Law

The High Court has rejected long-disputed plans for a Holocaust memorial in Westminster.

The Department for Levelling Up, Houses and Communities said the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust's case against the development should be dismissed, but a judge sided with the group, which argued the proposed site must legally remain a public garden.

The project had been approved last year after the government overturned Westminster Council's refusal to grant planning permission.

Olivia Marks-Waldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said: “We are surprised by the high court decision and hope that this does not preclude or overshadow the burning need for the national memorial.”

A London art dealer and gallery owner facing 20 years in prison has claimed the capital's trade is fuelled by drinking and drug taking.

Inigo Philbrick pleaded guilty to defrauding buyers of more than US$86m by selling artworks multiple times, or selling fractions of them that amounted to more than 100%.

In a New York court this week he said the culture of the London art scene contibuted to his crimes.

Philbrick, who ran a gallery in Mayfair, has provided officials with information about other alleged fraud in the art market, the Times reports.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared Sony’s takeover of record labels AWAL and Kobalt Neighbouring Rights.

The watchdog referred the acquisition to a formal investigation last September, raising concerns the merger could worsen deals for artists.

Its investigation concluded the deal does not substantially reduce competition in the UK and is not be expected to do so in the future.

Chair of the independent CMA Inquiry Group Margot Daly said a combination of other major labels and independent providers will continue to closely rival Sony.

The CMA is now asking for views on its provisional findings by March 4, with a statutory deadline for its final decision of March 17.

A British Council arts worker jailed in Iran on espionage charges has returned to the UK.

Aras Amiri has been acquitted of the charges, which she says were levelled because she was associated with the council and rejected an invitation to spy for Iran. 

Amiri was among a group of Iranian citizens with British connections arrested in 2018. She had lived in the UK for a decade before her incarceration.

In a statement last week, the British Council said it had always refuted the charges.

"We are very proud of her work in our London office as an arts programme officer supporting a greater understanding and appreciation of Iranian culture in the UK."

A bill to reform musicians' rights to payment from streaming failed to progress in the House of Commons on Friday (3 December).

59 MPs voted against a second reading, with 28 voting in favour.

All 59 dissenting MPs were Conservatives despite 44 Tory MPs signing an open letter in October that asked Boris Johnson to “start paying musicians properly”.

Minister for Science, Research and Innovation George Freeman said the Government supports the DCMS Select Committee's recommendations and will work to ensure a "fair and vibrant digital creative inudstries and music sector".

Music Managers Forum Chief Executive Annabella Coldrick and Featured Artists Coalition CEO David Martin said even though the bill fell at the first hurdle, the trajectory towards eradicating "outdated industry practices" feels "unstoppable".

"The Government has delivered a very clear message to major labels, publishers and collecting societies: if you don't deliver change, then legislation cannot be ruled out."

BPI CEO Geoff Taylor said that although well-intentioned, the bill was not the right way forward for british music.

“We have listened to the arguments made across the debate and will engage positively and proactively with the process government has put in place to look for joint solutions to ensure the streaming market continues to grow and sustain the careers of many more artists.”

Two touts who amassed millions reselling tickets have had appeals against their convictions dismissed.

BBZ Limited’s Peter Hunter and David Thomas Smith were jailed in February 2020 following the first successful prosecution of a company over fraudulent ticket resales. 

The pair will now serve their full sentences - four years and to-and-a-half years respectively. 

They used at least 97 different names, 88 postal addresses and more than 290 email addresses to evade ticketing platform restrictions for events including Ed Sheeran concerts and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre performances.

Upon upholding the conviction, The Court of Appeal noted: "[The] ticketing market is one which appears to be characterised by a high degree of criminal fraud.”

National Trading Standards Director Wendy Martin called the ruling a “major milestone” in efforts to combat unscrupulous secondary ticket sales.

Yat-Sen Chang, a former principal dancer at English National Ballet, has been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for sexually abusing young dancers.

He was convicted on 13 counts and cleared of one offence in May.

Four students aged 16 to 18 were affected over a seven year period.

Prosecutors at Isleworth Crown Court said Chang believed his fame and status would protect him. He continues to deny the allegations.

English National Ballet has said it will review its safeguarding practices in light of the case.