Charlotte O'Brien's Avatar

Charlotte O'Brien

@cobrien.bsky.social

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

2,079 Followers  |  1,113 Following  |  184 Posts  |  Joined: 20.12.2023  |  2.3125

Latest posts by cobrien.bsky.social on Bluesky


Lady Hale answering a question, seated in an armchair at the front of a large, filled lecture theatre at York Law School (audience out of sight apart from the tops of a few heads), with an excitable Charlotte O'Brien trying keep herself composed - a telltale hand gripping her chair a bit too tightly.

Lady Hale answering a question, seated in an armchair at the front of a large, filled lecture theatre at York Law School (audience out of sight apart from the tops of a few heads), with an excitable Charlotte O'Brien trying keep herself composed - a telltale hand gripping her chair a bit too tightly.

Lady Hale appreciation post! Some UKSC judges might just retire to a life of lucrative commercial arbitration - but not her. She's committed to public service - educating students and the public about the law and human rights. Was terrifying but amazing to interview this ICON at York Law School.

19.02.2026 16:17 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Similarly: "half a teaspoon of mixed spice" = A LADLE of the stuff. It's baking, not homeopathy.

19.02.2026 09:40 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
UK ban on Palestine Action unlawful, high court judges rule Protest group’s co-founder wins legal challenge against decision to proscribe it under anti-terrorism laws

Wow!

Palestine Action win judicial review - Guardian report.

This is a *big* legal win.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

13.02.2026 10:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1845    πŸ” 781    πŸ’¬ 24    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
β€˜Pulling up the drawbridge’: Alf Dubs criticises Shabana Mahmood’s plans for child refugees Exclusive: Labour peer, who came to UK as a refugee, says some ministers try to show they won’t β€˜just do things because of their background’

Children need their families. Refugee children are no different.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

09.02.2026 19:27 β€” πŸ‘ 515    πŸ” 201    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 6

Love that this conjures up an image of a group of special agents, deciding β€˜It’s come to this. It’s time to activate Prue Leith’.

06.02.2026 23:22 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The more racist and xenophobic our political sphere gets, the more important this issue becomes: the residence status of our EU family members, neighbours, colleagues & friends is not safe, but could be so much better protected with a small legislative tweak. eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/23...

05.02.2026 14:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Cover sheet of UK Parliamentary Bill 359 59/1 Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill

Cover sheet of UK Parliamentary Bill 359 59/1 Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill

ICYMI, the UK government has put forward legislation to end the cruel two-child limit social security policy.

It is a short bill that simply proposes deleting two lines of earlier legislation applying the limit.

Finally debated yesterday. bills.parliament.uk/bills/4059

04.02.2026 13:04 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Cover page of: Aligning Policy and Reality: how to achieve the aims of sickness and disability benefits reform, with logos of Citizens Advice York, York Carers Centre, York Disability Rights Forum, York Foodbank, Healthwatch York
York Human Rights City Network, Older Citizens Advocacy York, and the University of York

Cover page of: Aligning Policy and Reality: how to achieve the aims of sickness and disability benefits reform, with logos of Citizens Advice York, York Carers Centre, York Disability Rights Forum, York Foodbank, Healthwatch York York Human Rights City Network, Older Citizens Advocacy York, and the University of York

Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.

NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.

www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...

30.01.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Please read, (link below) and please circulate – and if you agree with the proposals, please help us to put these in front of those making these decisions.

www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...

30.01.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Such a limit would strip away one of the remaining β€˜social security’ elements of the system; we have had indefinite entitlement to income replacement for people too ill or disabled to work since before the First World War!

30.01.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

One recommendation is to reject the proposed time limit for contribution-based benefits for those who cannot work due to a health condition or disability.

30.01.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

which could help make the expressed intentions of the Green Paper (greater inclusion, greater economic independence, helping people to live in dignity) a reality, rather than a misaligned pretext for cutting social security.

30.01.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

and Kate Pickett on this important report: β€˜Aligning Policy and Reality: how to achieve the aims of sickness and disability benefits reform’. The report includes evidence from real cases, detailed and careful calculations, and a set of specific recommendations,

30.01.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

*Working together for public good**: I’m so pleased to have contributed to the work of @citizensadviceyork.bsky.social alongside @yorkcarerscentre.bsky.social, York Disability Forum, Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY), @yorkfoodbank.bsky.social, York Human Rights City; @healthwatchyork.bsky.social

30.01.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper would accelerate disability poverty. Benefits are not barriers to work. In many cases they are the opposite. Insufficient support is a barrier, as are work places and practices, and discrimination.

30.01.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Cover page of: Aligning Policy and Reality: how to achieve the aims of sickness and disability benefits reform, with logos of Citizens Advice York, York Carers Centre, York Disability Rights Forum, York Foodbank, Healthwatch York
York Human Rights City Network, Older Citizens Advocacy York, and the University of York

Cover page of: Aligning Policy and Reality: how to achieve the aims of sickness and disability benefits reform, with logos of Citizens Advice York, York Carers Centre, York Disability Rights Forum, York Foodbank, Healthwatch York York Human Rights City Network, Older Citizens Advocacy York, and the University of York

Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.

NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.

www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...

30.01.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Accompanied with a lil blast of airhorn each time, QI style (I volunteer for this).

30.01.2026 15:56 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Please read and share - evidence that the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper will increase the disability employment gap @uoyopenres.bsky.social ; @uoy-yorklawschool.bsky.social

30.01.2026 09:06 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.

NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

Of possible interest to @francesryan.bsky.social

29.01.2026 14:37 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Please read, (link below) and please circulate – and if you agree with the proposals, please help us to put these in front of those making these decisions. www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Such a limit would strip away one of the remaining β€˜social security’ elements of the system; we have had indefinite entitlement to income replacement for people to ill or disabled to work since before the First World War!

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

One recommendation is to reject the proposed time limit for contribution-based benefits for those who cannot work due to a health condition or disability.

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

which could help make the expressed intentions of the Green Paper (greater inclusion, greater economic independence, helping people to live in dignity) a reality, rather than a misaligned pretext for cutting social security.

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The report includes evidence from real cases, detailed and careful calculations, and a set of specific recommendations...

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

on this important report: β€˜Aligning Policy and Reality: how to achieve the aims of sickness and disability benefits reform’. www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

**Working together for public good**: Am so pleased to have contributed to the work of @citizensadviceyork.bsky.social, with @yorkcarerscentre.bsky.social, York Disability Forum, Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY), @yorkfoodbank.bsky.social, York: Human Rights City, &@healthwatchyork.bsky.social,

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper would accelerate disability poverty. Benefits are not barriers to work. In many cases they are the opposite. Insufficient support is a barrier, as are work places and practices, and discrimination.

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.

NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...

29.01.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Post image

The immigration doom loop in full swing.

Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.

(1/3)

archive.ph/pyVLg

10.01.2026 03:52 β€” πŸ‘ 815    πŸ” 321    πŸ’¬ 22    πŸ“Œ 41

@cobrien is following 20 prominent accounts