Key topics - Osborne Clarke

UK General Election

The next UK general election is on 4 July 2024.

The Labour Party has led opinion polls since December 2021, when Boris Johnson was Conservative prime minister. Since he left that office in 2022, first Liz Truss then Rishi Sunak were appointed prime minister, and Labour's poll lead increased further. It remained consistently high throughout 2023.

If this polling lead is maintained and voting patterns at the election reflect it, the UK's next government is likely to be a Labour one. What are Labour's key policies, and what would their impact be on business? On this page we gather together our Insights on that question.

Article list

Employment and pensions

What does the new UK Labour government mean for employers?

There are a number of significant reforms expected, including on the rules relating to dismissal, employment status and zero-hour contracts

11/07/2024

Read time 18m

Energy and Utilities

'Wind of change': Labour government lifts de facto ban on onshore wind in the UK

The swift move indicates a strong early commitment to the green economy and to reform of the UK's planning system

10/07/2024

Read time 4m

Artificial intelligence

How will the new UK government resolve the conflict over AI development and IP rights?

Labour says it will find the right balance between innovation and ensuring creator protection but what might this look like...

05/07/2024

Read time 4m

OC Ventures

UK general election 2024: what would a Labour government mean for venture capital, start-ups and founders?

We explore the policies of the Labour Party, and how they may affect the ventures ecosystem

02/07/2024

Read time 5m

Workforce Solutions

UK Labour's 'New Deal for Working People'

How will use of agency workers and gig workers in the UK be affected, and what steps can be taken...

02/07/2024

Read time 1m

UK General Election

What might a Labour government mean for the infrastructure sector?

Housing, energy infrastructure, transport, social infrastructure (such as schools and healthcare) and other large-scale projects are all priority areas for...

27/06/2024

Read time 6m

UK General Election

What does the UK general election 2024 mean for digital and data policy and the TMC sector?

What we know so far on what the main political parties would do if they win power on 4 July...

26/06/2024

Read time 9m

UK General Election

What can the retail and consumer sector expect from the next UK government?

Competing priorities for the next government – the future of the high street, business rates, food advertising and the new...

26/06/2024

Read time 4m

UK General Election

The UK general election: what will it mean for UK energy policy?

There are many energy challenges for the next government to address, but the rhetoric differs across the political spectrum

25/06/2024

Read time 8m

UK General Election

UK general election: what are the potential implications for the life sciences and healthcare sector?

The Conservative and Labour parties both acknowledge the sector's importance to the UK's economic growth, but what plans do they...

25/06/2024

Read time 6m

UK General Election

What can the Built Environment sector expect from the next UK government?

The sector will be hoping for clarity in a number of areas, including leasehold reform and planning, to support business...

24/06/2024

Read time 7m

UK General Election

UK General Election 2024: what would a Labour win mean for financial services?

Labour's plan for financing growth leans towards continuity over radical change

24/06/2024

Read time 8m

UK General Election

What does the UK general election mean for employers?

Businesses will be anticipating changes to employment, pension and immigration rules from the next government

21/06/2024

Read time 13m

UK General Election

UK general election 2024: what will a new government mean for business growth?

We explore the policies for growth of the two main UK political parties fighting to form the next government, and...

20/06/2024

Read time 6m

UK General Election

UK general election 2024: Labour's manifesto and tax

The manifesto confirms Labour's widely publicised tax policy plans with no surprises but little further detail

18/06/2024

Read time 5m

Artificial intelligence

What will the next UK government do about regulating and supporting AI?

What approach is taken to artificial intelligence in the manifestos of the two main parties?

14/06/2024

Read time 6m

Real estate

A muted Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act is now law but not yet in force in England

The hasty pre-general election introduction in the final parliamentary session has led to major legislative casualties

05/06/2024

Read time 6m

Tax

What would a UK Labour government mean for tax disputes?

