A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
3rd August 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Abusers face eviction under new housing rules
New legal powers allowing social landlords to remove domestic abusers from tenancies and transfer them to victims have come into force in Scotland. The measures, introduced under Part 2 of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021, are intended to help victims remain safely in their homes rather than being forced to leave. Equalities minister Simita Kumar urged landlords to use the powers where appropriate, saying they would remove a significant barrier for victims. Scottish Women's Aid welcomed the changes, arguing they should reduce homelessness among women and children by placing the consequences of abuse on perpetrators rather than survivors.

 
THE LAW
Councillor calls for careful conversion law debate
Scottish Conservative councillor James Bundy argues that any Scottish ban on conversion practices must be debated carefully rather than through political polarisation. He says coercive and abusive practices should be prohibited but questions whether existing laws already cover such behaviour, urging supporters of new legislation to identify any genuine legal gaps. Blundy argues MSPs must balance protections for vulnerable people with rights including free speech, religion and family life, ensuring any new offence is clearly defined and legally workable. He concludes that legislation should be evidence-based, precisely drafted and subjected to rigorous parliamentary scrutiny rather than driven by slogans or accusations.
New employment law to hit small businesses
Small businesses will face increased challenges due to the Employment Rights Act, effective January 1, the Mail reports. Employees can claim unfair dismissal after six months instead of two years, limiting employers' time to assess new hires. The cap on compensation for unfair dismissal claims will also be removed. Katie Nightingale, Director of People Consulting at Grant Thornton UK, warned: "Businesses are already squeezed in a slow economy so will naturally have concerns about investing in training for managers."
Age of criminality must not be raised
Lord Byron Davies has warned against raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 across the UK arguing that it would mean violent child criminals would escape punishment undermining public trust in the justice system. The Shadow Home Office minister was responding to proposals made in the Government's Youth Justice White Paper but a Labour spokesman said no decision had yet been made.

 
CASES
UEFA threatens Infantino with legal action
UEFA has issued a legal warning to FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding his doomed World Cup sell-off plan. The governing body is considering legal action, arbitration, and regulatory complaints against Infantino and associated parties, including Joshua Kushner and JP Morgan. UEFA's letter demands the preservation of all relevant documents. UEFA has condemned the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, arguing that it undermines football governance.
Stolen Maserati driver admits fatal crash
A 55-year-old man has admitted causing the death of 74-year-old John Bell by dangerous driving after stealing a Maserati from a showroom in Broughty Ferry. Fraser Garden sped through a residential area at up to 85mph in a 30mph zone, ran a red light, drove on the wrong side of the road and overtook into oncoming traffic. Less than 750 metres from the showroom, he lost control of the car, crashed through a hedge into a garden and fatally struck Bell. Garden will be sentenced on August 21.
POLICING
Police investigate YouTuber's smart glasses footage
Police Scotland is assessing videos posted by English YouTuber Scott Margerison, known as E-Dobbin, after he used Meta smart glasses to secretly film people during a trip to Scotland. The footage included restricted areas aboard a CalMac ferry and interactions with members of the public. The recordings have prompted privacy concerns, with Comic Con Scotland banning wearable recording devices from its events.
CORPORATE
Apple faces $32.5bn biometric lawsuit
Apple is facing a $32.5bn lawsuit for allegedly collecting biometric data from users of its iPhone photos app. Up to 6.5m consumers in Illinois may seek $5,000 each in damages, claiming Apple violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. The plaintiffs allege that the app's facial recognition technology creates "faceprints" without user consent. Apple argues that the data does not qualify as biometric information and has privacy safeguards in place.
WHO attacks food firms over obesity lawsuits
The World Health Organization has accused major ultra-processed food companies of delaying anti-obesity measures by suing governments over health policies. Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said 235 lawsuits between 2010 and 2025 delayed reforms, increased healthcare and legal costs, and deterred countries from adopting measures such as warning labels, marketing restrictions and junk food taxes.
OTHER
Lawyer brings US justice debate to Edinburgh
American Civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson has warned against reviving the death penalty, arguing executions do not improve public safety and risk irreversible miscarriages of justice. Ahead of appearances at the Edinburgh International Festival, he also highlighted America's legacy of slavery and racial injustice, urging audiences to engage with history and continue the ongoing struggle for human rights and justice.

 

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