The government has announced the creation of a new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC), in a significant reform of the Cabinet Office. The change was announced, among other machinery of government changes, in a written statement to the House of Lords. OPMC will comprise No 10 Downing Street, the new No 10 North, and parts of Cabinet Office directly serving the Prime Minister and Cabinet. It will be led by the Cabinet Secretary. An arm's length body, the OneGov Delivery Agency, will manage shared government operations such as recruitment, pensions and security vetting.

The LexisNexis Restructuring & Insolvency practical guidance team has published a new Overview and Practice Note on Liability Management Exercises (LMEs)—‘Liability Management Exercises (LMEs)—overview’ and ‘Challenging Liability Management Exercises’. UK courts have recently focused on the need for fairness and reasonable negotiation with creditors in Restructuring Plans (RPs)/ schemes of arrangement, which has resulted in more frequent challenges making RPs and schemes less attractive to distressed debtors, meaning LMEs are gaining greater traction as an alternative. This new content provides guidance on LMEs, what they are and how a practitioner should navigate challenges to LMEs.

A new report by the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at the University of Oxford examines the portrayal of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in UK media coverage of immigration law, with particular emphasis on Article 8 cases around the deportation of foreign national offenders, the role of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), and the consequences of misreporting. It identifies three distinct forms of misrepresentation in press reporting of Article 8 cases, describes the statutory framework governing deportation decisions, and assesses whether ECtHR jurisprudence has impeded the UK’s ability to control immigration. The report concludes that misreporting has distorted public understanding and undermined confidence in the legal system. In order to prepare the report, the authors conducted a systematic review of UK media coverage mentioning the ECHR between January and June 2025, focusing particularly on immigration-related reporting. They monitored major news outlets and commentary platforms using keyword searches, Google Alerts, and Feedly, compiling relevant items which were then qualitatively analysed for accuracy, legal framing, and representation of tribunal decisions. There are extensive footnotes referencing relevant news reports and the tribunal decisions being discussed.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) now has new investigatory powers, effective 1 May 2025. Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984), NFCU investigators can apply for and execute search warrants independently, enhancing their ability to investigate food fraud. The powers aim to reduce reliance on police and local authorities for warrant execution, allowing direct intervention in food crime cases. The change marks a significant expansion of NFCU's capabilities since its establishment following the 2013 horse meat crisis.

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has published new guidance to help trustees, administrators and advisers manage the operational aspects of buy-in and superfund transactions. Produced by PASA’s De-Risking Journey Management Working Group, the guidance highlights common operational difficulties faced by schemes, including data integrity, rule alignment, member communications, deferred member complexities, risk management and resourcing. It addresses the misconception that scheme administration ceases once a buy-in is completed, emphasising the critical role administration plays before, during and after transitions. It draws on industry experience and sets out practical actions to help schemes plan early, avoid delays and maintain confidence throughout the de-risking process. The guidance is intended to support earlier, more informed discussions between all parties involved, with a focus on collaboration and realistic planning rather than reactive problem-solving. PASA has also made available a recording of its webinar, ‘De-Risking Demystified: Mythbusters for Buy-In & Superfund Success’, which covers related topics.

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has announced that its new Rulebook website will be launched on 10 April 2024, at the same web address as that used for the current website. All existing links will continue to operate, including the existing Rulebook links on the Bank of England (BoE) and PRA website, as well on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook website.

A major legislative overhaul of workplace pensions is on the way with the publication of the long-awaited Pension Schemes Bill, a Bill which broadly aims to support working people plan for their retirement by making pensions simpler to understand, easier to manage, and drive better value over the long term. The Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 5 June 2025, with the second reading giving the opportunity for Parliament to debate the provisions of the Bill. The Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent in 2026 and several consultations are expected to be undertaken in relation to its provisions both before and after Royal Assent. Clive Weber of Wedlake Bell, Richard Evans of Herbert Smith Kramer LLP, Rosalind Connor of Temple Bright, Michael Jones and Sarah Swift of Eversheds Sutherland, and Sarah Hickling of Baker & McKenzie LLP comment on the Bill below.

Pensions analysis: The government has published the long-awaited Pension Schemes Bill, which broadly aims to support working people plan for their retirement by making pensions simpler to understand, easier to manage, and drive better value over the long term. The Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 5 June 2025, with the second reading, on a date to be announced, giving the opportunity for Parliament to debate the provisions of the Bill. The Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent in 2026 and several consultations are expected to be undertaken in relation to its provisions both before and after Royal Assent. Written by Rosalind Connor, partner at Temple Bright.

Law360: The Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) has written to the new Pensions Minister, Emma Reynolds, stating that she should not rush into major policy changes after she inherited a bulging in-tray from her predecessor.

Our new Practice Compliance forecast (as at 13 January 2026) is now live. This month we report on items including (1) IASC’s proposal for UK forced labour and human rights legislation, (2) the government’s consultation on an Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts Scheme, (3) progress on the Employment Rights Act 2025, (4) and the SRA's withdrawal of its application to the LSB regarding first-tier complaints handling changes.

Our new Practice Compliance forecast (as at 15 April 2025) is now live. This month we report on items including the Serious Fraud Office’s new business plan, the upcoming SRA diversity data reporting exercise, and current consultations, including one from the Law Society on practising certificate fees .

Our new Practice Compliance forecast (as at 15 July 2025) is now live. This month we report on items including (1) the Data (Use and Access) Act receiving Royal Assent, (2) new and updated ICO guidance following DUAA 2025, (3) developments in the SRA's annual AML and sanctions data collection exercise, and (4) news on reforms to first-tier complaints handling.