header-logo header-logo

12 June 2015 / Hester Jewitt
Issue: 7656 / Categories: Features , Brexit
printer mail-detail

Now the dust has settled...

Hester Jewitt considers the impact of the election on employment law

Now the dust has settled on the Conservatives’ surprise majority win, and David Cameron has promised to use his majority to implement his manifesto in full, it’s time to assess what the next five years has in store.

The Queen’s Speech announced a number of proposals that will impact employment law.

Industrial action

First on the legislative agenda is likely to be the Conservatives’ promise to make “significant changes” to strike laws.

Currently a strike can be called by a simple majority of those voting in a ballot and there is no minimum turnout requirement. By introducing a minimum 50% turnout requirement for strike ballots, the Conservatives intend to end “undemocratic and disruptive” strikes. The presumption being that those that do not vote in a strike ballot are against the action.

For “essential public services” such as health, education, fire and transport, the bar will be set even higher. Strikes will need the support of at least 40% of all those entitled

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Partner joinscorporate and finance practice in British Virgin Islands

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Firm strengthens children department with adoption and surrogacy expert

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Media and technology expert joins employment team as partner in Cambridge

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
The winners of the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2026 have now been announced, marking another outstanding celebration of excellence, innovation, and impact across the legal profession
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
back-to-top-scroll