High Court hears PIP disability discrimination case

The two day hearing in RF v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions commences tomorrow, Tuesday 12 December, in the High Court. PLP’s client, RF, contends that the way people experiencing psychological distress are treated by new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rules is unfair and discriminatory. PIP was introduced in 2013 as a replacement for the

Open letter to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Day

Today is Human Rights Day. Public Law Project has joined The British Institute of Human Rights, and 140+ other organisations, to call on the Prime Minister to safeguard our human rights today, during and after Brexit. You can see the letter here. The letter reads: ‘We face great constitutional change and uncertainty as the government seeks

Access to justice for survivors of domestic abuse: MOJ to lift time limits and evidential restrictions on legal aid

PLP is delighted to learn that the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is to lift restrictions on legal aid to survivors of domestic abuse.  Large numbers of those involved in Family Court proceedings, where they were often forced face their abusers, will now receive advice and representation.  It will lift time limits on evidence of abuse

PLP and Lankelly Chase launch strategic partnership

PLP’s strategic partnership with the Lankelly Chase Foundation is now under way. The purpose of the partnership is to provide support, training and advice to Lankelly Chase grant-holders, with a view to tackling deep-rooted social injustice.   There is more about the project and our partners at the project page. We have appointed Lisa Vanhala and Jacqui Kinghan,

EHRC and Mind to intervene in disability discrimination case concerning PIP Regulations

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and Mind have been granted permission to intervene in support of a High Court case brought by our client, RF. RF’s case concerns rules introduced by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in February 2017. The new rules mean it is much harder for those with severe

PLP Letter to the Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into assessments for ESA and PIP

PLP have written to the Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into assessments for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIPs).  Our letter concerns amendments to the PIP regulations, which PLP is currently contesting to be discriminatory.  It also concerns distress caused by the assessment procedure and the evidential burden on those suffering

Government amendment to define ‘exit day’ an improvement but not enough

The Government has announced that it will table an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill to define ‘exit day’ as 11pm on 29th March 2019. The Public Law Project (PLP) welcomes the amendment, which addresses some of the concerns raised by Parliamentarians and civil society organisations.  In particular, PLP raised concerns that allowing ‘exit day’ to be defined by

Department for Work & Pensions sign

PIP discrimination challenge reaches the High Court

The Public Law Project (PLP) is representing a client, RF, who is bringing a challenge to the unfair and discriminatory way those with psychological distress are treated by the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rules.  PIP was introduced in 2013 as a replacement for the Disability Living Allowance and provides an essential lifeline for people with disabilities to

PLP appoints Joe Tomlinson as Research Director

PLP has appointed Joe Tomlinson as Research Director. Joe is a Lecturer in Public Law at the University of Sheffield School of Law and an Associate Fellow of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre for the Public Understanding of Politics. He is also a member of the Wider Core Team at the UK Administrative Justice Institute.

PLP’s briefing on European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Ahead of the Second Reading of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill on Thursday 07th September, PLP has prepared a briefing paper for Members highlighting our key concerns with the Bill.

PLP says one more step is needed in decriminalising homosexuality

On the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK, PLP has written to the Home Secretary to ask her widen the scope of the ‘Turing Law’.

PLP is greatly saddened to hear that Lord Toulson has passed away

Lord Toulson made a particularly thoughtful and memorable closing address to the Public Law Project annual conference last year, for which we are hugely grateful. We would like to give our condolences to Lady Toulson and his family, and add to the many voices noting his sophistication and intellect in judgment, and distinctly kind and approachable personality.