

NHS Victory vs. Drug Giants
Recent news regarding the NHS has been largely negative. Examples of this include the inquiry into tainted blood donations and significantly longer waiting periods for patients as a result of a funding crisis within the NHS. Such news paints a dark picture for the contemporary NHS. However, a recent decision from the High Court has given the NHS the right to give its patients a cheaper and more effective treatment than was previously offered. The full name of the case: Baye


Brexit: A Poisoned Chalice
On Friday 21st September the Prime Minister, Theresa May, gave a short statement as an update on the negotiations between the UK and the European Union (EU) regarding Brexit. The statement itself has caused frustration amongst the general public, regardless of whether they voted to remain in or leave the EU. The speech ran for a mere 7 minutes and made for painful viewing as the PM failed to give any insight beyond abstract or vague points. The PM has essentially hinted that


An Unprecedented Move by the EU
There are constant developments arising from Brussels as the European Parliament vote on matters which often have a direct impact on its citizens. The European Parliament recently voted (Wednesday 12th September) to pursue disciplinary action against the country of Hungary . This is unprecedented. The basis of this vote was the severe allegations against Hungary, specifically that it has breached the European Union's (EU) core values. Whilst this initial vote is concerning


The War of the Memes
There has recently been much debate over a prospective Copyright Directive (the Directive) within the jurisdiction of the European Union (EU). The full name of the Directive is: Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market 2016/0280 . The most recent draft, including commentary on the amendments can be found here . This particular proposal has been the subject of much criticism and controversy. The intention behind the controversial Directive is to update online copyri


Divorce: The Plot Thickens
In August, Newell Legal reported on the developments in UK divorce law that arose from a Supreme Court judgment . In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Claimant wife, Mrs Tini Owens, could not divorce her husband. She argued that she wanted to escape her loveless marriage, but was told that she would have to wait until a period of five years had elapsed as he did not consent to the divorce. Mrs Owens will be able to obtain a divorce in 2020. Within that article, Newe


The Costs of Judicial Review
Judicial Review (JR) is rarely far from centre stage in the legal news. It is a mechanism to hold governmental bodies accountable for their decisions and actions. Recently, there has been some debate over the entire costs regime that is found within JR. In litigation, the general rule is that the winner of the case has their legal fees paid for by the losing side. However, if a Claimant fails to consider methods of reaching settlement before pursuing a JR claim, they may be o


Murderers & The Right to be Forgotten
Advances in technology over the last few decades have enabled users to share information more freely. As a result of a few clicks, users are able to find information on almost any topic, including another’s past conduct. In 2018, the average citizen is able to access the Internet through their smartphone, tablet, laptop or a combination thereof. The availability of such information has led to interesting issues, subject to intense debate. One such issue is whether there is a


The Death Penalty for Peaceful Protest?
The topic of human rights can pose complicated questions. Recently, it has produced increasingly complex answers. Whilst human rights are universal in the sense that everyone has their own fundamental rights, their implementation and challenges at domestic level differ. The reasoning for this is clear; many societies have specific views of particular issues, systemic anomalies or constitutional and political methods to address those issues when they arise. There is, however,


Grenfell: The Story of a Human Rights Failure
The Grenfell Tower fire started in the early hours of 14th June 2017 . The tragedy caused 72 deaths, with a further two people dying at a later stage in hospital from their injuries. The incident has been scrutinised since its occurrence and has been the subject of fierce debate. Many have argued that the tragedy was the result of a systemic failure on the part of the Conservative government. Amongst the tragedy and the anger aimed at the government, there has been much solid


G4S and the Failings of HMP Birmingham
The prison system has come under intense fire recently. Questions have arisen as to whether it is effective in reforming inmates. Newell Legal has previously published an article about the pilot scheme that the criminal legal system is testing in an attempt to alleviate some of the pressure on the system. Coincidentally, that scheme is being carried out in Birmingham, which is at the centre of a new fiasco. It appears that the cracks within the system have become noticeable











