House of Commons - 25 February 2026 - the government introduced the Courts and Tribunals Bill.
The Bill follows on from the Reports by retired judge Sir Brian Leveson -
The Leveson Recommendations:
The most striking
With Updates
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office - BBC News 19 February 2026.
Parliament is in the process of replacing this common law offence (but not retrospectively) - see previous post 4 February 2026.
Only HM The King has personal immunity from prosecution or civil action - (see note)
The elements of the offence were set out in Attorney General's Reference 3/2003 reported at [2004] EWCA Crim 868. At para 61 of the judgment, the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) summarised the requirements:
According to Erskine May - 'There are opposition parties but only one is regarded as the 'Official Opposition' and that is the largest minority party which is prepared, in the event of the resignation of the government, to assume office.' (Erskine May para 4.6).
The Leader of the Opposition and some of the Leader's principal colleagues in both Houses form a group, known as ‘the Shadow Cabinet’, each member of which is given a particular range of activities on which it is their task to direct criticism of the Government's policy and administration and to outline alternative policies.
Notes to editors inform us that:
It appears that the government took legal advice relating to the challenge and decided not to actually contest the matter in court. Details of that legal advice are not available and so we do not know the exact basis for the government's decision.
1. The Secret Barrister 5 February 2026 - Palestine Action - What just happened - ' ... six Palestine Action protestors were acquitted by a jury of aggravated burglary, following a break-in at an Elbit Systems UK factory near Bristol in August 2024. Three of the six were also acquitted of violent disorder, while no verdict was reached in relation to three others. The jury were also unable to reach verdicts on a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent (against one defendant, accused of striking a police officer in the back with a sledgehammer, causing serious injury), and charges of criminal damage.'
2. Administrative Court blog 13 February 2026 - High Court - proscription of Palestine Action unlawful and Palestine Action: The "purpose" of the Home Secretary's proscription policy
3. Public Law for Everyone 13 February 2026 - The High Court's judgment in the Palestine Action case
4. Human Rights Watch 7 January 2026 - Silencing the Streets - The right to protest under attack in the United Kingdom and also see their World Report 2026
5. UK Constitutional Law Association Blog -
On 5 July 2025 the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025 ("the Order") came into force. The Order was made on 4 July 2025, having been laid before Parliament by the Home Secretary on 30 June 2025, approved by the House of Commons on 2 July 2025 and by the House of Lords on 3 July 2025.
The Order added the names of three organisations to the list of proscribed organisations at Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Act 2000 ("the 2000 Act").
One of those organisations was Palestine Action.
House of Commons - 25 February 2026 - the government introduced the Courts and Tribunals Bill . The Bill follows on from the Reports b...
