Rachel Farr

Personal opinions of a London employment lawyer. Also a school governor. Retweets are not an endorsement of anything: I may have pressed something by mistake.

[Surrey WRN @WRN_Surrey]

The second time posting about terrible conditions in a Surrey women's prison. This shocking story on 2 deaths at HMP Bronzefield in Ashford leads us to ask again, do the women in these prisons just not matter?
@LincolnJopp
@JamesTCobbler @ShabanaMahmood
https://t.co/STgFXSkv9c

[Joanna Hardy-Susskind @Joanna__Hardy]

Oh, Rupert.

For every 8 people executed in the United States, one other person has been exonerated from death row.

We shouldn’t be afraid of talking.

We should be afraid of you.

[Helen Nettleship @Nettleshippy]

@ChrisforReform What an idiotic take . Do you want to make it legal to sack people because they are gay or black? Make it legal to pay men more than women for the same job? And legal to not be served in a bar because you’re catholic?

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

Bit of leafleting while the school choir perform (brilliantly) at the Dittons Fair this afternoon @LongDittonINS @LDSMjuniorsch 😎

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

Today I am remembering my grandfather, who kept this newspaper with his important paperwork until he died in 2002. #VEDay80

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

Join the Baker McKenzie London Employment practice on the 20 March for a 30 minute update exploring key amendments to the Employment Rights Bill following the UK Government's consultation.

You can register to attend here - https://t.co/mU74Dt5XPG.

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

🚨 BREAKING: MAJOR FREE SPEECH WIN!

The Court of Appeal has ruled in Higgs v Farmor’s School, finding in favour of Kristie Higgs, a school administrator who was dismissed for expressing traditional Christian views about marriage and sexuality. The FSU intervened in the case and successfully persuaded the Court to adopt most of our key arguments — a landmark moment in the fight for free speech at work.

Higgs is the most important belief discrimination case since @MForstater's victory in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. It now provides authoritative guidance on how the law protects the expression of religious and philosophical belief in the workplace and beyond.

🔹 Disrepute is not enough to justify dismissal — employers must prove actual harm.

🔹 Tribunals must assess beliefs objectively, not rely on subjective activist complaints.

🔹 Stereotyping beliefs is discriminatory — a crucial judicial clarification.

🔹 Robust speech remains protected — the threshold for ‘objectionable’ expression is high.

This ruling strengthens protections for those who express lawful but unorthodox views, ensuring employers cannot outsource their decision-making to activists or ideological pressure.

Huge thanks to our legal team: Ben Cooper KC and Spencer Keen of @OldSqChambers, and @ElliotHammerSR of Branch Austin McCormick.

A crucial victory for workplace free speech. More to follow.

👊👊👊

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

@CampBorneo @CampsInt My daughter had an incredible time with you, thank you all

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

A deeper dive into the new Labour government's proposals for trade unions, industrial relations and collective rights, and how they might impact businesses - including changes to collective redundancy and #fireandrehire #ukemplaw #hr https://t.co/Ipw5VXzrWE

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

See here our UK General Election Manifesto and Policy Tracker, a summary of the policies outlined in the manifestos and the potential impact on businesses. #GE2024
https://t.co/fDQreBnGni

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

Thank goodness, a unisex water bottle! (PSA: If your water bottle is genitalia specific, you're definitely doing drinking wrong.)

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

@NoContextBrits You absolute bastards

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

@MoleyMole01 @jayrayner1 @fitzbillies @nationaltrust Don't leave us in suspense, what did the Board of Trustees say?

[Audrey Ludwig MBE @AudreySuffolk]

My role as challenger of disinformation in the Equality Act continues. This week I was told (second hand) of the claims that:
1. EA doesn’t apply to employers of less than 5 employees- false
2. That EA requires police to record self ID gender not sex- False
3. That being

[Caspar Glyn KC @CasparKC]

Employment Tribunal FEES proposals are back. £55 for the ET and same for EAT
@emplawyers will be responding to this Consultation.

https://t.co/XUE5ELOM9d

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

New office, new costume, new loo selfie.

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

Me: it’s not Christmas yet
Dept: OH YES IT IS
Me: ON NO IT’S NOT
Dept:
Me:…

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

@UnionChapelUK @ingridmusic @hayleymwarner Hi @UnionChapelUK, do you have the stage times for tonight please?

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

End of an era here at 100 New Bridge Street as @bakermckenzie packs up and moves on to our 21st century offices!

[Rachel Farr @rarfarr]

@JEL222 Tribunals have long backlogs but to hear nothing at all suggests something has gone wrong. Write to the tribunal with a copy of your ET1 and proof of how you sent it (if filed online do you have acknowledgment?) and ask for update.

[MD Parkins @mattparkins]

@iamthemisterx @BBCBreaking Murder requires *intent* to kill and that doesn't appear to be at play. Manslaughter is a more suitable charge, and that can still be life imprisonment (but it won't be).