UK Prime Minister Rolls Out Fresh Laws

UK Prime Minister Rolls Out Fresh Laws

UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak’s has announced new laws set to be added to the statute books in a frantic scramble before the general election.

2024 could see a drastic change to smoking laws, meaning millions of young people will never legally be allowed to buy tobacco.

Recall in October, Rishi Sunak announced his plan to outlaw tobacco sales.

Rishi Sunak’s flagship smoking law – which will see the legal age to buy tobacco go up by one year every year – is expected to come into force this year.

The Prime Minister announced the sweeping change during his Tory Conference speech in October, claiming it will mean a child who’s 14 now will never be allowed to buy cigarettes. At the moment youngsters can purchase tobacco from the age of 16.

The Government believes that the new law will phase out smoking by young people by 2040. This will save the NHS billions of pounds a year, Mr Sunak said.

Greedy bosses banned from keeping tips

At long last employers will be banned from withholding tips from staff. The change follows years of Tory dithering, with a promised legal shake-up taking seven years to finally pass.

The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 will come into effect on July 1. This makes it unlawful for businesses to hold back service charges from their employees, ensuring staff receive the tips they have earned.

Minimum wage increase

The minimum employers are allowed to pay staff is set to rise in April. From April 1, employers will be required to pay everyone aged over 21 at least £11.44 per hour. This is up from £10.42, a rise of nearly 10%.

It is the first time 21 and 22 year olds are entitled to the national living wage, as it previously only applied to staff who were at least 23 years old. Those aged 18 to 20 will get a national minimum wage of £8.60 an hour – a rise of £1.11.

The increase was announced in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement in November.

Contentious changes to visa rules

Bowing to pressure from right-wingers, the Government has announced a string of measures aiming to slash legal migration.

From the spring – although no exact date has been set – social care workers will no longer be allowed to bring their partners and children on their visa. And visas won’t be granted for skilled workers unless they earn £29,000. This was originally set to be £38,700 before a Home Office climbdown.

Much-needed clarity on spiking laws

It may seem incredible, but the law isn’t entirely clear on drink and drug spiking. Although police forces can take action in cases where it’s happened, ministers have conceded that more should be done to make it clear.

For that reason the Government has announced the Criminal Justice Bill is being beefed up with specific provision for spiking. Labour has argued it should be a specific offence. However if the Bill does come into effect in 2024, it will at least give some much needed assurance.

Protection from redundancy during pregnancy

From April, workers who are pregnant or on maternity, adoption or shared parental leave will be given priority for redeployment if they face redundancy. It means they will have the right to be offered a suitable alternative role, if one is available.

This follows the Protection from Redundancy ( Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act being passed.

New minimum targets for carmakers will come into effect in 2024, the Government announced earlier this year. Under the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, 22% of vehicles sold must be zero emission.

This will rise gradually each year until it reaches 100% in 2035 – a date that was pushed back by five years when Mr Sunak rolled back on green pledges. In September Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “The path to zero emission vehicles announced today makes sure the route to get there is proportionate, pragmatic and realistic for families.