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The Reform Party have published their contract with voters ahead of the 2024 General Election, pledging to raise the income tax threshold to £20,000 per annum if they were to form the next Government.

The contract sets out a series of changes that the party would make in the first 100 days of Government, claiming to ‘stand up for British culture, identity and values’ and ‘take back control over our borders, our money and our laws’.

Measures announced in the Reform ‘Contract with You’ include:

The Labour Party have launched their manifesto for change ahead of the 2024 General Election, focusing on introducing longer term policy measures and stabilising the economy.

Launched by Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer today (June 13th), the manifesto commits to a range of measures that could affect the convenience sector, including a replacement of the business rates system in England, changes to the remit of the Low Pay Commission and the National Living Wage, and the introduction of a separate offence for assaulting a shopworker.

The Scottish Government has published its response to the consultation on details surrounding the introduction of a ban on disposable vaping products, set to come into force in April 2025.

The response provides additional clarity on their views on the definition of a disposable vape, as well as more information about the way that the rules will be enforced. The Scottish Government acknowledges that enforcement was the biggest concern raised by those who submitted evidence to the consultation.

The Green Party have launched their 2024 General Election manifesto, calling for a four-day working week and a £15 minimum wage. 

The manifesto, launched today, sets out a range of policies aimed at benefitting the environment and accelerating the transition to a net zero economy. 

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has launched the Conservatives’ 2024 General Election Manifesto, pledging to cut taxes and reintroduce previous legislation if they were to form the next Government.

This week we’ve heard about Labour’s plans to ban energy drinks for under-16s. This got me feeling all nostalgic because we discussed this a lot around the time Theresa May’s government announced this policy a few years back... but then never implemented it. Governments in Scotland and Wales have similarly announced an intention to ban sales of energy drinks but also not implemented it. Maybe a Labour government would actually do this, and if so what would that mean for local shops?

Labour have announced that they would ban the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to under 16s if they were to form the next Government.

Ahead of the launch of their full manifesto later this week, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said that the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children was ‘not justifiable or acceptable’.

Under the proposals, any energy drink containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre would not be available to anyone under the age of 16. The policy is expected to be enforced by Trading Standards.

The Liberal Democrats have published their manifesto ahead of the 2024 General Election, pledging to make sweeping changes to employment regulations and rights as part of their campaign to form the next Government.