Law360: The new Labour government has dropped legislation that gives workers the right to request a more predictable working pattern to allow them to pursue a stronger contractual right to the hours they usually work.

Law360: The Labour Party has prioritised financial services growth as it eyes Downing Street, suggesting a new era of more flexible regulation to drive technological innovation and competitiveness, regulatory lawyers say.

Law360: The Labour government faces a 'tricky balancing act' in implementing policies that meet the financial needs of different generations, pensions provider Aegon said on 25 July 2024.

The Secretary of State for the Department of Business and Trade, the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds, and Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, have written to the chair of the Low Pay Commission (LPC), Baroness Stroud, with an updated remit for the LPC, which replaces the remit issued under the previous government in March 2024. The new remit ensures that for the first time the LPC consider the cost of living when it makes future recommendations to the government on the national minimum wage (NMW). The new remit also asks that the LPC recommends a NMW that should apply to 18 to 20-year-olds from April 2025 as part of the governments pledge to remove discriminatory age bands. This should continue to narrow the gap with the national living wage (NLW), taking steps year by year to achieve a single adult rate. The remit highlights the need to also consider the impact on business, competitiveness, the labour market and the wider economy. The government has asked that the LPC make recommendations for the NMW rate and NLW rate by October 2024, which should apply from April 2025.

According to a joint letter dated 2 October 2024 from the Secretaries of State for Trade & Business and for Work & Pensions to TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak published on X/Twitter by Paul Nowak, the government has 'stepped away' from the previous government's position that the right to strike is not protected by International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 87. The letter states that the government has decided to withdraw the statement submitted by the previous government in May 2024 to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding whether the right to strike is protected by the ILO Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention 87. In June 2024, the ICJ announced that 31 written statements have been filed, including from the UK government, in response to the ILO’s request for an urgent advisory opinion from the ICJ.

The Migration Observatory has updated its analysis on the Labour government’s migration pledges against recent data, noting that many observed trends stem from Conservative-era policies rather than Labour’s own initiatives. On net migration, levels peaked at 906,000 in June 2023 before falling by 52% to 431,000 in 2024. This decline largely reflects visa restrictions introduced under the Conservatives, though the Labour government has retained them and announced further tightening in its May 2025 Immigration White Paper. Labour’s pledge to reduce reliance on overseas workers builds on restrictions introduced in 2024, including higher salary thresholds and dependants limits. It has gone further in government by closing the care-worker route to new entrants, raising skill thresholds, and introducing temporary shortage lists and stricter language requirements.

Law360: Keir Starmer said on 13 June 2024 that his Labour Party would kick-start a future of 'national renewal' if it wins the general election, with economic growth and wealth creation driving a manifesto that lacked any surprise headline pledges.

Law360: The Labour Party promised to create a new coronavirus (COVID-19) corruption tsar and use 'every means possible' to recoup public money lost in fraud and failed contracts during the pandemic, as it launched its general election manifesto on 13 June 2024.

Law360: The Labour Party appears likely to continue with the current policy trajectory for pension plans to invest to a greater extent in the UK economy if it wins the election, in a move experts said would offer stability to the sector.

Law360: Aegon has urged the new Labour government to ensure that its policy agenda reflects the needs of all generations as its research suggests that under-50s are more positive about their long-term financial planning than those who are older.

Law360: The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has backed plans by the Labour Party to reintroduce the lifetime allowance (LTA), arguing that there should be a cap on the tax-free accumulation of pensions wealth.

Law360, London: With a new government, especially one with a commanding majority and mandate, comes the possibility of a new approach to tackling financial crime.