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Alistair Sloan

@alistairsloan.bsky.social
368 followers 599 following 217 posts

Advocate (Lawyer) at the Scottish Bar. Member of Optimum Advocates. #FOI, #privacy & #DataProtection nerd. Enjoy public law. Opinions expressed are my own.

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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This opinion piece written by the Dean of Faculty, and published earlier this week, on the state of the requirement for corroboration in Scottish criminal cases following recent decisions of the Appeal Court is an interesting and, in my opinion, important read www.scottishlegal.com/articles/the...
scottishlegal.com
Roddy Dunlop KC: The death of corroboration – how the law of Scotland took a wrong turn
In an extended article for Scottish Legal News, Dean of Faculty Roddy Dunlop KC warns that corroboration has now been effectively abolished in the wake of HM Advocate v PK. For centuries, the requirem...
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Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
New from me on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk substack "the write-round" Why can't MPs call each other liars? Part of a new series of 'why parliament is weird' a collection of gripes, oddities and head scratchers...would love to hear your takes on the weirdest things in parliament!
instituteforgov.substack.com
Why parliament is weird (no.1): Why can't MPs call each other liars?
MPs can be quite rude to each other in the House. So why can’t they call each other liars?
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
This isn’t right at all. He will be resigning as PM but until he goes to see The King to resign (which will be next month or September depending on the number of candidates to replace him) he is still the PM. We’ve been through the same story many times before, this should be common knowledge.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
This amendment doesn’t seem to actually do anything to advance the cause of PR. Could be described as virtue signalling.
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The Register @theregister.com · 19/06/2026
Britain's privacy watchdog quits after 'poor judgment' admission
theregister.com
Britain's privacy watchdog quits after 'poor judgment' admission
John Edwards says his position had become 'untenable' following investigation into conduct including inappropriate attempts at humor
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Good morning from Pafos 🇨🇾
A photograph looking out over the water near Paphos harbour
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Yesterday, the decision in the first certification of non-compliance with a decision notice of the Scottish Information Commissioner was issued. I have written a post on my blog looking at the decision: lnkd.in/exq4Cyn8
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
I've written on my blog about a decision of the First-tier Tribunal where it has agreed with the Information Commissioner that information to which legal privilege attaches should be disclosed in response to a FOI request: blog.alistairsloan.co.uk/2026/05/28/w...
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
I've written a short post on my blog looking at the decision of the Upper Tribunal fining the University of Exeter £15,000 over a failure to comply with a decision of the First-tier Tribunal in relation to a FOI appeal: lnkd.in/ewT-eTVn
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
First big question for Holyrood is who will replace Alison Johnstone as Presiding Officer? Given that Labour are tied with Reform I suspect they won't be keen to give up an MSP to the role. The second big question is how they will deal with a tied second place. Probably a challenge for the new PO.
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Ballot Box Scotland @ballotbox.scot · 07/05/2026
Polls are now CLOSED for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election! I can hardly believe it, but that's it, the people have spoken. Don't wait up to hear what they've said though: the count begins at 9am tomorrow. I'll have all the detail on the Ballot Box Scotland website: preview to come shortly!
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Polls close for the Scottish Parliament general election in less than one hour. There is still time to cast your vote. If you have a postal vote that you didn't return by post you can still complete it and hand it in to any polling station in your constituency before the polls close.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Almost 22% of this record high Scottish prison population are on remand: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Hundreds more prisoners released early but jails still full
New data shows more than 600 prisoners have been released early from Scotland's jails since November but it has done little to ease overcrowding.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
The Upper Tribunal has recently issued a decision in an appeal where the issue of legal professional privilege was the central matter of concern in relation to a FOI request made to the Cabinet Office in 2020. I have written on my blog about that decision: blog.alistairsloan.co.uk/2026/04/20/p...
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Received this in a recent FOI request acknowledgment from a Scottish public authority…might be more convenient for the authority, but given the need to be able to evidence the request should you need to go to the Commissioner it’s somewhat inappropriate
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
I've written on my blog about last week's important decision from the Court of Session looking at the interaction between legal professional privilege and FOI law: blog.alistairsloan.co.uk/2026/03/30/s... #FOI #Scotland #LPP #FreedomofInformation
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
I have written on my blog about last week's important ECJ case on if and when a controller can refuse a subject access request as excessive on the grounds that it is excessive, even where it is a first request by a data subject to a controller: blog.alistairsloan.co.uk/2026/03/25/r...
