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Greater Manchester Law Centre

@gmlawcentre.bsky.social
173 followers 21 following 158 posts

GMLC is a community Law Centre offering free, independent legal advice & representation. Fighting together for free access to justice. reception@gmlaw.org.uk ⚖️

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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Independent research by Museum of Homelessness found that deaths rose 6.8% in 2025 vs the previous year. Over 10,000 people have died since 2017. Read the report from museumofhomelessness.org/dhp
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Dr Zubaida Haque @zubhaque.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
85% of UK adults think free, independent advice should be an essential local service. 89% agree that getting advice early can stop problems getting worse. That support needs to be matched by investment in the advice services people rely on. Read our new research @adviceuk.bsky.social bit.ly/4d44EIF
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Legal Action Group @legalactiongroup.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
📢 The Access to Justice Foundation (ATJF) needs your support to protect a vital source of funding for #AccessToJustice. Find out more and how to respond to the consultation here➡️ hi.switchy.io/_ffS ⏰ Deadline: 25th September ⏰
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Legal Action Group @legalactiongroup.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
🚨ACTIONS AGAINST THE POLICE TRAINING🚨 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 & 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲! Intro to AAP - 9 Nov ➡️ hi.switchy.io/IntroToAAP2026 Advanced AAP - 9 Dec ➡️ hi.switchy.io/AdvancedAAP2026 📣Get your tickets now! #ActionsAgainstThePolice #LegalTraining
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Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants @jcwi-uk.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Want to strengthen your understanding of UK immigration law? Join JCWI for our online Introduction to Immigration Law training course. 📅 Thursday 24 September 2026 🕚 11:00am–4:00pm 💻 Online webinar 🎟️ £149 Book your place today: training.jcwi.org.uk/events/
training.jcwi.org.uk
Events from 18 September – 27 October – JCWI Training
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Housing associations in England have sold 25,000 social and affordable homes to private buyers who do not live in them since 2018-19, new research has found. This should be a bigger news story. #HousingCrisis www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/housing...
insidehousing.co.uk
Housing associations sell record number of social homes to private buyers, new analysis shows
Housing associations in England have sold 25,000 social and affordable homes to private buyers who do not live in them since 2018-19, new research has found.
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Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Last week, the government published a statement of changes to the immigration rules. Our blog shares the recent... 👉 Changes to Appendix Victims of Domestic Abuse (VDA) of the immigration rules 👉 Changes to the visa conditions of Skilled Workers who are recognised as victims of modern slavery
gmiau.org
Changes to Victims of Domestic Abuse settlement policy and Skilled Worker visa conditions
Two changes to Appendix Victims of Domestic Abuse of the immigration rules and visa conditions of Skilled Workers, recognised as victims of modern slavery.
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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The Justice Committee has just handed the government a roadmap. Time to make legal aid work again. (2/2)
committees.parliament.uk
MPs warn of ‘unacceptably high risk of miscarriages of justice’ due to declining availability of legal aid and rising self-representation - Committees - UK Parliament
Declining availability of legal aid and increasing levels of self-representation is creating an ‘unacceptably high risk of miscarriages of justice and undermines the efficient administration’ of the…
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
More than 350 staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals are set to strike again on 14, 15 and 17 September at Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield Hospital in Bury. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Greater Manchester hospital staff strike again over overtime
More than 350 staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals are due to walk out later this month.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
"Garden Court Chambers’ Rajiv Menon KC, Charlotte Head’s barrister, is now facing prosecution for contempt for the contents of his closing speech on 8 January. It is unprecedented. It weakens the right to a fair trial." Read Sue James in Legal Action magazine: www.lag.org.uk/article/2186...
lag.org.uk
Editorial: When justice itself is on trial
Rajiv Menon KC’s prosecution for contempt for the content of his closing speech in R v Head & ors weakens the right to a fair trial, says Sue James.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
New rules allowing electronic and workplace balloting for industrial action came into effect on 25 August. Join this discussion on 9/09/26 at 7.45pm at the Mechanics Institute (M1 6DD), hosted by Manchester TUC, on how your workplace or branch can prepare to take advantage of the new rules.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Children could be "slipping through the cracks" after an investigation found serious gaps in how councils track homeless families placed in temporary accommodation outside their home areas, experts have warned. www.itv.com/news/granada...
itv.com
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Currently, disabled bus passes are only eligible for use between the hours of 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays. From 1 April 2027, people who hold a disabled bus pass can travel on buses for free, no matter the time of day. www.transportforall.org.uk/blog/2026/08...
bbc.co.uk
Free bus travel for disabled people in England to be extended to 24 hours a day
The change, which has been welcomed by campaign groups, will come into effect in England from April.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
‘Law centres have always been embedded in their communities – working alongside housing associations, health services, food banks, the organisations that people turn to first when things go wrong.' - The Law Society Gazette covers Law Centres in 2026. www.lawgazette.co.uk/features/law...
lawgazette.co.uk
Law centres: The Rescuers
Following the abolition of legal aid for most civil cases, law centres had to change their operating models to survive. Catherine Baksi reports on the challenges centres face - and their resilience - ...
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
GMLC campaign volunteer Tammy Ho discusses the government's proposed changes to jury trials on our blog, while new PM Andy Burnham considers whether to scrap them. "Defendants in criminal cases are not criminals until they are found guilty in courts." www.gmlaw.org.uk/2026/08/13/j...
gmlaw.org.uk
Jury Trials on Trial: the Case Against the Courts and Tribunals Bill
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Every year, we train students from Manchester Metropolitan University to support people through their welfare benefits Tribunal appeals. Thank you to Satiya for her hard work on our Legal Advocacy Support Programme.
Image shows a picture of Satiya to the right, and on the left a quote from her reading:
"Through [the LASP] programme, I developed my legal writing, interview skills and communication skills, especially when communicating with vulnerable clients. Additionally, this role further developed my passion for assisting individuals who are under-represented. This programme showed me the importance of legal representation and support provided by legal professionals.

