Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · 5d

Congratulations - you very much deserve it! 🙌

Reposted by Hannah Summers

Lucy Brisbane Mckay @lucybrisbane.bsky.social · 6d

Thousands of workers who have fought hard to win employment tribunals are never being paid the money that rogue bosses owe them, with no consequences for bosses but a huge impact on them.

Privileged to be working on this project with the brilliant @mellino.bsky.social and team at @tbij.bsky.social

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism @tbij.bsky.social · 6d

The government is currently passing through parliament the employment rights bill, which will extend worker and trade union rights

But it’s unclear how this will lead to any meaningful change for those who are still chasing what they’re owed 👇

Thousands of rogue bosses get away with not paying tribunal awards

The government scheme ‘enforcing’ money owed to workers has been unsuccessful in a staggering three-quarters of cases

www.thebureauinvestigates.com

1 4 8

Reposted by Hannah Summers

Gareth Davies @garethtbij.bsky.social · 8d

I've written something about England, flags and someone who took a stand against the sort of hate and ignorance which resurfaced across the country this summer

‘Little island of hatred’: the mystery activist who defied…

An old episode close to my heart is a reminder that today's racist resentments have been simmering for years

www.thebureauinvestigates.com

1 3 15

Reposted by Hannah Summers

Tristan Kirk @kirkkorner.bsky.social · 8d

Turn up to court, judge starts to hear the case I’m interested in, staff have forgotten to unlock the doors.

Been a while since this happened…

#SecretJustice

1 2 7

Reposted by Hannah Summers

Press Gazette @pressgazette.co.uk · 29d

The Observer has made cuts to casual shifts amidst a drop in pages for the Sunday title

Observer cuts casual shifts amidst drop in pages for Sunday title

The Observer has made told its casual staff team there are "fewer shifts available" following its sale to Tortoise In April 2025.

pressgazette.co.uk

3 1

Reposted by Hannah Summers

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism @tbij.bsky.social · Sep 5

NEW: A parliamentary group taking money from a state-owned Israeli arms company has closed down whilst being investigated

Story by TBIJ and Democracy For Sale (@petergeoghegan.bsky.social)

www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

The post reads: A parliamentary group taking money from a state-owned Israeli arms company has closed down whilst being investigated

3 10 15

Reposted by Hannah Summers

Press Gazette @pressgazette.co.uk · Sep 4

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has launched its first Family Court Mentoring Programme giving reporters the opportunity to be mentored by Hannah Summers (the UK's first full-time family court reporter). Apply here. www.thebureauinvestigates.com/blog/2025-09...

TBIJ launches mentorship programme to support next wave of family…

Award-winning reporter Hannah Summers to support other journalists as part of Family Court Files project

www.thebureauinvestigates.com

4 2

Reposted by Hannah Summers

Eve Livingston @everebecca.bsky.social · Aug 31

We did it!! Thank you so much to every single person who donated, your generosity will genuinely keep me going next week ❤️

(And there’s still time to donate if you missed it - every penny helps)

www.justgiving.com/page/eve-liv...

Great North Run for UNICEF's Gaza Appeal

Help Eve Livingston raise money to support UNICEF UK

www.justgiving.com

2 5

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · Sep 4

📢 Mentoring: At @tbij.bsky.social we are launching a mentorship programme open to both staff and freelance journalists interested in gaining experience and guidance on reporting on the family courts. Full details here 👉 tinyurl.com/42xdkk5b

7 4

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · Jul 21

The abuse inflicted on Kniveton was made public and Griffiths was named after journalists @louisetickle.bsky.social and Brian Farmer won a landmark case to publish the details. Later Griffiths, who denies raping his ex-wife, was barred by a judge from having direct contact with his child.

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · Jul 21

If you missed it last night, worth catching up with the ITV documentary featuring former MP Kate Kniveton talking about her family court ordeal. A judge made 14 findings including rape against her abusive ex - former Tory minister, Andrew Griffiths. Our @tbij.bsky.social report: tinyurl.com/yckyaszb

2 4

Reposted by Hannah Summers

Oliver Conway @oliverconway.bsky.social · May 22

Finally read - A LA v X & Y and Others (No4: Welfare and reporting of judgments) [2025] EWFC 126 🤯

Unimaginable cruelty from wealthy professionals who knew the impact of their actions.

Abhorrent case. Amazing work from the press.

