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Charlotte O'Brien

@cobrien.bsky.social

2K followers 1.1K following 150 posts

Professor of Law, University of York (she/her). Social security; EU law; discrimination; migration; social justice.

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · Nov 21

We won the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize for Outstanding Public Policy Impact last night. An inspiring evening, learning about projects making profound differences, highlighting the power of research (see: Yvonne McDermott Rees; @richardmoorhead.bsky.social; and many more)

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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 9d

This is grim - inc making volunteering a requirement when people are working long hours and facing high childcare costs, exacerbated by visas limiting labour mobility and no recourse to public funds, and penalising claiming benefits for those who have that option www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

High standard of English to be required for leave to remain, Mahmood to pledge

Home secretary to set out proposed tougher conditions including not taking benefits and ‘spotless’ criminal record

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien

Garden Court North Chambers @gcnchambers.bsky.social · 19d

Garden Court North's @tomroyston.bsky.social represented the two women, who earlier today won their High Court judicial review against Trafford Council's unlawful and discriminatory tax reduction scheme, which left them and many other residents with massive bills.

gcnchambers.co.uk/trafford-cou...

Trafford Council’s tax reduction scheme quashed following High Court legal challenge - Garden Court North Chambers

Two women have today won their judicial review against Trafford Council's unlawful tax reduction scheme in the High Court.

gcnchambers.co.uk

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 19d

This is HUGE! For a lot of reasons, (it's a resounding rejection of how this council tax reduction scheme operated) but especially - a finding of a *Public Sector Equality Duty breach*!! On grounds of disability! And a warning about risks to fairness and lawfulness of automated decision making.

Tom Royston @tomroyston.bsky.social · 19d

Really important High Court decision today, quashing a local authority’s council tax reduction scheme. The judgment contains many lessons about these schemes. Trafford's scheme was ultra vires, irrational, and unlawfully discriminatory, and breached the PSED @rightsnet.org.uk @nawra.bsky.social

Judgment header of R (LL and AU) v Trafford Council [2025] EWHC 2380 (Admin) (19 September 2025)

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 25d

Heartwarming indie film cast with national treasures incoming…

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Defiant nuns flee Austrian care home for their abandoned convent in the Alps - BBC News

Sisters Bernadette, Regina and Rita needed a locksmith to get back into their convent, defying Church leaders.

www.bbc.co.uk

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NI Legal Quarterly @nilegalq.bsky.social · Jul 23

We are delighted to share Conor Gearty @lselaw.bsky.social’s reflections on writing: 8 tips for surviving (and enjoying!) academic writing.

Many thanks to Conor for sharing his insights!

Article: doi.org/10.53386/nil...

Series: doi.org/10.53386/nil...

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 28d

Possible interest to: @lauralundy.bsky.social @bruceadamson.bsky.social @martinoneill.bsky.social @awelsh.bsky.social @sparkerworld.bsky.social @mckeevergrainne.bsky.social

Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 28d

This highlights important, often unexpected, connections, between advice-based research, real lives, and policy. Report at: lnkd.in/gem4_zxG

Poss interest to @wbuadvice.bsky.social @nawra.bsky.social @uoy-yorklawschool.bsky.social @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social @jedmeers.bsky.social @rightsnet.org.uk

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

lnkd.in

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 28d

Another gap I commented on is the absence of backdating. Here, SCoSS have quoted my *evidence, drawn from advice-based research*, on periods when the risks of frictional poverty are higher - the immediate aftermath of childbirth being one.

Screenshot of text from report, quoting O'Brien:
Stakeholders noted that there may be reasons why applications might be slightly delayed. Certain groups, such as single parent families, may be more likely to be affected.
“Dealing with the fallout of various traumas – more likely around the time of childbirth – is also likely to impair [individuals] ability to make timely claims. For vulnerable clients this means missing out on significant sums of money at crucial junctures. Child Benefit can be backdated for up to 3 months. The same approach to the Two Child Limit Payment would be humane, and allow for a small degree of flexibility at a difficult moment. It would also offer some recognition that a new benefit might not be widely known about."

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 28d

In my evidence I noted that this means that the families in Scotland who miss out will almost certainly be working families.

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 28d

- whereas those who are not entitled to UC at all, *purely as a result of the two child limit* will not be eligible, i.e. those who have sufficient income to support two children, but who fall below expected subsistence levels (at which UC claimants would get the TCLP) when they have another child.

