11 new laws expected in 2024 from smoking ban to electric cars and vaping
Rishi Sunak's chaotic premiership may be in its final months, if polls are to be believed.
But while he's in No10, there's still time for his Government to push through new laws which could have a huge impact on peoples' lives for years to come. 2024 could see a landmark change to smoking laws, meaning millions of young people will never legally be allowed to buy tobacco.
Elsewhere we will see a much-anticipated rise to minimum raises, and legislation to stop unscrupulous bosses holding on to staff tips. If Mr Sunak has his way Rwanda will magically become a safe country to send refugees to, and there will be a clampdown on kids vaping.
Here we look at some of the laws we know are coming, and some that could be.
Rishi Sunak announced his plan to outlaw tobacco sales in October (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Landmark cigarette sales ban
Rishi Sunak's flagship smoking law - which will see the legal age to buy tobacco go up by one year every year - is expected to come into force this year.
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The Prime Minister announced the sweeping change during his Tory Conference speech in October, claiming it will mean a child who's 14 now will never be allowed to buy cigarettes. At the moment youngsters can purchase tobacco from the age of 16.
The Government believes that the new law will phase out smoking by young people by 2040. This will save the NHS billions of pounds a year, Mr Sunak said.
Minimum wage set to go up
The minimum employers are allowed to pay staff is set to rise in April. From April 1, employers will be required to pay everyone aged over 21 at least £11.44 per hour. This is up from £10.42, a rise of nearly 10%.
It is the first time 21 and 22 year olds are entitled to the national living wage, as it previously only applied to staff who were at least 23 years old. Those aged 18 to 20 will get a national minimum wage of £8.60 an hour - a rise of £1.11.
The increase was announced in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement in November.
XL bully ban comes into force
New laws on XL Bullies will come into force (Getty Images)A controversial XL bully ban will have (just about) come into effect by the time Brits ring in the New Year. From December 31 it will be illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow these dogs to stray in England and Wales.
Owners will also be required to keep the pets on a lead or muzzle. It follows a string of fatal dog attacks which led to calls for laws to be tightened up. Rishi Sunak said in September XL Bully dogs were a "danger to our communities". The Mirror had campaigned for dangerous dogs to be banned in the UK, after several attacks.
Greedy bosses banned from keeping tips
At long last employers will be banned from withholding tips from staff. The change follows years of Tory dithering, with a promised legal shake-up taking seven years to finally pass.
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 will come into effect on July 1. This makes it unlawful for businesses to hold back service charges from their employees, ensuring staff receive the tips they have earned.
Contentious changes to visa laws
Bowing to pressure from right-wingers, the Government has announced a string of measures aiming to slash legal migration.
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From the spring - although no exact date has been set - social care workers will no longer be allowed to bring their partners and children on their visa. And visas won't be granted for skilled workers unless they earn £29,000. This was originally set to be £38,700 before a Home Office climbdown.
And people who want to bring a partner to the UK will also have to earn this amount, with Tories accused of splitting up families. It isn't universally popular though, even among Tory MPs. Alicia Kearns, who chairs the foreign affairs select committee, told LBC: “It risks being very unconservative”.
Ministers hope new laws will stop young people vaping (stock image)Clampdown on kids vaping
Ministers hope to bring in new measures in 2024 to crackdown on children who start vaping. The government plans to introduce restrictions on the sale of vapes to children - with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill due “as soon as possible”.
Flavours and descriptions of e-cigarettes will also be restricted so they are not specifically targeted at children. Other planned restrictions include on the sale of disposable vapes and regulating where vapes can be sold.
Much-needed clarity on spiking laws
It may seem incredible, but the law isn't entirely clear on drink and drug spiking. Although police forces can take action in cases where it's happened, ministers have conceded that more should be done to make it clear.
For that reason the Government has announced the Criminal Justice Bill is being beefed up with specific provision for spiking. Labour has argued it should be a specific offence. However if the Bill does come into effect in 2024, it will at least give some much needed assurance,
In an announcement earlier this month the Home Office said: "The step up to tackle spiking comes as the government prepares to clarify under the Criminal Justice Bill, that without any doubt, spiking is illegal. It will be backed with separate guidance, set in law, to provide a clear, unequivocal definition of what spiking is."
Better protection for renters - but probably not
There's a big question mark over this one. The Government had been expected to push through the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill in 2024. This would, among other things, bring an end to no fault evictions.
But it's not as simple as many would hope, with ministers adding an 11th hour get-out clause. In order for this to take effect, they said, urgent reform of the court system needs to be carried out first. And let's be honest, that could take a long time.
Protection from redundancy during pregnancy
From April, workers who are pregnant or on maternity, adoption or shared parental leave will be given priority for redeployment if they face redundancy. It means they will have the right to be offered a suitable alternative role, if one is available.
This follows the Protection from Redundancy ( Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act being passed.
Rwanda to magically become safe for refugees
Mr Sunak has staked his premiership on the controversial and expensive Rwanda project. However he was dealt a blow in November when the Supreme Court declared it was unlawful, with top judges saying it isn't a safe country to send asylum seekers to.
In a desperate bid to salvage the scheme, however, Mr Sunak is pushing through legislation declaring it is, in fact, safe. That, alongside a new treaty with the African nation, will all deportation flights to go ahead after all.
But whether it will get through is another matter entirely. Even if he can unite hardliners and moderates within his own party, the House of Lords is tipped to tear the Safety of Rwanda Bill to shreds. So watch this space.
New electric car rules for manufacturers
New minimum targets for carmakers will come into effect in 2024, the Government announced earlier this year. Under the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, 22% of vehicles sold must be zero emission.
This will rise gradually each year until it reaches 100% in 2035 - a date that was pushed back by five years when Mr Sunak rolled back on green pledges. In September Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "The path to zero emission vehicles announced today makes sure the route to get there is proportionate, pragmatic and realistic for families.
"Our mandate provides certainty for manufacturers, benefits drivers by providing more options and helps grow the economy by creating skilled jobs."
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