A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

Former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont has said the judge who oversaw the Sandie Peggie hearing made errors and used excuses that would not be deemed acceptable in a school classroom. A complaint of judicial misconduct was filed against Judge Alexander Kemp after he issued 12 corrections to his ruling in the high-profile employment tribunal. Kemp was later cleared, with Judge Susan Walker concluding that the errors were not caused by AI but stemmed from correspondence with an unnamed judicial colleague. But Lamont criticised Kemp for failing to take responsibility, comparing his excuses to those of a schoolchild, and argued that both the judge's and the judicial system's reputations were damaged. Other commentators, including Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser and Oxford law professor Michael Foran, expressed concern over the number of errors and the use of seemingly fabricated quotations.

 

The Times

 

Independent MSP Ash Regan's Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill, which would criminalise the purchase of sex while repealing offences for those selling it, has divided Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee. The committee split 4-4, with supporters arguing the debate should continue, while opponents - mainly SNP MSPs - warned that the Bill could end up harming women, be difficult to enforce, and push prostitution further underground. Members agreed prostitution causes significant harm and recommended any failed legislation be revisited in the next parliamentary session with an independent commission to examine the sex trade. Regan criticised the SNP for abandoning its stated support for criminalising buyers, arguing that protecting sex buyers ignores evidence of exploitation and harms vulnerable women.

 

Herald Scotland

The Scotsman

The Assisted Dying Bill, which aims to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill patients in England and Wales, faces significant delays in the House of Lords. Supporters, including sponsor Kim Leadbeater, have expressed frustration over procedural tactics used by opponents, making it unlikely the Bill will be voted on before the parliamentary session ends in May. Ms Leadbeater said: "Every day a member of the public comes up to me to say thank you for changing the law, and I have to tell them that we still have to pass the Lords." Over 1,000 amendments have been proposed, further complicating the Bill's progress.

 

The Guardian

 

Two police officers, Connor Beggs and Kevin Montgomery, have been jailed for misconduct after botching a domestic assault investigation in Inverclyde. They framed two innocent men, falsified witness statements, and concealed CCTV evidence. Montgomery received a nine-month sentence, while Beggs was sentenced to eight months.

 

BBC News

US President Donald Trump has filed a $5bn lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, accusing the bank and its chief executive, Jamie Dimon, of de-banking him for political reasons. Mr Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito, said the bank's "unilateral decision came about as a result of political and social motivations." JPMorgan said the lawsuit lacks merit and that account closures are due to legal or regulatory risks.

 

Sky News

BBC News

The Daily Telegraph

An international coalition of legal groups has named the US as this year's focus for the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer. The coalition highlights the political intimidation faced by lawyers and judges, which threatens the rule of law. Symone Gaasbeek, a co-founder of the coalition, said: "You see a systematic attack on the legal profession in the US." The report indicates that the Trump administration's actions have created a troubling pattern of intimidation, with lawyers facing increasing scrutiny and threats, undermining their ability to represent clients freely.

 

The Guardian

John Swinney has denied that the Scottish government pressured NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to open the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) before it was ready, amid safety concerns over its water system. The health board acknowledged that infections affecting some child cancer patients were likely linked to the water system and has apologised to families, who say they had raised warnings for years. The First Minister told MSPs that the government was not informed of water contamination until 2018 and expressed confidence in the ongoing Scottish Hospitals Inquiry to establish the facts.

 

BBC News

The Times

Industry leaders including the director-general of the Institute of Directors and the chairman of the UK Shareholders’ Association have warned the Government that scrapping the Audit Reform Bill risks further major company failures. In a letter to Business Secretary Peter Kyle, they argue the decision is a "significant step backwards" after years of delays. The Government dropped the Bill to avoid extra costs for large firms and reduce regulation, despite earlier commitments to deliver reform and concern over high-profile corporate scandals. Signatories to the letter co-ordinated by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors say no meaningful legislative reform has followed the 2018 collapse of Carillion, despite multiple reviews and consultations. Ministers have been urged to act quickly by strengthening oversight of large companies, publishing proposals for a modernised reporting framework, and creating a stronger audit regulator.

 

The Times

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is advancing its plans to regulate cryptocurrency companies in Britain, with the City watchdog set to assume oversight of the sector in 2027. The FCA is set to release proposals regarding conduct standards, redress, and regulatory reporting for crypto firms. These rules aim to ensure accountability among company leaders.

 

The Times

Government borrowing fell to £11.6bn in December, a 38% decrease from the previous year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The decline was driven by an increase in tax income, which rose by £7.7bn - or 8.9% - compared to December 2024. Tom Davies, deputy director at ONS, said the fall was due to "receipts being up strongly on last year whereas spending is only modestly higher." Despite the drop, the level of borrowing recorded in December is the tenth highest for the closing month of a year since records began in 1993. The ONS data also shows that public spending also rose to £92.9bn, with this £3.2bn higher than December 2024's total. 

 

Financial Times

BBC News

The Guardian

The Times

The Daily Telegraph