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 28d

SCoSS has now published its report. I see the @cpaguk.bsky.social had a similar key concern to me - that the 'top-up' model means that only those already in receipt of Universal Credit will benefit - you need an existing UC award to attach it to

Screenshot of text from SCoSS report: CPAG estimates that 3,000 families in Scotland are not entitled to any Universal Credit, because of the two-child limit.5 These families cannot access the top-up payment, as individuals must first be entitled to Universal Credit for the Scottish Government to apply its powers.

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 28d

I do, however, have some observations about the limits of what is proposed. In my evidence I emphasised that these observations should in no way be taken as objections to the proposed Two Child Limit Payment scheme, nor as suggestions to delay progress, but they should be considered in future.

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 28d

...as someone who has conducted research into the 2 child limit legislation and case law. My analysis suggests that the 'two child limit payment' offers pragmatic, vital mitigation (in Scotland) of the damage and human rights breaches precipitated by the two-child rule.

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 28d

Did you know that the Scottish Government has immediate plans to introduce a top-up benefit for families in Scotland affected by the UK's two child limit? Short 🧵

The Scottish Commission on Social Security scrutinised the draft regulations at pace this summer & I was invited to submit observations

Front page of Scottish Commission on Social Security Scrutiny report on draft Regulations:
The Two Child Limit Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026

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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien

Liam Thorp @liamthorp.bsky.social · Sep 7

I’ve been frustrated to see so much of the ongoing story about asylum seekers and the protests against them covered without hearing from those seeking asylum and now being met with hostility and hatred

I set out to speak to those directly affected to find out about the impact this is having 👇

We escaped war and torture but now we feel unsafe in Britain

Special report: Amid protests and rising aggression towards asylum seekers across the country, we spoke to those being targeted

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

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Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien

Lewis Graham @lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social · Aug 15

Happy publication day!

Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Public-Law-a...

Private Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Private-Law-...

Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: Key Cases and Decisions

This volume brings together expert commentators across different fields of public law to comment on key decisions by the UK Supreme Court (UKSC). Each author explores their case’s content, as well as ...

www.routledge.com

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · Aug 13

No pressure, like, but it’s clearly on you to save UK universities! <sends up the commentator-bat-signal>

Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · Aug 8

Yes! He gets credited with inventing the modern detective novel, but he digs into civil law - discrimination, inheritance, property rights, illegitimacy etc etc. Often in the guise of sensationalist thrillers. LOVED No Name, Man and Wife, the Woman in White, (Armadale extra mad bonus points).

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · Aug 6

Just want to say thumbs up for leaving - too many prioritise its 'usefulness' over its malevolence. I'm sure hell is pretty good for saving on fuel bills, but...

That act alone merits infinite shares and RTs!

Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien

Sue Westwood @woman4equality.bsky.social · Aug 1

(3) In follow-up, Dr Gilmore co-authored a letter with Professor David Mead (UEA Law School), published in The Guardian on 15 July 2025, warning that restrictions on jury trials threaten access to justice in protest cases.

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Sue Westwood @woman4equality.bsky.social · Aug 1

(2) The submission addressed issue of overcharging in protest-related cases.This work builds on Dr Gilmore and her colleagues’ BA/Leverhulme-funded project, Justifying Protest in the Courts: Voice, Democracy, and the Law [BA SRG 23–24].

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Sue Westwood @woman4equality.bsky.social · Aug 1

@uoy-yorklawschool.bsky.social‬ Dr Joanna Gilmore’s research on criminalisation of protest receives national recognition. Co-authored submission with Dr Graeme Hayes (Aston Univ) Dr Steven Canmiss (Birmingham Uni) & Prof Brian Doherty (Keele Uni) cited in Independent Review of Criminal Courts (1)

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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · Jul 23

So, they are going to share the locations of where highly vulnerable individuals live with firms which have suffered massive data breaches? Hmm, what could possibly go wrong.

Tweet from Starmer saying:
We're cracking down on migrants working illegally as food delivery riders.
We'll share asylum accommodation locations with Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats so they can take action if riders are staying there.
We will do what it takes to ensure fairness for
British people.
08:18 • 23/07/2025 • 140K Views

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Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · Jul 23

Gah… I want to ‘like’ this for what it is sending up, without implying I want to feed the whole ‘carefully calibrated intelligence marker’ thing!

Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien

Heather Rolfe @heather-rolfe.bsky.social · Jul 23

Come and join us!
We’re recruiting an experienced researcher for our exciting new 3 year @nuffieldfoundation.org project - ‘Voices for equity: from evidence to action’
CV and letter by 15th August
www.britishfuture.org/about-us/jobs/

Jobs - British Future

www.britishfuture.org

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