I still use some skills such as legal researching and attention to detail in the paralegal role that I currently hold.”
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Join GMA TUC for the 2026 Peterloo Commemoration event on 16/08/26 at Manchester Central M2 3DL from 12pm. Remember those who died for the right to vote in Manchester 200 years ago - and hear speakers on the fight for democratic rights and freedoms today.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
GMLC has supported campaigns for the 'Hillsborough Law', which would place a duty on public authorities to act with candour, transparency and frankness. Now this duty is going through Parliament as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69c3fd...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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Liberty @libertyhq.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
USING THE LAW TO CHALLENGE THE STATE: MANCHESTER 🐝 Are you a community organisation tackling racial injustice? Join our workshop with @gmlawcentre.bsky.social on 6 October to discuss how we can use the law strategically to achieve change. Register here 👇 forms.office.com/e/jbw7mc4P23
Liberty and Greater Manchester Law Centre logo.

Text: USING THE LAW TO CHALLENGE THE STATE: MANCHESTER

Join our day-long workshop for community organisations to discuss how we can use the law to tackle racial injustice and achieve change for our communities. This workshop is designed for non-lawyers.

We will look at:
How can we use the law to achieve change
What is community-driven lawyering  
What is strategic litigation  
How to spot opportunities for cases and other legal work   
What it takes to bring and take part in a case  
How to access the right lawyer for your issue 

To sign up and find out more, scan this QR code or copy this link: https://forms.office.com/e/jbw7mc4P23 