Labour's plans for closing the tax gap suggest that taxpayers may face an increasingly aggressive HMRC

03/06/2024

Read time 5m

Real estate

Under Construction: Legal developments in the UK construction industry | May 2024

Early indications for the construction industry in the upcoming general election, JCT publishes the new Design and Build 2024 contracts...

30/05/2024

Read time 9m

Energy and Utilities

The Energy Transition | What does the general election mean for upcoming changes to energy regulation?

Welcome to our top picks of the latest energy regulatory and market developments in the UK's transition to net zero

29/05/2024

Read time 6m

Knowledge Notes

Finishing Parliamentary business in the 'wash-up' ahead of UK general election: what legislation has survived and what has fallen?

Prorogation brought Parliamentary business to an end, meaning all draft legislation not passed is lost

28/05/2024

Read time 7m

Employment and pensions

UK Employment Law Coffee Break: Employment law reforms, disability as a cause of unfavourable treatment, and May's HR Pensions Spotlight

Welcome to our latest Coffee Break in which we look at the latest legal and practical developments impacting UK employers

23/05/2024

Read time 5m

Competition, antitrust and trade

UK government announces timetable for changes to the National Security and Investment Act regime

But the Cabinet Office timeframe comes as a UK general election could bring in Labour with its 'secureconomics' agenda

01/05/2024

Read time 4m

Tax

What would Labour do? Which tax proposals remain 'on the table' after the UK Spring Budget?

Labour, following the chancellor's adoption of two of its proposed tax policies, may now look to introduce other reforms

20/03/2024

Read time 5m

Workforce Solutions

What would Labour do? Proposal for bill on temporary staffing, gig working and contracting

Will a new Labour government in the UK change the world of temporary staffing, gig working and contracting within 100...

07/02/2024

Read time 6m

Tax

What tax measures could be expected under a Labour government?

The shadow chancellor set out her tax priorities at the annual Labour Party conference

27/10/2023

Read time 4m

Energy and Utilities

What would Labour do? The 'Green prosperity plan' intended to boost UK jobs and energy security

Policy paper provides comprehensive overview of the Opposition's green ambitions

29/06/2023

Read time 4m

Corporate

What would Labour do? The 'Start-up review': future policy on UK venture capital, tax incentives, and access to capital

'Start-up review', while not official policy, indicates Labour's thinking on the role of venture capital in stimulating growth

16/12/2022

Read time 3m

Employment and pensions

What does the new UK Labour government mean for employers?

There are a number of significant reforms expected, including on the rules relating to dismissal, employment status and zero-hour contracts

11/07/2024

Read time 18m

Energy and Utilities

'Wind of change': Labour government lifts de facto ban on onshore wind in the UK

The swift move indicates a strong early commitment to the green economy and to reform of the UK's planning system

10/07/2024

Read time 4m

Artificial intelligence

How will the new UK government resolve the conflict over AI development and IP rights?

Labour says it will find the right balance between innovation and ensuring creator protection but what might this look like...

05/07/2024

Read time 4m

OC Ventures

UK general election 2024: what would a Labour government mean for venture capital, start-ups and founders?

We explore the policies of the Labour Party, and how they may affect the ventures ecosystem

02/07/2024

Read time 5m

Workforce Solutions

UK Labour's 'New Deal for Working People'

How will use of agency workers and gig workers in the UK be affected, and what steps can be taken...

02/07/2024

Read time 1m

UK General Election

What might a Labour government mean for the infrastructure sector?

Housing, energy infrastructure, transport, social infrastructure (such as schools and healthcare) and other large-scale projects are all priority areas for...

27/06/2024

Read time 6m

UK General Election

What does the UK general election 2024 mean for digital and data policy and the TMC sector?

What we know so far on what the main political parties would do if they win power on 4 July...

26/06/2024

Read time 9m

UK General Election

What can the retail and consumer sector expect from the next UK government?

Competing priorities for the next government – the future of the high street, business rates, food advertising and the new...

26/06/2024

Read time 4m

UK General Election

The UK general election: what will it mean for UK energy policy?

