New laws coming to the UK in 2023

Every year numerous new laws and regulations are introduced across the UK, and it can be difficult to keep up.

This is before we even consider all the revisions being made to existing laws.

These changes has been even more frequent in the aftermath of Brexit as the UK Government looks to introduce legislation that fills the gaps that were previously filled by EU documentation.

Aamer Anwar Lawyers are incredibly busy on a daily basis fighting for justice on behalf of those who deserve it most. As part of our constant desire to provide the strongest possible legal representation to our clients we keep a close eye across all changes to legislation that are put in place both here in Scotland and across the UK.

We can’t cover every single law change in this short article, but will go over a few of the key pieces of legislation that can been introduced since the start of 2023 and how they might affect you.

new regulations

Mandatory photo ID

This is perhaps the change that will affect the largest number of people, albeit not right away here in Scotland. As of 2023 ID will be required when voting in all national elections.

However, this does not apply to elections solely in Scotland such as local government or Scottish parliament elections, only general elections and other elections affecting the whole of the UK.

The reason given for this introduction was to help combat voter fraud, but given that under 35 cases of fraud were found during the 2019 elections, there have been some claims that there is an ulterior motive behind the decision, making it more difficult for certain people to have their voice heard. Either way, it is something you should bear in mind for your next visit to the voting booth.

National Living Wage Increase

From the change that effects the most people to the one that effects people the most, in April 2023 there was an increase in the national living wage from £9.50 per hour to £10.42. This was in response to the current living crises and high demand for labour.

The national Minimum Wage also rose for younger workers. Anyone being paid less than this rate after April 2023 has the right to take legal action and their employers could be prosecuted.

EV charging points for new builds

In June, the Building Scotland Regulations were updated to require all new build properties in Scotland to have an EV charging point installed. This followed the introduction of the same rule in England and Wales at the start of the year.

This is the latest in a long line of legislation changes focused on the environment and is seen as an important step towards the banning of diesel and petrol cars.

Nationality and Borders Bill

This bill made major changes to the asylum system in the UK, claiming to streamline the asylum claim process. Whether this is the case or not is up for debate. Anyone who requires legal representation during any form of immigration proceeding should contact an expert immigration lawyer immediately.