Law

Fact checks about UK law, how legal systems work, justice and human rights

8 July 2022

What payouts do ministers receive when they leave office?

Government ministers under 65 are entitled to severance pay when they leave office, as long as they don’t return within three weeks.

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What payouts do ministers receive when they leave office?
7 July 2022

Rape has not been legalised in the UK

A video posted on Facebook claims that rape is now legal and offenders can escape punishment if they apologise.

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Rape has not been legalised in the UK
21 June 2022

European Court of Human Rights not involved in 2014 deportation case

The court was not involved in the decision to overturn the deportation of a Libyan man convicted of 78 offences in the UK.

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European Court of Human Rights not involved in 2014 deportation case
30 May 2022

The World Economic Forum does not have its own paramilitary force

An Instagram post depicting a police officer wearing a WEF badge is not proof the forum has its own force.

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The World Economic Forum does not have its own paramilitary force
11 May 2022

Article 61 of the Magna Carta doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay council tax

Those liable do have to pay council tax, and nothing in the Magna Carta stops that being the case.

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Article 61 of the Magna Carta doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay council tax
11 April 2022

10% of criminal barristers haven’t quit in the past year

The number of criminal barristers has stayed steady, but the number working full-time on publicly-funded cases has fallen.

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10% of criminal barristers haven’t quit in the past year
16 March 2022

Is sharing photographs of prisoners of war banned by the Geneva Convention?

Legal opinion suggests sharing photographs of prisoners of war doesn’t necessarily breach the Convention—but it still may be better not to do so.

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Is sharing photographs of prisoners of war banned by the Geneva Convention?
25 January 2022

Fake government guidance is wrong about face masks and equality laws

A post on Instagram misquotes sections of the Equality Act.

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Fake government guidance is wrong about face masks and equality laws
14 January 2022

Claims on ‘Colston Four’ case leave out key questions the jury had to answer

Claims that what the four defendants admitted to did legally amount to criminal damage omit key parts of the definition of the offence.

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Claims on ‘Colston Four’ case leave out key questions the jury had to answer
14 December 2021

Laws can be made without a parliamentary vote, contrary to the health secretary’s claim

New Covid face mask rules, for example, came into force before Parliament voted on the matter.

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Laws can be made without a parliamentary vote, contrary to the health secretary’s claim

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