*/
The government unexpectedly ditched its plans to reform personal injury claims.
The proposals, heralded in last year’s autumn statement by the then Chancellor, George Osborne, would have increased the limit for personal injury small claims from £1,000 to £5,000, and removed the right to claim compensation for low-value soft-tissue, or whiplash, injuries.
Osborne said they would cut car insurance by £50 a year and save insurers £1bn.
But ministers are understood to have told insurers they were not keen on the plans.
The Ministry of Justice reportedly does not want to proceed with the reforms at the moment, but rather to focus on prison reform. However, they have not been taken off the table entirely.
An MoJ spokesman said: ‘The number and cost of whiplash claims remains too high, increasing premiums for ordinary motorists. We remain committed to tackling this issue, and will set out our plans in due course.’
The government unexpectedly ditched its plans to reform personal injury claims.
The proposals, heralded in last year’s autumn statement by the then Chancellor, George Osborne, would have increased the limit for personal injury small claims from £1,000 to £5,000, and removed the right to claim compensation for low-value soft-tissue, or whiplash, injuries.
Osborne said they would cut car insurance by £50 a year and save insurers £1bn.
But ministers are understood to have told insurers they were not keen on the plans.
The Ministry of Justice reportedly does not want to proceed with the reforms at the moment, but rather to focus on prison reform. However, they have not been taken off the table entirely.
An MoJ spokesman said: ‘The number and cost of whiplash claims remains too high, increasing premiums for ordinary motorists. We remain committed to tackling this issue, and will set out our plans in due course.’
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Born from a grievance, their research project grew into a book and is now challenging the status quo. Emma Price and Emma-Louise Fenelon reveal the key findings – and the critical next steps
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts