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22 June 2012 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7519 / Categories: Opinion , Human rights
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The Europe effect

Roger Smith rounds up recent human rights developments

Some may hate it, but Europe (through both the Council of Europe and the EU) plays an increasing role in policy-making both here and elsewhere. Increased travel, more expatriate residence and more international transactions contribute to the growing importance of the European dimension to issues once able to be seen as clearly domestic or obviously foreign.

May: the overt attack

Theresa May continued her vendetta against judicial decisions in immigration cases by announcing that the House of Commons would pass a resolution declaring how it thought Art 8 should be interpreted.

May comments were more than somewhat Delphic: “[The right to family life] is not an absolute right…In the interests of the economy, or controlling migration or public order, those sort of issues, the state has a right to qualify the right to a family life.” She plans a Parliamentary vote on government policy which she expects the judges to “follow and take into account”. She had a threat: “If they don’t we will have

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Osbornes Law—Alex McMahon, Andrew Middlehurst & Harriet McMorrin

Osbornes Law—Alex McMahon, Andrew Middlehurst & Harriet McMorrin

Homegrown hat-trick: Osbornes Law promotes three former trainees to partner

mfg Solicitors—Sarah Bradford

mfg Solicitors—Sarah Bradford

Partner arrival boosts law firm’s growing real estate team

Freeths—David Smith

Freeths—David Smith

Freeths secures major tax hire with appointment of David Smith

NEWS
The Court of Appeal's decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP has lifted months of uncertainty for Chartered Legal Executives while prompting a rethink of regulation and supervision
The assisted dying debate returns to Westminster as Lauren Edwards MP reintroduces legislation that stalled in the House of Lords last session despite clearing the Commons
A little-noticed provision of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 has fundamentally expanded corporate criminal liability
Artificial intelligence is transforming legal practice, but careless reliance on it is creating growing professional risks
The law offers cohabiting couples surprisingly greater protection after one partner dies than when they separate during life
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