Changes to Motoring Laws from April 2021
New rules affecting UK motorists are due to come into force this year. The Department of Transport confirmed the first of these changes takes effect from today, with a change in car tax rules from 1 April 2021. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is increasing for less environmentally-friendly cars. The amount of VED due is based […]
Asda Workers Win Latest Round In Equal Pay Battle
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of 44,000 Asda supermarket workers in the latest stage of their equal pay challenge. Asda store workers are arguing they are being paid less because most store workers are women, while most distribution depot staff are men. The court upheld previous rulings that lower paid shop workers are […]
UK & EU Agree Financial Services Deal
The UK and EU have come to an agreement on post-Brexit financial services regulations. In a statement on 26 March 2021, HM Treasury announced the deal, which would see a new regulatory forum being created between the UK and the EU. The forum will comprise a minister from the UK and their equivalent from the […]
Roadmap Out Of Lockdown: New Rules from 29 March
The government has laid out details of the roadmap that will take England out of lockdown. The new rules, which must be agreed by Parliament, provide the legal framework to ease current restrictions on a phased basis, provided certain tests are met. From 29 March 2021, the mandate to stay at home will come to […]
New Ban on Leaving UK “Without Reasonable Excuse”
A new ban on leaving the UK without a “reasonable excuse” is to take effect next week in England as part of new coronavirus laws. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021, published today, are part B of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown. Regulation 8 of the new legislation “imposes restrictions on […]
Controversial Policing Bill Moves Closer To Becoming Legislation
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has passed its second reading in Parliament with a majority of 96 votes. MPs voted 359-263 in favour of the legislation on 17th March 2021. An amendment by Labour leader Keir Starmer was defeated by 359-225 votes. The draft legislation aims to afford the police and UK government […]
UK Government Plans Data Protection Reform
Reform of the UK’s data protection regime is being planned, according to Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden. The UK Government is pledging to overhaul existing rules, including the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to “allow information to flow more freely and drive growth in the digital economy” now that the UK has left the EU. […]
Sentencing Reforms See Teenage Killers Face Longer Jail Terms
Teenage killers are to face longer jail sentences, under reforms announced by the justice secretary, Robert Buckland. Older teenagers in murder cases could see sentences almost doubled to up to 27 years. ‘Ellie’s law’ comes as part of wider criminal reforms which were introduced to Parliament on 9 March 2021. Ellie’s law follows a campaign […]
Right to Repair Law to be Introduced this Summer
A new law is due to be introduced this summer giving consumers in the UK the ‘right to repair’ on the electronic goods they buy. The new law aims to extend the lifespan of appliances such as fridges, TVs and washing machines by up to ten years and to make them cheaper to run through […]
UK Immigration Rules: Upcoming Changes Announced
The Home Office has published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, HC 1248. The majority of the amendments affect UK work and study visas under the points-based system, with most due to take effect on 6th April 2021, unless otherwise stated. Graduate route From 1 July 2021, student visa holders in the UK […]
Stamp Duty Holiday Extended Until 30 June
The UK Chancellor has confirmed in his Budget today that the £500,000 threshold for stamp duty will remain in place until 30 June. Under the temporary rules, homebuyers in England and Northern Ireland can continue to benefit from a higher threshold for stamp duty on house purchases. The tax break can see some homebuyers save […]
Furlough Scheme Further Extended to September
The UK Chancellor has confirmed in the 2021 Budget that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be further extended until September 2021. The furlough scheme has been subject to earlier extensions. Most recently, it had been scheduled to end in April, following a planned phase out as government contributions were set to decrease gradually in the […]
8 New Freeports Set to Launch in England in 2021
Eight new freeport sites are to be launched later this year in England. The sites will be at East Midlands Airport, Liverpool, Felixstowe, Humber, Plymouth, Thames, Teesside, and Solent. Freeports are international gateways offering a number of benefits to businesses operating on the sites, including “more generous tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and wider government […]
Supreme Court Rules Uber Drivers Are ‘Workers’
The Supreme Court has upheld earlier courts’ rulings in a landmark decision that confirms Uber drivers are ‘workers’ and not self-employed subcontractors. The Court unanimously upheld a 2016 Employment Tribunal decision that said drivers are in a “position of subordination and dependancy to Uber“. While the decision relates to a limited number of drivers who […]
Latest UK COVID travel restrictions
What are the latest COVID travel restrictions affecting arrivals into the UK? Travel corridors closed All quarantine-free travel corridors for people arriving into the UK have been closed indefinitely, and all arrivals from anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man must now present a negative Covid-19 test issued no more than […]
New food labelling guidance issued ahead of Natasha’s Law
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued detailed guidance for companies on new labelling laws coming into force in 2021. Under Natasha’s Law, allergen labelling rules will become a legal requirement on all ‘prepacked for direct sale’ food, with labels on affected products required to state all ingredient and allergen information. This includes food that […]
Conveyancing & witness-free electronic signatures – guidance imminent
HM Land Registry is expected to shortly release draft guidance on the use of electronic signatures that would exempt the requirement to have a witness to a conveyancing transaction. In a blog post last week, HMLR general counsel Mike Harlow said the organisation was “close” to sharing draft practice guidance for qualified electronic signatures. Land […]
Indoor & Outdoor Social Gatherings Above Six Banned in England from 14 September
Social gatherings of more than six people in England will become illegal from Monday 14 September. The new rule applies to people of all ages and will ban larger groups meeting anywhere socially indoors or outdoors. This includes gatherings in private homes, indoors and outdoors, and places such as pubs, restaurants, cafes and public outdoor […]
Compulsory Face Covering Rules Now in Force
The rules on wearing face coverings in England and Scotland have been extended from 8 August 2020. People must now wear face masks in museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship, as well as shops, indoor shopping centres, transport hubs, supermarkets, takeaways, banks and on public transport. The mandatory requirements have become enforceable by law. […]
Home Office to End Use of Controversial Algorithm
The Home Office has confirmed it will cease use of its controversial algorithm within UK visa application processing. The announcement comes as migrant rights groups the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) and Foxglove prepared to challenge the use of the software by way of judicial review. Campaign groups claimed the tool was […]