 was laid before Parliament on 14 March. It comes into force on 6 April 2013. These lengthy rule changes affect the PBS in various ways; and inter alia ‘clarify the current General Visitor rules to guard against abuse by those whose repeat visits amount to de facto residence’; make minor changes […]
In 2010 Alfie Meadows and Zac King were both struck on the head by police batons whilst peacefully protesting against the rise in tuition fees. Alfie was nearly killed by the blow. Both then found themselves charged with Violent Disorder.
Housing Law News Challenge to HB size criteria in social housing: several claimants have launched a judicial review challenge to the introduction of the new criteria from 1 April 2013. Mitting J has directed a response from the DWP within 14 days and a hearing in May 2013 seems likely. For further details, click here. […]
News The European Commission announced proposals for new border management tools including an Entry-Exit System that would record the entry of exit of all third country nationals and track the presence of overstayers. The Committee of Ministers supervised the execution of the judgment in MSS v Belgium and Greece, finding that the Greek authorities needed […]
The Defendant, AM, was wanted in Argentina for trial for drugs trafficking offences.
Employment news Amendments to Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill Various government-sponsored amendments have been made to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, which is presently before the House of Lords, including: Disapplying the qualifying period for unfair dismissal where the reason for the dismissal is the employee’s political opinions. The purpose of this amendment is […]
Housing Law News Social rented sector size criteria: on 27 February 2013 the minority opposition parties initiated a full debate in the House of Commons on the introduction of the housing benefit size criteria into social housing (the ‘bedroom tax’) from 1 April 2013. For the full debate, click here. Judicial review proceedings designed to […]
News Garden Court Chambers’ Stephanie Harrison has been appointed Queen’s Council. Click here for more information. The Garden Court Immigration Team blog on ‘Fairness in the Points Based System: Post Decision Evidence, "Continuing Applications" and Evidential Flexibility’. Click here for more information. The UKBA has renewed the temporary concession for Syrians until February 2014. Click […]
Garden Court Chambers is delighted to announce that minority rights and civil liberties champion Stephanie Harrison is to be appointed as Queen's Counsel.
Jan Luba QC has this week become Chair of the charity Zacchaeus 2000 Trust which provides free help and advice for vulnerable debtors and low-income households.
Housing Law News Direct payment of housing benefit: Southwark Council is one of those undertaking a demonstration project of the proposed direct payment of housing benefit to social housing tenants. The council identified 2,000 benefits claimants to take part: 1,500 council tenants and 500 tenants of Family Mosaic housing association. Its key findings were that: […]
News On his trip to India the Prime Minister announced details of a super priority visa service which will allow frequent travellers from India to have their visas processed in just one day. To read further click here. Cases MA, BT, DA v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Case C‑648/11) (Advocate General’s Opinion: […]
Mark Symes has acted for the Applicant in SHH v United Kingdom 60367/10 - HEJUD [2013] ECHR 102 (29 January 2013), in which the European Court of Human Rights split 4:3, the majority finding that it would not contravene the right to be free from inhuman a
Employment news Workplace stress affecting home life Nearly nine out of 10 town hall employees are suffering from increased work pressures, a Unison survey reveals. Heather Wakefield, head of local government at Unison, said the impact of spending review cuts and 250,000 subsequent job losses meant ‘impossible demands are being placed on stressed out council […]
***** SPECIAL ISSUE. Welcome to the 300th issue of the Housing Law Bulletin. The first issues were funded as part of a specialist support contract from the Legal Services Commission but the Housing Team at Garden Court Chambers has maintained and developed the Bulletin in the years since the contract ended. It is provided as […]
News A new report from the Refugee Council on the restrictions faced by refugees and asylum seekers in accessing further and higher education. Click here for more information. Cases KS (Burma) & Anor v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWCA Civ 6713th February 2013The Court of Appeal found that contrary to TL […]
Garden Court collaborated with digital media organisation sounddelivery this week to host an evening exploring innovative ways to give a voice to people who are socially excluded, marginalised and suffer from social injustice.
Housing Law News Welfare reform and social housing: every housing benefit (HB) authority is being awarded additional central government funding to meet some of the administrative costs of the impact of the various reforms to HB being introduced in 2013. This includes £4m in respect of the impact of the social housing size criteria (‘bedroom […]
