Covid

Lord Sumption has backed calls for an amnesty for those given criminal convictions for breaking Covid rules. The former Supreme Court justice said that the criminalisation of more than 29,000 people was “ridiculous” and a “miscarriage of justice".

Scotland's Covid inquiry is set to face further delays after it was announced that chairman Lord Brailsford has been diagnosed with a kidney tumour. Under the Inquiries Act 2005, public hearings cannot be held without the chair present, either in person or remotely. This means the timing of the inqu

Former prime minister Boris Johnson yesterday lost his temper in the hot seat at the public inquiry examining the UK government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, where he was grilled by lead counsel to the inquiry, Hugo Keith KC – but who is this distinguished barrister? The joint head of c

The English High Court's judgment in favour of the UK Covid-19 inquiry over the disclosure of WhatsApp messages has been welcomed by Aamer Anwar, lead solicitor acting on behalf of the The Scottish Covid Bereaved at both the Scottish & UK inquiries. The decision relates to the disclosure of rele

Legislation proposing the permanent adoption or temporary extension of some "beneficial" measures enacted during the pandemic has been published today, including an extension to statutory time limits for criminal proceedings. The Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill proposes changes in

What could have been done better in response to the Covid-19 pandemic? Has any aspect of the response broken Scots criminal law? Are there any circumstances in which compensation should be paid to those who have suffered the disease or to relatives of those who have passed because of it? Though

The Scottish Human Rights Commission has welcomed Lady Poole’s appointment as chair of the Covid inquiry but said the terms of reference do not go far enough to ensure that a human rights-based approach is taken to the inquiry. Much will depend on the approach taken by Lady Poole, it said.