Call for Evidence on Overhaul of UK Cyber Laws
The CyberUp Campaign, which advocates for urgent changes to the 1990 Computer Misuse Act (CMA), has launched a new consultation, inviting security professionals and researchers to participate in a comprehensive survey to share their views on the law’s impact on their work. CyberUp argues that the CMA is severely outdated, having been enacted just months […]
PM Makes Statement in Response to UK Riots
In response to ongoing civil unrest across the country – following false reports that the suspect in the death of three young girls in a knife attack at a dance class in Southport was an asylum seeker – Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered the following statement from 10 Downing Street on Sunday 4 August: I utterly […]
UK Housing Targets Increased
The Government has unveiled a major overhaul of the UK planning system in a bid to “get Britain Building again”. All councils in England will now face new, mandatory housing targets aimed at delivering 1.5 million additional homes, addressing the most severe housing crisis in recent memory. These targets will require councils to increase housebuilding […]
Government Halts £1.3bn UK Tech and AI Plans
The new Labour Government has announced it will halt £1.3bn of funding, initially promised by the Conservatives, for tech and Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects, according to the BBC. This includes £800m for an exascale supercomputer at Edinburgh University and £500m for the AI Research Resource, which funds computing power for AI. The funds were unveiled […]
Google Pulls Controversial Gemini AI Olympics Ad
Google has withdrawn its Olympics advert for chatbot Gemini AI following backlash over its portrayal of a girl using AI to write a fan letter. The 60-second advert, titled “Dear Sydney,” showed a young girl’s father asking Gemini AI to help compose a letter on behalf of his daughter to her favourite athlete, U.S. hurdler […]
Budget Responsibility Bill: New Fiscal Lock Legislation Introduced
In the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, it was confirmed that the new Labour Government aims to legislate that all significant tax and spending changes undergo independent assessment by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The following day, the Budget Responsibility Bill was introduced to the House of Commons for its first reading. Labour […]
Interest Rates Reduced After Year-Long High
Interest rates have been cut after being held at a 16-year high for the past year. The decision to hold rates at 5.25% during each of the past seven updates was closely contested. However, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has now voted by a narrow margin of 5 to 4 to lower the bank rate […]
HMRC to Issue Simple Assessments to 560,000 Taxpayers for 2023/24
HMRC will be issuing simple assessments (PA302) over the next six weeks to 560,000 individuals who have outstanding tax liabilities for the 2023/24 tax year. Simple assessments are sent to taxpayers who owe tax that cannot be collected through a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax code and who do not meet the criteria for […]
HMRC 2023/24 Reports: Record Revenues & KPI Underperformance
HMRC has released a series of reports analysing its performance in 2023/24, including the annual report and accounts, and a performance report against the charter. Tax Revenues Highest on Record The annual report for 2023-24 reveals that total tax revenues reached a record £843.4 billion, marking a 3.6% increase from the previous year. […]
University Free Speech Law Put on Hold
The Government has paused controversial new powers that would have allowed universities and student unions to be fined for failing to uphold freedom of speech. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced that this delay will allow time to reconsider whether the law, originally set to take effect next week, should be repealed. She said the legislation […]
Autumn Budget Announced for 30 October 2024
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has announced in the House of Commons that the Autumn Budget will be on 30 October 2024. The Budget will be accompanied by a comprehensive fiscal statement from the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR). This announcement came as part of the Chancellor’s statement on ‘public spending inheritance’, with the Chancellor […]
VAT on Private School Fees from 1 January 2025
The Government has published draft legislation to charge VAT at 20% on education and boarding services provided by private schools for a fee. The new law will bring in the following key changes: a. VAT on Education Services: From 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by private schools or connected […]
Reform of Non Dom Rules from April 2025
The newly elected Labour government has committed to eliminating the non-dom tax status to generate additional revenue for the NHS and other public services. In March 2024, Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt declared that the non-dom tax regime would be phased out. Under his proposal, individuals moving to the UK from April 2025 would be exempt […]
Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill Back On Agenda
Audit and corporate governance reforms have been placed on the new UK Government’s legislative agenda. The Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill was included on the King’s speech earlier this month, following previous proposals by the Kingman Review (2018), the Brydon Review (2019), and the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) statutory audit market review […]
HMRC Issues Further Pillar 2 Guidance
In its third update on Pillar 2, HMRC has provided clarity on various aspects of the rules and outlined its plans for the coming months, including the next phase of its Pillar 2 online service. The multinational top-up tax (MTT) and the domestic top-up tax (DTT) have been introduced as part of the UK’s adoption […]
Google U-Turns on Cookies
In an unexpected move, Google has scrapped its plans to block third-party cookies from its Chrome internet browser, which had been first announced four years ago. The UK’s data privacy watchdog expressed “disappointment” over this decision. Instead, Google says it will pursue a new approach, giving users an “informed choice that applies across their web […]
New Code of Practice: Fire & Rehire
A new Statutory Code of Practice on Fire and Rehire took effect on 18 July 2024. Formally known as the Statutory Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement, the new guidance now has to be taken into account by employment tribunals on relevant cases, such as unfair dismissal claims. This new Code takes effect just […]
UK Marketing Budgets Reach Decade High
The Q2 2024 IPA Bellwether Report reveals a positive outlook for marketers as economic conditions improve. The report highlights the highest revision of marketing budgets in a decade and the second highest in nearly 25 years. The net balance of UK businesses that increased their total marketing budgets rose from +9.4% in Q1 to +15.9% […]
Consumers: Too Many Ads on Social Media’
A recent survey by online marketplace vendor Capterra found that 91% of regular UK online shoppers feel bombarded by ads on social media. The study, which surveyed 499 consumers, highlights growing frustration with the volume of advertisements. In response to excessive advertising, over a third (37%) of respondents have blocked specific ads, and 35% have […]
King’s Speech: Employment Law Changes Announced
During the State Opening of Parliament on 17 July 2024, the first since the latest UK general election, the King delivered a speech setting out the new Government’s legislative priorities for the coming months. The speech and accompanying memorandum included 40 bills, with two relating to employment law: the Employment Rights Bill and the Equality […]