What new laws are set to be introduced in the UK in 2023?
We summarise the key legislative changes for the year ahead.
Removal of EU law
When the UK left the EU in 2020 all the EU laws were effectively changed into British law to allow for as smooth a transition as possible.
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022 is set to amend, repeal or replace nearly all of these laws. The Bill will ‘sunset’ the majority of retained EU law so that it expires on 31 December 2023.
These include those related to workers’ rights, food standards and protections for the environment and animal welfare.
It is expected to be a controversial and significant moment affecting many individuals, businesses and industries.
Employment law changes
A number of changes in employment law are look to come into force in 2023, including:
- The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill seeks to modify the process for requesting flexible working in a number of ways, such as making the right to request flexible working a right from ‘day one’.
- The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill proposes to expand the redundancy protections that presently apply to employees on maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave to pregnant employees and those who have recently returned from such leave.
- The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill allows employees whose infants are admitted to neonatal care for at least seven days to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave.
- The Carer’s Leave Bill intends to grant employees with care obligations a formal right to one week of unpaid leave every year.
Voter ID at elections
The Elections Act 2022 requires anyone turning up to vote at polling stations to now bring photo ID with them, coming into effect ahead of May’s local elections.
Immigration & nationality
A new Nationality and Borders Bill makes it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK ‘illegally’. It means the UK Government can treat people differently depending on how they got into the UK, such as by boat.
Another controversial aspect of the Bill means the Home Office can deprive a British citizen of their citizenship without prior warning.
We may also see changes in the Immigration Rules in relation to work visas, given continued labour shortages across the UK economy.
Minimum service levels for public transport
The recent Transport Strikes Bill wants to introduce minimum service levels on transport services.
It’s hoped the Bill will prevent bus, train and Tube services from grinding to a halt completely during periods of industrial action like we’ve seen recently.
While it only currently relates to transport, there is the possibility this could expand to some industries on minimum service levels, as well as an outright ban on some workers striking, such as ambulance drivers.
Minimum wage uplift
From April, the minimum wage would rise by 92p an hour to £10.42, bringing annual earnings for full-time workers up by £1,600.
Council tax bills
The Autumn Budget statement made changes announcing that local councils will now be allowed to increase their tax bills by 5% from April this year,
Costs of care
An £86k cap on social care costs for the elderly will come in from autumn this year, but those with assets worth £75,000 to £150,000 will be forced to pay more.
Homeowners to pay to repair unsafe flats
Owners of faulty properties will be made to pay up to £15,000 to have them fixed, according to the new Building Safety Bill.
The Government has already announced schemes for properties affected by unsafe cladding, although many flat owners have “non-cladding” defects too which, until now, were not covered. There is a legal cap of £10,000, or £15,000 in London.
Tougher laws on landlords
Landlords will not be able to grant new leases or continue existing leases of non-domestic properties with an energy rating below E.
This new law, which comes in from April, forces landlords to make their properties more energy efficient before taking on new tenants, or register exemptions for them on the PRS Exemption Register.
Exempt properties include industrial sites, workshops with low energy demands, and temporary and religious building.
Stricter rules on taking legal action against the Government
Campaigners are concerned that the Judicial Review and Courts Bill will restrict their ability to persuade courts to rule against the government.
Author
Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law.
Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing Agency for the Professional Services Sector.
