There will be a number of new laws and rule changes that will affect you
The National Minimum Wage is set to receive a boost this April(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
As we ring in the New Year, hordes of Brits are getting stuck into festivities with parties and family shindigs aplenty. But there’s more than just hangovers to look out for – with four key rule changes expected to hit as early as January 8, you will want to keep your eyes peeled.
From vaping clampdowns to new travel rules and even tweaks to your bin routine, 2025 is ushering in a raft of changes. But fear not – here’s a quick breakdown of the top four policy revamps that might shake up your world.
1. Pay packet boost
Over three million workers are set to cash in on a mega 6.7% boost to the National Minimum Wage next year thanks to Chancellor Rachel Reeves. April 2025 will see pay packets perk up to £12.21 an hour, meaning an extra £1,400 lining your pockets annually, reports Lancs Live.
Even the younger lot on the job ladder won’t be left out of the bonanza. Wages for 18-to-20 year olds are on track for a boost to £10 an hour. Reflecting on this chunky wage hike back in October, Reeves said: “This Government promised a genuine living wage for working people. This pay boost for millions of workers is a significant step towards delivering on that promise.”
Echoing the sentiment, business boss Jonathan Reynolds added: “Good work and fair wages are in the interest of British business as much as British workers.
“This Government is changing people’s lives for the better because we know that investing in the workforce leads to better productivity, better resilience and ultimately a stronger economy primed for growth.”
2. Bin collection changes
In November, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced a significant shift in England’s recycling requirements. It claimed it had ‘inherited legislation’ from the previous Government that would see households ‘have up to seven bins’, but it no longer wanted to impose this ‘unnecessary burden’ on people and businesses.
In an official statement, DEFRA declared: “We are simplifying the rules to make recycling easier for people in England, while stimulating growth and maximising environmental benefits. Simpler Recycling will enable consistent, more streamlined collections from all households, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises (such as schools and hospitals).
“Local authorities and other waste collectors will be able to co-collect some waste streams by default meaning that they will no longer need to collect 7 separate streams. These common-sense changes will not lead to the proliferation of bins but will ensure the same set of materials are collected everywhere in England.”
So what does this mean for you?
By the end of the financial year, which falls on April 5, 2025, DEFRA plans to provide new funding to local authorities for weekly food and waste collections for households.
Big news for businesses in England as new rules mean they must sort core recyclables like glass, metal, plastic, paper, card, and food waste by March 31 – but garden waste isn’t on the list. Plus, over three million grafters are in for a tidy payday as the National Minimum Wage gets a hefty 6.7% bump next year, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing a goal of £12.21 an hour by April 2025.
That’s a welcome extra £1,400 lining workers’ pockets annually.
Young workers aged 18-20 won’t be left out either; they’re set to see their wage soar from £8.60 to £10.00 per hour. Rach was all over it back in October, stating: “This Government promised a genuine living wage for working people.”
Adding to the cheer, she said, “This pay boost for millions of workers is a significant step towards delivering on that promise.”
Echoing her sentiment, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds chimed in with: “Good work and fair wages are in the interest of British business as much as British workers.
“This Government is changing people’s lives for the better because we know that investing in the workforce leads to better productivity, better resilience and ultimately a stronger economy primed for growth.”
3) And there’s more – it looks like a vaping ban is on the horizon. Starting June 1, 2025, single-use vapes will be banned from sale and supply as part of the government’s efforts to tackle litter.
MPs have raised alarm bells over these disposable e-cigarettes because they are often chucked onto the streets soon after use, adding to the urban rubbish crisis.
Speaking out on the change, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh remarked: “Single-use vapes are extremely wasteful and blight our towns and cities. That is why we are banning single use vapes as we end this nation’s throwaway culture.
“This is the first step on the road to a circular economy, where we use resources for longer, reduce waste, accelerate the path to net-zero and create thousands of jobs across the country.”
Libby Peake, head honcho at Green Alliance, weighed in on the issue too, saying: “Disposable vapes are the last thing our children and the planet need, and for too long the market for them has been allowed to grow unchecked. Every single one wastes resources that are critical to a more sustainable economy – like lithium, needed for the batteries that power electric cars.
“When they’re littered, the nicotine, plastic and batteries they contain are all extremely harmful. Even when they’re put in a bin, their batteries can catch fire. The government is right to ban these harmful devices – it’s a welcome step in the journey towards an economy where waste is reduced by design.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has dropped a bombshell in the Autumn Budget, confirming a hefty hike in Tobacco Duty. This duty is a tax whacked on businesses that supply or import ciggies into the UK.
From October 30, Reeves announced the Government’s plan to stick with the Tobacco Duty escalator at a rate of Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 2% throughout this parliament’s term. And for those who roll their own, there’s been a whopping 10% jump in duty too.
4. UK travel pass shake-up.
Got mates or family overseas? You’ll want to give them the heads up on this one. From 2025, all travellers – whether from Europe or further afield – will need electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to pop over to the UK.
For non-Europeans, this kicks off on January 8, before the system opens up to ‘eligible Europeans’ from March 5. Come April, it’s mandatory for Europeans as well.
Travellers can grab the ETA through an app or by visiting the GOV. UK website. It’ll set you back £10 for a two-year pass that lets you make multiple trips.
But watch out, if your passport goes out of date before the two years are up, so does your ETA. The Home Office is keen to point out that it’s not a visa, but rather ‘digital permission’ to travel.
Just last month, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra MP, said: “This expansion of ETA is a significant step forward in delivering a border that’s efficient and fit for the digital age.
“Through light-touch screening before people step foot in the UK, we will keep our country safe while ensuring visitors have a smooth travel experience.”