Tempest v Rural Payments Agency Tribunal Thread 8

[myladydisdainisyetliving]

Previous thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5551959-tempest-v-rural-payments-agency-tribunal-thread-7

TT substack: https://tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/tempest-vs-defra-and-rural-payments

Tempest (a TW) is claiming discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation on grounds of gender reassignment. Central to the claim is the existence of the Sex Equality and Equity Network in the Civil Service (SEEN). SEEN has been granted right to intervene. Parts of the original claim against the co-chair of SEEN (Elspeth Duemmer-Wrigley) and another party (Andreas Mueller) were struck out or narrowed. Another claimant, PQ, is no longer part of the case.

Please note that Elspeth still has a garden in need of seeds and water to support the ability of SEEN to be an intervenor in this case. The claim originated because she said "only women menstruate" and a search with her name and those terms at the usual gardening website should point you to her plot.

And they to be heard today?
All done and dusted today or time set aside next week? C has just been in the box answering HH questions for 2 days.

If so it's very sloppy on HH's part.
But I assume they're the R witnesses, so maybe killing time

Incoming survey - results 81% of mumsnetters strongly agreed and the remainder agreed.

There are two more DEFRA witnesses (not sure who, but please let's hope that they had have nothing to do with the bloody s/sheet) and Elspeth.

My understanding is that they will all get examined in September (with a week allocated for the rest of the trial).

Did anyone think to survey their local foxes den about their opinions on henhouses?

I'm back now and can c&p this afternoon if that's useful? @BettyBooper was doing it last I think but I haven't caught up with the thread and don't know if you want relieved... [Ah, I see you said you could do until 3 if needed but would you rather I just take over now? I'm free the rest of the afternoon.]

Yep. They’re doing a very popular USA tour atm. They were in Boston when Scotland were playing by some fluke of booking schedule and apparently played the best gig of their lives.

Thanks! I'll continue until you're caught up if you like?

Let me know when is good for you to take over?

The tribunal will finish part heard today and will resume possibly in September

From TT

J: Before break we were discussing - has anyone more to say?
NC: Yes - on reflection I do not think I will finish today,
J: Then we must decide what to do.

AL: In tribunal's hands obviously but I did ask Ms Airs for her input - she would prefer to press on to get as much as possible done.

That would be me. You're most welcome to it.

J: I hear that. Experience of hearing cases suggests - if there can be a natural break, as here, it is usually better to take that break. Ms Airs?
CA: I understand, it's just my gut instinct is to do as much as possible.

The judge wants to watch the tennis doesn’t he?

Is it fair to leave a witness under oath for months?

Unfortunately the office I think is the other end of the M62!

She could be released from her oath, and sworn again when the tribunal restarts.

J: I think you would find it hard to pick up. Even if we decided to sit a little later. HH: The C also wd have liked to get as much as poss done - has to leave 4.30 at latest and while happy for me to carry on w/out C present ...
AL: We have all looked at mutual availability for counsel and we think it would be 7 months or so before we can resume.
J: Which is unfortunate but we are where we are.

CA: I understand, it's just my gut instinct is to do as much as possible.

Translation: I just want this finished and out of my bloody life so I can enjoy my retirement in peace and not have to think about it.

J: We think then that it's best to pause CA evidence at this point; we factored in that as you are retired, the restriction on not discussing the case will be much less onerous?
CA: Yes agree

No, it was clear yesterday that they would only her the rest of CA’s evidence this week. If HH bucked her ideas up and gave NC time to question CA.

.

7 months?!!!!!!!

J: So we will need to discuss when we can resume. Do we all agree - Ms Airs, you remain on oath of course but can leave the witness table. [CA does]

Poor Caroline.

After the last couple of days if I was CA I'd be absolutely fuming.