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Watched Louis Theroux’s documentary on the “manosphere”. I’m sorry, but the name HS Tiky Tocky (or whatever it is) is about as far from “Alpha” as you can get…
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Why do companies insist on a recorded message that says they’re experiencing higher than usual call volumes? Everyone knows it’s a lie; it’s simply they don’t employ enough people. In the last two days I’ve phoned @arnoldclark.bsky.social TSB and @virginmedianews.bsky.social; all have said the same.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Well this is going to help with the cost of living...
bbc.co.uk
Oil prices jump and shares fall as conflict escalates
Experts have warned that a prolonged conflict could push global energy prices even higher.
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Aileen McHarg @aileenmcharg.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
This is a good piece, but the attacks on Dorothy Bain are not the only recent example of attempts to undermine trust in the legal system for political gain, and the press and others who have been insinuating wrongdoing on the flimsiest of evidence are also complicit.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Labour governments don't come along often; it would, therefore, be good if this so-called Labour government actually started acting like a Labour government.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
The Scottish Government has announced a 13% increase in civil, criminal and children's legal aid fees with effect from 1 September 2026: www.gov.scot/news/legal-a...
gov.scot
Legal aid fees and fixed payments to rise 13%
Key reform see solicitors receive legal aid hike, more traineeships and tech support.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
On Monday the Court of Session will hear a judicial review of the decision to make an order under the Terrorism Act 2000 proscribing Palestine Action. The hearing, before Lord Young, appears as though it is to be livestreamed: www.scotcourts.gov.uk/livestream/
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
I have written a short blog post on the Scottish Government's consultation on extending FOI laws to care homes and care at home services provided by private and third sector organisations: blog.alistairsloan.co.uk/2026/01/08/s...
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Law Society of Scotland @lawscot.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
MSPs will debate legal aid reform this afternoon following an important inquiry into Civil Legal Assistance in Scotland ▶️Watch the debate at www.scottishparliament.tv/ #LegalAidMatters #AccessToJustice
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
For my first blog post of 2026 I return to a subject that I've written about before which is section 166 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and its very limited scope: blog.alistairsloan.co.uk/2026/01/06/s...
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The Associated Press @apnews.com · 01/01/2026
Bulgaria is welcoming a new year and a new currency.
bit.ly
Bulgaria is joining the euro. Here's what it means for consumers and businesses
Bulgaria is welcoming a new year and a new currency. The nation of 6.4 million in southeastern Europe will become the 21st member of the shared euro currency on Jan. 1.
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Dan Johnson | London, U.K. Lawyer = English Solicitor 🔶🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺 @danrjohnson.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
Mu卐 IS an absolute IDIOT! www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/elon-mu...
thelondoneconomic.com
Elon Musk reposts image of 'Birmingham hospital' but it's actually a Batman scene
Elon Musk reposted the image claiming to show 'migrants storming a hospital', but it turned out it was actually from The Dark Knight Rises.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
Merry Christmas; may everyone have a lovely day.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Disputes about the medical treatment that a hospital can and cannot provide to a child are not unheard of in England and Wales and I am sure that anyone with a passing interest will be able to immediately think of some high profile cases in the last decade. They are, however, pretty much unheard of
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Last full day in Tenerife today. Looks like it will be another lovely day.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
This “Labour” government is a disgrace. Almost no sign of Labour values in government policy (except, perhaps, on employment law and renters rights in England) What Mahmood seems not to get is that many of the people she is pandering to with her immigration policies don’t want her here either.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
For the second time in my 37 years on the planet, I am enjoying my birthday in the warm sunshine rather than the Scottish winter.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Good morning from Tenerife. Here for some much needed downtime and relaxation.
