Covid-19 Inquiry - a note on the Second Report (Core decision-making and political governance)

The Covid-19 Inquiry was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in May 2021. It operates under the Inquiries Act 2005 and is chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett - a former Lady Justice of Appeal. 

Following a public consultation, the Chair wrote to the Prime Minister to recommend changes to the draft Terms of Reference. The final Terms of Reference were received in June 2022. 

The Inquiry published its first report and recommendations on Thursday 18 July 2024. This examined the state of the UK’s central structures and procedures for pandemic emergency preparedness, resilience and response.

The Inquiry's second report (Core decision-making and political governance) was published on Thursday 20 November 2025. This examines initial response, central government decision making, political and civil service performance as well as the effectiveness of relationships with governments in the devolved administrations and local and voluntary sectors.

See Covid-19 Inquiry Reports.

On 14 November 2025, the government published

UK Supreme Court - Judgment in JR87 - Religious education in Northern Ireland

The Supreme Court of the UK has given judgment in a case from Northern Ireland - An application by JR87 and another for Judicial Review

The decision concerns Article 9 of the ECHR (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion) and Article 2 od Protocol 1 to the ECHR. 

 

Asylum and returns - Home Secretary's announcement 17 November 2025

On 17 November 2025, the government issued a Policy Paper - Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government's asylum and returns policy.  As ever, please give the paper a full and fair reading.

The Home Secretary clearly stated that the present government has no intention of taking the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) - (see Hansard - answers to questions). The government claims to have learned lessons from 'international partners, including Denmark' where fundamental reform to its system has seen asylum claims at a 40-year low.  

The Hansard report of the Home Secretary's announcement is HERE. 

 The Introduction to the Paper contains

Home Secretary seeks a tougher ("Denmark style") scheme

The Immigration Act 1971 section 3(2) states that - 'The Secretary of State shall from time to time ... lay before Parliament statements of the rules, or of any changes in the rules, laid down by him as to the practice to be followed in the administration of this Act for regulating the entry into and stay in the United Kingdom of persons required by this Act to have leave to enter, .....'

The section provides that either House of Parliament may disapprove a statement. Critics have argued that there should be a more rigorous scrutiny and approval process. 

 

The Immigration Act 1971 sets

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

The BBC is under attack from various politicians following news is that the BBC Director-General (Tim Davie) and the Chief Executive Officer of BBC News (Deborah Turness) have resigned.

Davie's resignation follows a leaked internal memo stating that a Panorama documentary on President Donald J Trump made it appear that Trump directly called for an attack on the United States Capitol (6 January 2021).

 

The BBC exists by virtue of a Royal Charter. The current Charter began on 1 January 2017 and will end on 31 December 2027. The history of the Charter is set out HERE. 

An Agreement

Terrorism Act 2000 Schedule 7 - Port and Border Controls

At Westminster Magistrates' Court, Mr Stephen Lennon was acquitted of a charge under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 ('the TA').  Lennon is also known as "Tommy Robinson."

It was alleged that, on 28 July 2024 at the Channel Tunnel he failed to comply with a duty imposed under or by virtue of Schedule 7 of the TA in that he failed to provide the PIN access code to his mobile telephone.

Full details of the case are set out in the remarks of District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) Goozée - see Judiciary R v Stephen Lennon. 

The judge set out the relevant law at paragraphs 7 to 22 of his remarks.

Military Justice - Some recent Court Martial sentences

Jaysley Beck was a young woman who had enlisted in the British Army. She held the rank of Gunner in the Royal Artillery and became the victim of a sexual assault committed by Warrant Officer Michael Webber (43). Five months later, in December 2021, Gunner Beck was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill, Wiltshire. 

Webber pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and was sentenced by the Court Martial to 6 months imprisonment. He will be on the sex offenders register for 7 years.

Further details of the case may be seen at BBC News 31 October 2025.

 

In February 2025, the Coroner concluded that -