Government
The latest news, updates and analysis on the government and what it is doing that affects the UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Feb- 2025 -25 February
Bill with stricter measures for retail crime to go before parliament
A new bill that aims to tackle retail and street crime is set for its first reading in the House of Commons today (25 February), with the hopes of introducing tougher measures to tackle retail crime and other offences. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Crime and Policing bill, which is…
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19 February
Tougher age checks and penalties to be introduced for online knife sales
Online retailers selling knives will need to carry out more stringent age verification checks in response to a government review, amid rising concerns over the standards for age and delivery checks. As part of the new measures, retailers will be required to implement a mandatory two-step verification process and report customers…
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Jan- 2025 -23 January
CMA appoints Doug Gurr as interim chair
Former Amazon boss Doug Gurr has been appointed as interim chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), in a bid to boost growth and support the economy. Gurr, currently the director of the Natural History Museum, will bring a wealth of experience in the technology sector as the former…
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20 January
Pets at Home CEO warns Budget will effect part-time workers and women
Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan has warned that the changes to National Insurance in the Budget will negatively impact part-time workers and women. McGowan stated in an interview with Mail on Sunday that Pets at Home faces an £18m increase in costs. The National Insurance contribution threshold will be…
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Oct- 2024 -23 October
Chancellor considers Amazon tax in bid to boost British high streets
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly mulling plans to impose higher taxes on Amazon as part of a shake up that aims to level the playing field between online giants and in-store retailers. According to The Telegraph, the chancellor is believed to be reviewing the business rates paid by companies like Amazon,…
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Sep- 2024 -17 September
Sadiq Khan unveils plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has again set out proposals to transform Oxford Street, including turning the road into a traffic-free pedestrianised avenue, in a bid to make it the “leading retail destination in the world.” The mayor has previously tried to implement major changes to Oxford Street, but…
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6 September
CBI boss calls for gov to fix ‘antiquated’ rates system
CBI CEO Rain Newton-Smith has called on the government to fix the “antiquated” business rates rules in England to boost investment and grow the economy. Ahead of the Autumn Budget, the CBI convened firms from 12 sectors, including retail and manufacturing, to develop cross-economy solutions for a competitive and transparent…
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Jul- 2024 -17 July
Starmer vows to ‘make work pay’ in King’s Speech
The new Labour government has outlined its main goals for the new parliament as part of the King’s Speech today (17 July) with a central focus of “ improving living standards for working people through economic growth”. Key points outlined in the speech, read by the King but written by…
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5 July
Time for Starmer to ‘get down to business’, says BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has stated that it is time for Keir Starmer and the Labour Party to “get down to business” after he emerged victorious in the general election. BRC chair Helen Dickinson stated that the organisation now awaits details of how Starmer will take his promises forward.…
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4 July
EU proposes new custom duties to curb Chinese imports
The EU has reportedly drawn up plans to impose custom duties on cheap products from Chinese online retailers such as Temu and Shein in a bid to dampen a rise in what it has called “substandard items”, the Financial Times has reported. The FT reported that The European Commission plans…
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