The UK will be the safest place in the world to be online – especially for children – under a landmark new law, a minister has said. Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay was speaking as the long-awaited flagship Online Safety Bill cleared Parliament and headed for royal assent. The legislation, which has been years in the drafting, imposes new legal duties on big tech companies and service providers, overseen by the regulator Ofcom, headed by veteran TV executive Lord Grade of Yarmouth. The reforms come in response to continuing concern about youngsters accessing pornographic content online, child sexual abuse in […]

Law Commission publishes final recommendations to update the Arbitration Act 1996 and puts forward draft legislation. Commission advocates for maintaining the Act’s core principles while introducing improvements to help strengthen the UK’s position as a foremost destination for arbitration. Improvements include measures to strengthen arbitrator immunity, improve the efficiency of cases, and clarify powers of the court. The Commission’s recommendations seek to ensure the law remains fit for purpose and promote the UK as a leading destination for international arbitration. After thorough consultation with a broad range of industry specialists, the Commission has concluded that the central tenets of the […]

C ITY traders are launching a market that will make it easier for big investors to buy shares in unlisted companies, potentially ending decades of frustration and aiding calls from the government for pension funds to give more support to “fast growth” firms. With investors increasingly vexed with the stock market – share values are low which makes it hard to attract new London floats – JP Jenkins is linking with Square Mile stalwarts Winterflood Securities to match buyers and sellers in UK growth businesses.   JP Jenkins CEO Mike McCudden says:“There’s a problem. Unlike the US, growth companies in […]

Getting divorced is never easy, especially if you’re dealing with an uncooperative ex. It can feel like your world has been turned upside down and you’re probably overwhelmed by all the decisions to be made. If you’re stressed out to the max, it’s important to have a strategy for coping with divorce stress to make sure you stay emotionally strong during the process. Seeking emotional support from your friends and family, connecting with a divorce support group or speaking with a counselor about what you are experiencing can help relieve some of the stress you’re feeling. You can also manage […]

T he Justice Secretary has vowed to change the law at the “earliest opportunity” to ensure serious offenders can be forced to attend their sentencing following the refusal by child murderer Lucy Letby to appear in the dock. The 33-year-old was not present to hear words of condemnation from the judge and victims’ families at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, prompting further outrage. Letby was given a whole-life order at the hearing after last week being convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six more. Earlier this year, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said the Government […]