United Kingdom

Dartmoor Commons Grazing Case - Wild Justice Wins One Ground

The High Court ruled in favor of environmental group Wild Justice on one of eight grounds in its case against the Dartmoor Commoners' Council regarding livestock grazing. The court found the council failed in its duty to properly assess the number of animals that could be grazed while preserving the commons' ecological value.

Court of Appeal rules council approval for reserved matters lawful

The UK Court of Appeal has ruled that Buckinghamshire Council lawfully approved a reserved matters application for a housing development. The environmental group Wildfish's judicial review, challenging the approval due to issues with wastewater treatment capacity, was dismissed.

Passenger Fails Appeal Over Car-Cruising Injunction Breach

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a passenger who was found to have breached a car-cruising injunction obtained by the London Borough of Enfield. The appellant argued he was unaware of the injunction and did not participate in the prohibited activity, but the court upheld the High Court's finding that he knew of the order and was a participant.

House of Lords Backs Plans to Decriminalise Abortions

The House of Lords has backed plans to decriminalise abortions, following a vote by MPs last summer. This move, part of an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, aims to end police investigations into abortions under a 164-year-old law. The decision follows a BBC investigation into an increase in prosecutions under the Offences Against the Person Act.

Prison Cell Fire Safety Risks in England and Wales

The Ministry of Justice in England and Wales has admitted that tens of thousands of prison cells remain unsafe due to fire risks, reneging on a pledge to make them fire-safe by the end of 2027. This means a significant portion of the prison population will continue to be at risk. Legal action is being threatened by a penal reform charity.

Cancel VAT Registration Guidance

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has updated guidance on how businesses can cancel their VAT registration, either online or by post. The guidance details the process, including the use of specific forms like VAT 7 and VAT 50-51 for VAT group registrations, and clarifies when cancellation applies, particularly concerning asset sales.

ATED Statistics Release Date Announcement

HM Revenue & Customs announced that the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) statistics will be released on March 31, 2026. The statistics will include totals and breakdowns of ATED receipts and relief claims.

Mandatory Tax Adviser Registration with HMRC

HMRC will implement mandatory registration for tax advisers paid to interact with HMRC on behalf of clients starting May 18, 2026. This change replaces the current registration process and requires advisers to register through a new single digital system and meet specific conditions.

HMRC Tax Receipts and National Insurance Contributions Statistics

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced the upcoming release of UK tax receipts and National Insurance contributions statistics. The announcement provides the release date and time for this official statistical report, which summarizes tax revenues and expenditures.

TPR CEO Calls for Pension Industry Innovation

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) CEO has urged the UK pensions market to innovate to deliver a modern system providing long-term value and secure retirement income. The speech highlighted areas for innovation including endgame options for DB schemes, DC investments, default retirement plans, and the responsible use of AI, data, and administration.