The week in straplines…
“[T]he first modern ABC to meet a Pope wasn’t Michael Ramsey. To adapt a well-known saying, Geoffrey Fisher did some of the things that Michael Ramsey did, earlier and in gaiters“: Andrew Connell.
“One person’s filibuster is another’s detailed scrutiny of sloppy and hastily assembled legislation”: Prof. Mark Taubert.
Abortion buffer zones in Scotland
There have been various reports that the case against Rose Docherty, who was arrested and charged under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024 after holding up a placard outside Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital saying “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want”, has been dropped. According to various media reports, Sheriff Reid ruled that the prosecution had “failed to disclose an offence known to the law of Scotland” because Crown Office had not led any evidence that she had influenced anyone seeking abortion services on the day in question. He therefore deserted the trial diet pro loco et tempore – which means that the proceedings against her were discontinued but can be resurrected if further evidence comes to light. It had been argued on her behalf that the charges violated her Article 10 right to freedom of expression.
According to a report in the Daily Record, a spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said that “COPFS notes the decision of the Court and will consider it carefully”.
Counter-terrorism security and the heritage sector
Historic England has announced a webinar series looking at the application of counter-terrorism security measures at heritage sites. The first webinar, on Wednesday 10 June at 13:00, will cover the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and how it applies to the heritage sector. The webinar, supported by the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office, will also look at the current terrorism threat in the UK, how and where incidents might happen, and the types of threats that heritage sites may need to protect against. Register here: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams. We understand that the webinar is to be recorded for subsequent viewing.
Weddings law reform
On Tuesday, Alex Davies-Jones, a junior minister in the MoJ, confirmed that the Government intends to consult on reforming weddings law in England & Wales, but the timing of the consultation has evidently not been decided yet.
Religious discrimination and the Lib Dems
The Liberal Democrats have admitted breaching the human rights of a former BBC journalist, David Campanale, after he was deselected as their parliamentary candidate for Sutton and Cheam in the 2024 general election because of his overtly Christian views. The Lib Dems argued that during the selection process he had not disclosed his previous membership of the Christian People’s Alliance, which opposed same-sex marriage and called for repeal of the Abortion Act 1967. According to the reports, the party also argued in its defence submission that it was a “statement of fact” that the “party of past prominent Liberal Democrats with Christian beliefs, such as Shirley Williams and Charles Kennedy, was over”.
The party admitted unlawful religious discrimination, presumably in breach of Article 9 ECHR.
Edward Colston: the future of All Saints church
Earlier this year, we reported that the Diocese of Bristol had announced the completion of the first stage of a consultation to determine the future of All Saints Church, Corn Street, Bristol. Formerly known as All Hallows, the church is thought to contain the tomb of the slave trader Edward Colston and a memorial to him by Flemish sculptor John Michael Rysbrack. The church was closed to the public in 1984 and used as an education and resource centre for the Diocese of Bristol until 2015.
The Diocese has now issued a Press Release (27 April 2026) indicating the completion of the first Phase and giving details of the next phase, including how the general public can take part. The second and final stage will bring together a range of groups through a series of meetings, including three open focus groups for which any member of the public may sign up.
Each session will include facilitated discussion exploring the perspectives and proposals that emerged from Stage One. All participants will be able to share their views in a safe, open and respectful environment. If building works permit and the site is safe to access, participants will also be offered the opportunity to join a guided visit to All Saints on a separate date. If an in‑person visit is not possible, a virtual tour will be offered instead. Further details are included in the Press Release.
Quick links
- Eva Maria Bredler, Verfassungsblog: The Human Trick – Scholarship from Somewhere: on the place of AI in legal research.