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jonbainesdata.bsky.social @jonbainesdata.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
I’ve written on my personal blog about an extraordinary CoA judgment in which the Chief Constable of Northants Police has been found in contempt over egregious BWV disclosure failings informationrightsandwrongs.com/2025/11/13/c...
informationrightsandwrongs.com
Chief Constable in contempt over BWV footage disclosure failures
The Court of Appeal has handed down an extraordinary judgment (Buzzard-Quashie v Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police [2025] EWCA Civ 1397) in which the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire wa…
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Controllers who lazily automatically ask for scanned copies of photo ID in response to subject access requests as proof of ID will always rile the data protection lawyer in me. Verification must be reasonable and proportionate and, above all, must actually be capable of verifying ID.
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UK Constitutional Law Association @ukcla.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Conor Casey: The Attorney’s Bridle: The Constitutional Convention Disciplining the Attorney General’s Discretionary Powers ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/10/20/c...
ukconstitutionallaw.org
Conor Casey: The Attorney’s Bridle: The Constitutional Convention Disciplining the Attorney General’s Discretionary Powers
The Attorney General is one of the most powerful and influential officers in the British Constitution. They are the chief adviser of the Crown on points of law and the chief counsel for the governm…
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
In my humble opinion a Bill of Renunciation and Deprivation should be introduced to Parliament. He should be deprived of those titles, the style and titular dignity of a Prince of the United Kingdom, his right to the style of HRH and of his place in the line of succession. No Commonwealth Realm
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Let’s be clear: he is not losing his titles. He has been told to stop using them. There’s a difference; he still legally has the Dukedom, Earldom and Barony. An Act of Parliament is required in order for him to “lose” them.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
The King should go further and request that the Government introduce a Bill to formally deprive him of the titles of Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh (the only way that they can actually be removed). He may have agreed to stop using them, but legally he still possesses the titles
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Certain sections of the media printing/reporting obviously nonsense stories (such as people not being deported because they had a cat or because they liked a certain type of chicken nuggets) as if they were fact probably hasn't helped www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
How Britain's ECHR membership became a political hot potato
The extent to which leaving the Convention would make a difference to immigration has been greatly exaggerated, argues Lord Sumption
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Absolutely terrible idea from the Conservatives. Ministers absolutely should not be issuing guidelines to the independent judiciary. Does Robert Jenrick not understand the meaning of the word "independent"? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Conservatives vow to scrap Sentencing Council
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick will set out plans they say would put ministers in charge of sentencing policy.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
The Scottish Law Commission has published a draft Homicide (Scotland) Bill which would abolish the common law crimes of murder and culpable homicide in Scotland replacing them with statutory crimes (of the same name). The report and draft Bill are here: www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/3017/5...
scotlawcom.gov.uk
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
I don't think anyone is particularly interested in my thoughts on what occurred in the USA yesterday. Incidents of this kind often require nuance and an ability to hold more than one thought at the same time; that is, sadly, something that appears increasingly difficult in modern society and fairly
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Not unsurprising given that people are spending longer on pre-trial remand (about a quarter of Scotland's prison population are on remand) and those who are convicted are being sent to prison by the courts in greater numbers and for longer than they were historically: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Scotland's prison numbers now higher than before early release scheme
More than 300 inmates were freed from Scotland's jails in February and March to free up space.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Following on from the launch of "Court of Session Live" in 2023, the first livestream of a Scottish criminal appeal will take place on Friday 29 August. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
First livestream to come from Scottish criminal court
An appeal in a trial that has been delayed three times will be the first livestream under a new service from the Scottish courts.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
All political parties in the UK use this tactic and have been for years. If a political party invites you to sign a petition or support a particular campaign and it’s not on a government website, then it’s simply a data harvesting operation by the party concerned.
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Alistair Sloan @alistairsloan.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
The thing that surprises me is that people are surprised that a man with obvious authoritarian desires and who came into office threatening to forcibly take the territory of another sovereign state is aligning himself with an authoritarian dictator who is stealing territory from a sovereign state.
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Nicola Monaghan @nicolamonaghan.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Calling all barristers and solicitor-advocates. If you are able to help with my PhD research on the jury, please do get in contact with me. Thank you in advance!
Call for barristers and solicitor-advocates act in Crown Court trials to be interviewed for PhD research about the jury. Please email nicola.monaghan@northampton.ac.uk.
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