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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Lawyers Urge Govt to Rethink Plans to Restrict Jury Trials
Plans to restrict the use of jury trials in England and Wales are facing mounting opposition from the legal profession and within Parliament, as the government prepares to advance legislation aimed at reducing the growing backlog in the criminal courts. More than 3,000 lawyers have written to the Prime Minister urging the government to reconsider […]
UK ILR English Language Level Rising in 2027
The Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 1691, laid on 5 March 2026, introduces a staged increase in the English language requirement for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and other long term, settlement-linked routes. Under the new ILR rules, the English language requirement for affected routes will rise from CEFR level B1 to […]
UK Introduces New Asylum Rules
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has issued a Written Ministerial Statement confirming that, from 2 March 2026, the UK will replace the standard five-year grant of refugee leave with a 30-month period of temporary protection for new asylum claims. The change, made through amendments to the Immigration Rules, introduces an earlier review point that fundamentally alters […]
UK Plans 48-Hour Deadline for Online Intimate Image Removal
The Government has tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would require online platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours of receiving and verifying a valid report. The proposal applies to material shared without consent, including so-called “revenge porn” and AI-generated or digitally altered intimate images depicting an identifiable person. […]
Why are Expats Renouncing UK Citizenship?
If you are a British national living overseas, recent changes to UK passenger checks may already be on your radar. From 25 February 2026, carriers are expected to enforce stricter pre-departure verification. Although the law on nationality has not changed, the practical mechanics of travelling to the UK have. For some dual nationals, the tighter […]
UK ILR Reform Moves Step Closer to Implementation
The Home Office consultation on the proposed earned settlement reforms closed on 12 February 2026, with around 130,000 responses reported to have been submitted. The next phase is policy design and implementation. As yet, no changes to the Immigration Rules have taken effect. Existing five-year and ten-year routes to indefinite leave to remain continue to […]
Tougher UK Passenger Checks from 25 February 2026
From 25 February 2026, travelling to the UK carries new practical risks for individuals who rely on UK immigration permission. Stricter carrier checks mean immigration status is now being verified before travel begins, rather than on arrival at the UK border. For many travellers, this represents a significant change in how problems arise and how […]
Report Sets out Proposals to Cut Criminal Court Backlogs
A senior judicial review has called for sweeping reforms to the criminal courts in England and Wales, warning that the justice system is struggling under record delays and growing backlogs. The report, entitled Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 1, was led by former senior judge Sir Brian Leveson, says urgent action is required […]
Earned Settlement: UK ILR Reforms Set to Proceed
The Government has confirmed that it plans to proceed, in principle, with reforms to Indefinite Leave to Remain based on an earned settlement approach. This position was set out during a Westminster Hall debate on 2 February 2026, which followed two public petitions that triggered parliamentary scrutiny of the proposals. The Minister for Migration and […]
Earned Settlement: UK Consults on ILR Changes with 10-Year Default
The Home Office has launched a consultation on a new, contribution-based ‘Earned Settlement system that would replace the long-standing five-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for most migrants. The Home Secretary’s ‘command paper’ sets out what could be a fundamental shift in UK ILR rules: settlement would no longer be presented as a predictable […]