On 5 June 2026, the Government launched a consultation on proposals to strengthen the legal rights of unmarried couples who live together, reflecting the reality that more than 3.5 million couples in the UK now cohabit without being married or in a civil partnership.

The regulations on tipping have been firmly bolstered in the last few years, with the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 being the precursor to the latest changes. The changes to tipping law require that from October 2026, employers will need to consult with workers or their representatives before creating a tipping policy, as well as ensuring that policy is updated every three years.

Implementation and consultations resulting from the Employment Rights Act 2025 (the Act) are now steaming ahead and new Codes of Practice have been agreed or are being consulted on. We have prepared a breakdown of the full extent of the changes to trade union laws, and those that surround strike and industrial action.

It’s been six months since the government introduced the mandatory identity verification for directors and People with Significant Control (PSC). Here, Kathryn Beasley gives her thoughts on the process so far.