There are many energy challenges for the next government to address, but the rhetoric differs across the political spectrum

25/06/2024

Read time 8m

UK General Election

UK general election: what are the potential implications for the life sciences and healthcare sector?

The Conservative and Labour parties both acknowledge the sector's importance to the UK's economic growth, but what plans do they...

25/06/2024

Read time 6m

UK General Election

What can the Built Environment sector expect from the next UK government?

The sector will be hoping for clarity in a number of areas, including leasehold reform and planning, to support business...

24/06/2024

Read time 7m

UK General Election

UK General Election 2024: what would a Labour win mean for financial services?

Labour's plan for financing growth leans towards continuity over radical change

24/06/2024

Read time 8m

UK General Election

What does the UK general election mean for employers?

Businesses will be anticipating changes to employment, pension and immigration rules from the next government

21/06/2024

Read time 13m

UK General Election

UK general election 2024: what will a new government mean for business growth?

We explore the policies for growth of the two main UK political parties fighting to form the next government, and...

20/06/2024

Read time 6m

UK General Election

UK general election 2024: Labour's manifesto and tax

The manifesto confirms Labour's widely publicised tax policy plans with no surprises but little further detail

18/06/2024

Read time 5m

Artificial intelligence

What will the next UK government do about regulating and supporting AI?

What approach is taken to artificial intelligence in the manifestos of the two main parties?

14/06/2024

Read time 6m

Real estate

A muted Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act is now law but not yet in force in England

The hasty pre-general election introduction in the final parliamentary session has led to major legislative casualties

05/06/2024

Read time 6m

Tax

What would a UK Labour government mean for tax disputes?

Labour's plans for closing the tax gap suggest that taxpayers may face an increasingly aggressive HMRC

03/06/2024

Read time 5m

Real estate

Under Construction: Legal developments in the UK construction industry | May 2024

Early indications for the construction industry in the upcoming general election, JCT publishes the new Design and Build 2024 contracts...

30/05/2024

Read time 9m

Energy and Utilities

The Energy Transition | What does the general election mean for upcoming changes to energy regulation?

Welcome to our top picks of the latest energy regulatory and market developments in the UK's transition to net zero

29/05/2024

Read time 6m

Knowledge Notes

Finishing Parliamentary business in the 'wash-up' ahead of UK general election: what legislation has survived and what has fallen?

Prorogation brought Parliamentary business to an end, meaning all draft legislation not passed is lost

28/05/2024

Read time 7m

Employment and pensions

UK Employment Law Coffee Break: Employment law reforms, disability as a cause of unfavourable treatment, and May's HR Pensions Spotlight

Welcome to our latest Coffee Break in which we look at the latest legal and practical developments impacting UK employers

23/05/2024

Read time 5m

Competition, antitrust and trade

UK government announces timetable for changes to the National Security and Investment Act regime

But the Cabinet Office timeframe comes as a UK general election could bring in Labour with its 'secureconomics' agenda

01/05/2024

Read time 4m

Tax

What would Labour do? Which tax proposals remain 'on the table' after the UK Spring Budget?

Labour, following the chancellor's adoption of two of its proposed tax policies, may now look to introduce other reforms

20/03/2024

Read time 5m

Workforce Solutions

What would Labour do? Proposal for bill on temporary staffing, gig working and contracting

Will a new Labour government in the UK change the world of temporary staffing, gig working and contracting within 100...

07/02/2024

Read time 6m

Tax

What tax measures could be expected under a Labour government?

The shadow chancellor set out her tax priorities at the annual Labour Party conference

27/10/2023

Read time 4m

Energy and Utilities

What would Labour do? The 'Green prosperity plan' intended to boost UK jobs and energy security

Policy paper provides comprehensive overview of the Opposition's green ambitions

29/06/2023

Read time 4m

Corporate

What would Labour do? The 'Start-up review': future policy on UK venture capital, tax incentives, and access to capital

'Start-up review', while not official policy, indicates Labour's thinking on the role of venture capital in stimulating growth

16/12/2022

Read time 3m

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