Date: Tuesday 6 October 2026
Time: 9:30am to 4pm (lunch and refreshments provided)
Location: Irwin Mitchell (Manchester Office), One St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 3AF
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
From @jrf_uk: "Four years into the cost-of-living crisis, almost two-thirds of low-income families say they struggle to buy essentials such as clothes, heating and food. 62% of those families were unable to afford an essential item in the past six months." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
'I can't afford to turn the oven on': 7.4m households struggling to buy essentials
As Andy Burnham promises “breathing space” for households, millions are unable to buy items such as clothing, heating and food.
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Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Where are we now on earned settlement? - With Starmer resigning and Burnham preparing to take the reins, a change of leadership is a chance to change direction. - 200,000 ppl responded to the public consultation on earned settlement, and 500 travelled to Parliament in March to lobby their MPs.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
GMLC's contributions are included in this new government report into Black people’s experiences of homelessness. The report highlights the disparity in both numbers of Black people facing homelessness, and in outcomes through the homeless system. committees.parliament.uk/publications...
committees.parliament.uk
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Maya Fitchett, Research Coordinator at @netpol.bsky.social and author of the report, said: “Netpol is documenting a crackdown on the right to protest happening almost every day. ‘One Day in Manchester’ offers one snapshot of this growing state of repression.” netpol.org/2026/07/07/o...
netpol.org
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Britain removed rent controls in the 1980s, alongside other changes to privatise housing - and the housing crisis has been escalating since. It's time to save the state billions in housing benefit and homelessness spending. Britain needs rent controls. 📣 www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/fewer-t...
insidehousing.co.uk
Fewer than 2% of British rental properties affordable for households on housing benefit
Fewer than one in 50 advertised private rental properties are affordable to households on housing benefit, according to analysis by a coalition of charities.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
“The National Housing Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing found that more than 70,000 babies are living in overly hot homes as the climate crisis drives record temperatures across the country.” www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
One in six babies in England live in overheated homes – analysis
More than 70,000 babies living in hot homes as climate crisis drives record temperatures
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Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
📣We are recruiting new Trustees/Directors to our Board! We want to hear from people who are passionate about our work and our community. We are open to all applications and types of experience, particularly those with skills and experience in Finance, Human Resources and Fundraising. More info⬇️
gmiau.org
Join our Board of Trustees - GMIAU
Help Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) overcome immigration injustice by becoming a Trustee/Director.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, the chief executive of the Work Rights Centre, said: "All of these people migrated legally and they answered a call that came from the UK, so to throw them under the bus now is cruel and it’s unconscionable." www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Increasing leave to remain timeframe for UK care workers ‘cruel’, say campaigners
Experts and activists back Mike Tapp’s proposal for care worker exclusion that led to row with Shabana Mahmood
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Manchester Central Foodbank are recruiting for an Operations and Projects Worker. The role will play a key part in the day-to-day running of operations. Work in helping your community; apply by 9am on 13/07/26: manchestercentral.foodbank.org.uk/2026/06/26/j...
manchestercentral.foodbank.org.uk
Join our team: Operations and Projects Worker | Manchester Central Foodbank
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Homeless people in Salford's temporary accommodation are being kicked off the social housing waiting list... because they have been homeless. Please sign and share this petition to keep Salford City Council's social housing scheme fit for purpose! www.change.org/p/keep-salfo...
change.org
Sign the Petition
Keep Salford’s Housing Allocation Scheme Fit for Purpose
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Our Trustee Ciara Bartlam on Pride month and being a Legal Aid barrister: "For me, legal aid work has always been about standing alongside people who might otherwise struggle to have their voices heard." younglegalaidlawyers.org/in-conversat...
younglegalaidlawyers.org
In Conversation with Ciara Bartlam: Standing Proud, Standing Together – YLAL celebrates Pride
As part of Pride Month and this year’s theme of Many Voices. One Front, we are sharing conversations with members of the legal profession about their journeys, challenges and reflections. These storie...
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Thanks to @lawcentres.bsky.social for organising this week's LCN conference in Leicester. LCN conferences are a place where Law Centres across England and Wales can learn from one another and discuss our strategic priorities together.
Image shows facilitators and speakers including Liz Chahal and Lord Bach opening the LCN conference, in front of a presentation slide that reads 'securing tomorrow's frontline justice' and a Law Centres Network banner that reads 'Defending Rights, Upholding Justice, Promoting Fairness, Improving Lives'. Image shows a turquoise Law Centres Network standing banner that reads 'A passion for justice'. An A4 sheet stuck on top of it reads 'Welcome, our conference this way'.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Thea Jaffe, a full-time working mum who claims universal credit, writes about why the system needs to adapt to support people into and to sustain employment. www.bigissue.com/opinion/univ...
bigissue.com
Universal credit claimants are working. The system is not
Thea Jaffe, a full-time working mum who claims universal credit, writes about why the system needs to adapt to support people into and to sustain employment.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
A report from the Resist Rent Rises launch: "The political weather is shifting. Bano noted that think tanks including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and IPPR had recently backed rent controls, and that Rachel Reeves, however briefly, publicly floated the idea." www.thecanary.co/uk/2026/06/0...
thecanary.co
Manchester tenants organisers launch Resist Rent Rises campaign
Manchester rental woes persist despite the new Renters’ Rights Act — the real fight is just beginning, campaigners warn
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Legal Action Group @legalactiongroup.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
📚In our latest instalment of 'Housing Law Handbook spotted out in the wild', here we see LAG's very own Grace Cosford introducing our office copies of the Handbook to all our other fabulous books. Have you got your copies of the new edition yet? 👇 👇 👇 hi.switchy.io/sE3t
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
"The civil justice system [is] overly complex, beset by delays and expensive, and afflicted by with too many people litigating without advice." There comes a time when more reviews won't fix the problem: we need decisive action to improve #AccessToJustice. share.google/f1wrHReDPGCr...
share.google
Decades of reviews have failed to fix civil justice crisis, says new report
Academic commissioned by Nuffield Foundation rejects notion that civil justice should be treated as part of the 'service sector'.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
The housing crisis affects all low-income people, but it is particularly bad for those who urgently need housing - including released prisoners. "25% of men who left the prison found themselves homeless." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Housing released prisoners is a major issue, says HMP Norwich governor
HMP Norwich's governor says more than a dozen prisoners leave each month without a home to go to.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
The new Resist Rent Rises campaign has launched! If you're a private sector tenant with a rent increase notice, you can use the online tool to check if it's valid and see how much you could save by going to the Tribunal. 👇 resistrentrises.org #ResistRentRises
resistrentrises.org
Resist Rent Rises
Use our free tool to find out if you should challenge your rent increase in rent tribunal.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Thank you to Maria Loray, one of our Legal Advocacy Support Project cohort this year. Alongside other students from Manchester Metropolitan University, Maria helps benefits claimants in their appeals to the Tribunal, fighting to secure them the disability benefits they are entitled to.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Thank you to Momen Alnsour, a GMLC volunteer who has been helping clients on Reception this year, triaging enquiries and signposting people to other services where appropriate. The Law Centre couldn't operate without the dedication and commitment of volunteers like Momen. #VolunteersWeek2026
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Legal Action Group @legalactiongroup.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
📬It is tempting to frame the crisis in #HousingLegalAid as a recruitment problem: if only we could attract more solicitors; if only more people chose #LegalAid as a career pathway. But these are symptoms of a deeper issue, says Jayne Butler of North Wales Community Law. Read on 👉 hi.switchy.io/vL7A
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Legal Action Group @legalactiongroup.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
🔵 #PublicLaw Update🔵 Amanda Weston KC (@windmill-tilter.bsky.social), Matthew Ahluwalia & Isaac Ricca-Richardson round up recent public law cases from the unlawful proscription of Palestine Action, to the Sex Matters’ challenge. @gardencourtlaw.bsky.social ➡️ hi.switchy.io/vL8K #LawAndPractice
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
On 22/05/26, there will be a Manchester launch event for the new national Resist Rent Rises campaign. The campaign is targeted at encouraging tenants to use their new rights and to fight for rent controls. WHERE? The Jain Centre, Longsight, M12 4QE WHEN? 20/05/26 at 6pm. 🏘️📢
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Another cohort of Legal Advocacy Student Project (LASP) volunteers hard at work at GMLC to ensure residents of GM get the disability benefits they are entitled to! We've been proud to run this project with @manmetuni.bsky.social for many years now, supporting the public but also aspiring lawyers.
Image shows 8 students and GMLC's Welfare Rights supervisor together in a small room, sat around two tables with laptops on them, hard at work.
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Freedom from Torture @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Article 3 is 15 words that protect so many. Simple, powerful and absolute. Right now, the UK Government is suggesting that the “interpretation” of some of our most precious protections should be reconsidered. This is dangerous ground. Find out more: fftdonate.org/4eKB4d2
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament at dusk with text highlighting '15 Words That Keep Us Safe' and 'Introducing Article 3'."No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." That’s Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
15 words that are simple, powerful and absolute. And protect millions of people from torture
But the UK government is suggesting limits should be placed on Article 3’s protections.The UK needs to protect people at risk of torture.

