Home Office Asylum Proposals Ahead of Immigration and Asylum Bill
As the government prepares to publish the Immigration and Asylum Bill, the Home Office has begun unveiling a package of immigration and asylum reforms expected to underpin the legislation. The announcements made over the past week include plans for a new refugee sponsorship route, a repayment requirement for some recognised refugees seeking settlement and changes […]
Brexit at 10: How UK Law Has Changed Since Leaving the EU
On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum that would trigger one of the most significant constitutional and legislative changes in modern British history. Much of the public debate that followed focused on politics, economics and immigration. Yet Brexit was, at its core, a legal event. Leaving […]
The End of Gazumping? Government Unveils House Buying Reforms
The government has announced plans to reform the house buying process in England and Wales, with ministers promising measures designed to reduce failed property transactions and tackle practices such as gazumping and gazundering. The proposals could result in one of the most significant changes to residential conveyancing in decades. While the details have yet to […]
Two-Tier Murder Law Proposed as Law Commission Reviews Homicide Rules
The Law Commission has published proposals for one of the most significant reviews of homicide law in decades, raising the prospect of major changes to how murder and manslaughter are defined and prosecuted in England and Wales. The review follows long-standing criticism from judges, academics and criminal law practitioners that the current framework has become […]
Proposed Anti-SLAPP Reforms Aim to Protect Journalists & Whistleblowers
The UK could be a step closer to introducing dedicated protections against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, commonly known as SLAPPs. Parallel Bills have been introduced in both Houses of Parliament proposing new powers that would allow courts to identify and dismiss certain claims at an early stage where proceedings appear designed to suppress public […]
Companies House Confirms New Filing Rules for Small Businesses
The government has confirmed that small and micro companies will be required to file profit and loss accounts with Companies House from 2028, under changes to the UK’s corporate reporting framework. The measure forms part of the wider reforms being introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which is expanding the powers of […]
UK to Ban Under-16s from Social Media in 2027
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that the Government will introduce a ban preventing children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, describing the move as necessary to address what he called a system that is “failing our kids”. The announcement was made during a Downing Street press conference on 15 June […]
Government Consults on Zero Hours Contract Reforms
The government has published further details of its proposed reforms to zero hours contracts as part of the wider Employment Rights Act implementation programme. The proposals effectively seek to limit arrangements where workers regularly work predictable hours but remain engaged under contracts that provide little or no certainty over working time. Guaranteed Hours […]
Home Office U-Turn on Sponsor Right to Work Changes
The Home Office has reversed controversial changes to sponsor guidance that appeared to expand right to work obligations beyond sponsored workers and direct employees. The move follows concern among employers and immigration practitioners after revised guidance published earlier this year suggested sponsors would be expected to carry out right to work checks on all workers […]
Employment NDAs: New Rules Under Consultation
The UK Government has opened a 12-week consultation on the future use of non-disclosure agreements in workplace harassment and discrimination cases. The consultation closes on 8 July 2026, and forms part of the wider implementation framework for the Employment Rights Act 2025, which introduces a statutory restriction on the enforceability of confidentiality clauses in this context. […]
Adoption Orders Are Final, Rules UK Supreme Court
In Re X and Y (Children: Adoption Order: Setting Aside) [2026] UKSC 13, the Supreme Court has confirmed that the courts have no jurisdiction to set aside a validly made adoption order other than through the statutory appeal framework. The decision provides authoritative clarification on the limits of the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction and reinforces […]
UK Smoking Laws Closer to Overhaul
The UK is moving towards one of the most significant public health reforms in decades, following the passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill through Parliament. The legislation introduces a generational ban on the sale of tobacco, alongside broader regulatory powers over vaping and nicotine products. The Bill has now completed its parliamentary stages and […]
Mobile Phones to Banned in Schools in England under New Law
The government has confirmed plans to introduce a legal requirement for schools in England to restrict the use of smartphones during the school day. The measure will be brought forward as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, as part of a broader policy focus on child wellbeing, behaviour and digital safety. It […]
Changes to Sponsor Guidance & Right to Work Checks
Updates to the Home Office’s official sponsor guidance in March and April 2026 have introduced a more expansive and interconnected approach to compliance across right to work checks, salary assessment and pay reporting. The changes form part of a broader shift in how the Home Office expects sponsors to evidence that individuals are working lawfully […]
Revised 6th Edition TA6 Form Mandatory from 30 March 2026
From 30 March 2026, the Law Society of England and Wales has introduced the TA6 Property Information Form (6th Edition) as the standard form for residential property transactions in England and Wales, with mandatory use required for Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) members on new instructions from that date. The new version follows the withdrawal of […]
Government Signals Major Overhaul of UK Late Payment Laws
The UK Government has confirmed a package of proposed reforms aimed at tackling late payment across business supply chains, following its “Time to pay up” consultation. The measures are intended to address what ministers describe as a systemic issue affecting small businesses, with late payments estimated to cost the UK economy £11 billion each year […]
CMA Orders New Vet Pricing and Consumer Protection Rules
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets, confirming a package of legally binding reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening competition and giving pet owners greater control over costs. The changes follow concerns that consumers often struggle to access clear information about veterinary services pricing, ownership […]
AI Copyright: Govt Rethinks Opt-Out model After Industry Backlash
The UK government is reassessing its proposed approach to copyright and artificial intelligence following sustained opposition from the creative sector, parliamentary committees and rights holders. Earlier proposals explored allowing AI developers to use copyrighted material for training unless rights holders actively opted out. That approach has not been taken forward in its original form, with […]
New UK Dog Law: Unlimited Fines for Livestock Attacks
Dog owners in England and Wales face significantly tougher legal consequences under new legislation designed to strengthen protections for livestock, with reforms confirmed to take effect on 18 March 2026. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 has received Royal Assent and will update the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, introducing stronger enforcement […]
Hereditary Peers to Lose House of Lords Seats After Reform Bill Passes
Dozens of hereditary peers are set to lose their seats in the House of Lords after Parliament approved legislation ending the centuries-old right to sit and vote in the upper chamber by virtue of inherited titles. The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill removes the remaining hereditary peer places that have existed since a compromise […]