Women in prison already face a healthcare system that routinely fails them. But when official legal correspondence adopts a hostile, accusatory tone, such as that sent by Christopher Bates on Government Legal Department letterhead, following a pre-action letter by Scott Laing of Bhatia Best, the damage goes far beyond words. It attempts to retraumatises, silence…
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The role of the Solicitor General is not simply administrative. It carries moral weight. Decisions about whether a sentence is “unduly lenient” speak to what, and who, the state believes is worth protecting. In recent months, Ellie Reeves has exercised that power in ways that raise deeply uncomfortable questions about consistency, compassion and justice. Reeves…
When Sir Mark Rowley took over as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 2022, he spoke about cleaning up the force and restoring public confidence. Three years on, that promise feels hollow to many Londoners watching crime go unaddressed and the very institution meant to protect them appears unable – or unwilling – to hold…
The hunger strikes of Palestine Action activists should trouble anyone who believes that the justice system must be rooted in dignity and equal treatment. Their protest is not a stunt, nor an act of recklessness. It is a last resort taken by women who say they are being treated less humanely than other prisoners, and…
In December 2025, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado stepped into the global spotlight as she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. For decades, Machado has been a relentless voice against authoritarianism in Venezuela, challenging the regime of Nicolás Maduro and demanding free and fair elections. Her recognition by the Nobel Committee marks…
When King Charles delivered his Stand Up to Cancer talk, he spoke passionately about the importance of cancer screening and his own journey of recovery. His words were broadcast across the nation, celebrated as a message of hope. Yet for women in prison across England, the speech was a devastating reminder of their invisibility. Behind…
When war closed in on Gaza, Malacha faced an impossible choice. She had been offered a PhD place in England, a dream opportunity, but the British government made no provision for her family. Leaving them behind under bombardment was unthinkable. “I wasn’t going to abandon my family. Education means nothing if you lose the people…
Equal pay settlements for female employees of local councils have surpassed a total of £1bn so far, with the GMB Union predicting many more wins to come in 2026. The Equality Act 2010 declares that both women and men must receive the same pay and contractual terms, including when doing roles that are different but…