As a nation, we shaped post-war human rights. Any backsliding now is a dangerous move that could trigger a domino effect around the world.
If these 15 words are no longer absolute, how can any of us feel safe?
Find out more about what’s at stake. Link in bio!
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
National disgrace: workers taking bosses to court forced to wait until 2030. Govt has reduced resources for employment tribunals. Stressful for workers. Rogue employers are more likely to get away with abuse, wage theft and wrongful dismissal. Justice delayed is justice denied.
thebureauinvestigates.com
Workers taking bosses to court forced to wait until 2030
As money is poured into criminal courts, the employment tribunal faces an endless backlog – and reduced resources
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Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
We're offering FREE training through the RSMP to local authorities supporting separated children seeking asylum in the UK exploring: the asylum process for children, supporting children when newly arrived, age assessments, refusals, appeals and human rights assessments. Next one: 18 May! Sign up👇
eventbrite.co.uk
the asylum process for separated children
RSMP north west have faciliated this training on the asylum process for seperated asylum seeking children, delviered by GMIAU.
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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
The Renters’ Rights Act is a significant moment for private renters but whether it becomes a genuinely transformative one will depend on what happens next. Without #LegalAid, too many renters will be locked out of justice. More in our newsletter. 👉 us5.campaign-archive.com?u=0460307137...
A graphic, which contains:
A photograph of Julie Bishop (Director, LCN)

Text which reads:
‘LCN will be using the evidence our Law Centres gather from practice to press the case for the legal aid reform that has to come next.’

Larger text below which reads:
'Renters’ rights—legal aid reform'
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
"While last year the UK government pledged to increase the fees paid to housing legal aid firms, those changes are yet to be fully implemented." www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Renters’ Rights Act could worsen court delays without proper funding | Letters
Letter: Investment in the courts and legal aid will be vital to deal with the expected increase in contested repossession cases, says Mark Evans of the Law Society of England and Wales
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Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
More than 7,000 join employment tribunal that will include claims for minimum wage and holiday pay www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Thousands of Just Eat couriers launch legal action to improve workers’ rights
More than 7,000 join employment tribunal that will include claims for minimum wage and holiday pay
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