Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This subtopic contains archived materials, commentary and analysis on the public law implications of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, together with links to related guidance and policy documents.

Coronavirus legislation

Legislation was key to the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, ensuring that actions were taken on a clear and secure legal basis. Central to the legislative response was the passage of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (CA 2020), which received Royal Assent on 25 March 2020. This emergency legislation was fast-tracked to provide the government, devolved administrations and authorities in the UK with extensive powers to respond to the pandemic. For background reading, see: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—emergency legislation receives Royal Assent, LNB News 26/03/2020 4 and Coronavirus Act 2020, LNB News 26/03/2020 3.

While passing CA 2020, Parliament also passed the Contingencies Fund Act 2020, increasing the capital limit of the Contingencies Fund to allow for additional expenditure on account. This was done to enable departments to access cashflow required to fund measures introduced as part of the coronavirus response. For details, see: Contingencies Fund Act 2020, LNB News 26/03/2020 2.

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Latest Public Law News

Attorney-General Lord Hermer KC gives evidence to Lords Constitution Committee on rule of law

The House of Lords Constitution Committee has published a transcript of oral evidence given by the Attorney-General for England and Wales, Lord Hermer KC, on 10 September 2025 as part of its inquiry into the rule of law. Lord Hermer outlined the Government’s position on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), noting its relevance to international cooperation and its incorporation into the Good Friday Agreement. He stated that continued membership supports the UK’s legal and diplomatic interests. The Attorney-General also described recent initiatives to improve legislative standards, including the introduction of a delegated powers toolkit and updated legal risk guidance. He highlighted the establishment of a Rule of Law Unit to support cross-government engagement and public awareness, particularly among younger audiences. In relation to access to justice, Lord Hermer acknowledged delays in the criminal and civil courts and referred to measures being taken to reduce case backlogs, with a focus on serious sexual offences and street crime.

Weekly round-up of EU-UK TCA Specialised Committees’ publications—15 September 2025

This round-up includes details of publications made by Specialised Committees established by the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) for the period from 8-14 September 2025.

High Court dismisses claim brought by doctors’ advocacy body against GMC (R (on the application of Anaesthetists United Ltd and others) v GMC)

Local Government analysis: The High Court dismissed the judicial review claim brought by a doctors’ advocacy body against the General Medical Council’s (‘GMC’) ongoing failure to regulate associates in accordance with their over-arching duty of patient safety. Specifically, the GMC’s failure to prescribe national limits on physician associates’ and anaesthesia associates’ (together ‘Associates’) practice on the grounds of irrationality and a failure to comply with the Thameside duty of inquiry. The court confirmed the GMC’s decision was not irrational nor had the GMC failed to comply with their Thameside obligations given they had ‘embarked on an extensive research program to inform the development of its professional standards and guidance to be applied to associates...’ This case provides a comprehensive narrative of the concerns regarding the GMC’s regulation of Associates, the work undertaken by the GMC to bring the regulation of Associates into fruition, as well as a reminder of the case law concerning process and outcome irrationality. Written by Nicola Wheater, associate at HCR Law.

JCSI publishes 34th report of Session 2024–26 scrutinising statutory instruments

The Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) has published its thirty-fourth report of session 2024–26. Two instruments were drawn to the special attention of the House: the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2025, SI 2025/678, for defective drafting due to undefined terminology, and the Companies Authorised to Register, Unregistered Companies and Overseas Companies (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/761, for requiring elucidation regarding the sequencing of its commencement provisions in relation to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023).