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Suella Braverman accused of 'sacrificing' the 'UK’s reputation' by top lawyers

IN A curious incident, top lawyers in the UK have accused attorney general Suella Braverman of sacrificing the UK’s reputation.

The lawyers confronted her during the annual general meeting of the Bar Council on Saturday (12) for 'sidelining' legal advisers and bypassing the ministerial code, reported The Guardian.


Braverman, attorney general for England and Wales and advocate general for Northern Ireland, was asked how Britain could retain “a shred of credibility” in imploring other countries to follow international law after revealing its own willingness to breach agreements.

The UK government last week unveiled plans to give ministers sweeping powers to “disapply” part of the Brexit deal that the prime minister signed in January.

According to the report, five Queen's Councils confronted her by telling that a crime which broke the law in a 'specific and limited way' was 'still a crime'.

Boris Johnson is also facing a growing rebellion over the explosive proposals in the internal market bill. Former prime ministers Sir John Major and Tony Blair jointly condemned the Brexit legislation as imperilling the Irish peace process, trade negotiations and the UK’s integrity.

Asked if she believed ministers were breaking the ministerial code with the legislation, Braverman said that the code was not 'legally enforceable'.

The lawyers also expressed displeasure over her step seeking advice on the measures from three pro-Brexit legal figures, including one junior barrister, instead of approaching senior government lawyers.

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Nearly 300,000 families face worst forms of homelessness in England, research shows

Highlights

  • 299,100 households experienced acute homelessness in 2024, up 21 per cent since 2022.
  • Rough sleeping and unsuitable temporary accommodation cases increased by 150 per cent since 2020.
  • Councils spent £732 m on unsuitable emergency accommodation in 2023/24.


Almost 300,000 families and individuals across England are now experiencing the worst forms of homelessness, including rough sleeping, unsuitable temporary accommodation and living in tents, according to new research from Crisis.

The landmark study, led by Heriot-Watt University, shows that 299,100 households in England experienced acute homelessness in 2024. This represents a 21 per cent increase since 2022, when there were 246,900 households, and a 45 per cent increase since 2012.

More than 15,000 people slept rough last year, while the number of households in unsuitable temporary accommodation rose from 19,200 in 2020 to 46,700 in 2024. An additional 18,600 households are living in unconventional accommodation such as cars, sheds and tents.

A national survey found 70 per cent of councils have seen increased numbers approaching them for homelessness assistance in the last year. Local authorities in London and Northern England reported the biggest increase.

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