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · May 21

Thanks @theguardian.com for partnering with us @tbij.bsky.social on my latest family court story. These parents - whose adopted sons were subjected to physical, emotional & racial abuse - applied to exclude me from court to prevent me making arguments for naming them in the public interest.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · May 21

Teacher and barrister who ran abusive home cannot be identified, high court rules

2 4

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · May 21

Thanks @theguardian.com for partnering with us @tbij.bsky.social on my latest family court story. These parents - whose adopted sons were subjected to physical, emotional & racial abuse - applied to exclude me from court to prevent me making arguments for naming them in the public interest.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · May 21

Teacher and barrister who ran abusive home cannot be identified, high court rules

Judge says it is not in best interests of children subject to ‘humiliating’ physical, emotional and verbal abuse to name couple A primary school teacher smashed their adoptive children’s heads together, forced them to swallow soap and called one of them a “black bastard”. Their partner – a barrister who also sat as a deputy district judge in the family courts – repeatedly failed to protect the children from their campaign of abuse. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

1 4

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · May 21

Mrs Justice Theis said the issue of whether or not to name the parents involved an "extraordinary difficult balancing exercise" between the competing rights. But ultimately she said the children's right to privacy prevailed. Read her full judgment here: tinyurl.com/4ya8427h

A LA v X & Y and Others (No 4: Welfare and Reporting of Judgments) - Find Case Law - The National Archives

tinyurl.com

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · May 21

To the outside world the parents used the image of a happy family to promote their respective careers. The nature of both their roles - bringing them into contact with and making decisions about children - meant there were compelling public interest arguments for naming them.

1 1

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · May 21

The children were denied proper meals and subjected to punishments "designed to humiliate". One had his head flushed down the toilet, was forced to eat soap & was called a "disease". His brother was called a " black bastard" and was "strangled", causing him difficulty breathing.

1

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · May 21

NEW: A teacher physically assaulted and racially abused their adopted children while their partner - a barrister and family court judge - failed to protect them. Yet the high court has ruled they cannot be named despite a legal bid led by
@tbij.bsky.social 🧵 tinyurl.com/56vxe44z

1 6 12

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · Apr 4

A transparency order allows those going through the family courts to tell their stories by giving interviews to the press - but there is not a provision to allow them to self-publish details or speak out publicly about their case so here the judge made a bespoke order.

1

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · Apr 4

Judge Harris said: 'In this case there is a strong public interest in there being an open and informed debate about the way in which the family justice system approaches disputed allegations about rape, domestic abuse and parental alienation in private law proceedings...'

1 1

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · Apr 4

A mother whose rape allegation was wrongly dismissed by the family court has won a High Court bid to write and speak publicly about her ordeal, using an alias. The judge ruled her rights to tell her story in her own words were 'weighty and important'. shorturl.at/zJQmu

1 3 7

Reposted by Hannah Summers

Lucy Brisbane Mckay @lucybrisbane.bsky.social · Mar 25

I am working with @mellino.bsky.social to uncover the many injustices workers are facing going through employment tribunals.

Please help share our callout with your networks (available Polish, Portuguese Punjabi - Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi, Spanish, Romanian and Urdu) ⬇️

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism @tbij.bsky.social · Mar 25

🚨 Have you ever tried to take your employer to court or helped somebody who has? We want to hear from you!

8 7

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · Mar 22

They include Melanie Gill whose advice to judges has been pivotal in the removal of a number of children from their parents and who, by her own estimate, has given evidence in "probably 150 to 200 cases". This profile by @tomwall.bsky.social and me explains more: tinyurl.com/3hv3txnf

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · Mar 22

The proposed rules follow concerns from MPs and campaigners that unregulated psychologists have been making diagnoses and advising the courts on child welfare matters including recommending the removal of children from their parents in cases featuring 'parental alienation'.

1 2

Hannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · Mar 22

NEW: Unregulated experts could be banned from the family courts under newly proposed rules for cases involving children. However, some organisations have told
@tbij.bsky.social that the proposal, which is out for public consultation, does not go far enough. 👇 tinyurl.com/2a82h7p8

Family courts: proposed new rules aim to keep out unregulated experts

Rule-change would make it harder for judges to appoint unregulated experts – but campaigners say it doesn’t go far enough

tinyurl.com

1 10 13

Reposted by Hannah Summers

Prof Jo Delahunty KC @jdkc.bsky.social · Feb 6

Here’s to the magnificent Chris Barnes-named as @thetimes.com “Lawyer of The Week’ for his superb work,initially pro bono,on behalf of @louisetickle.bsky.social @hansummers.bsky.social in the CA Sherif decision. Bravo 🙌

1 5