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Published: 10-Feb-26 | By APSCo
Public Sector
Public Policy
Political Monitor | February 24th Edition
Finally, the week of the Gorton and Denton by-election in Greater Manchester arrives. Yet more bad timing given Mandelson’s arrest yesterday and rising anger about Mountbatten-Windsor’s decade in the role of government trade envoy, starting back in 2001. So, Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey has chosen to use his opposition day slot to bring a debate on just that today.
This follows last week’s government U-turn on its decision to allow local authorities to delay their local elections pending reorganisation. The decision was taken, on legal advice, to avoid an embarrassing loss in a court challenge launched by Reform UK. Nigel Farage of Reform UK made sure he was back in the news shortly thereafter, appointing his top team, with ex-Tory Robert Jenrick getting the job of shadow Chancellor.
David Lammy has pencilled in today as justice day. The Deputy PM has a big speech at a Microsoft AI conference to make clear he’s not backing down on his proposal to slash jury trials by around half. AI tech will be used to ease the backlog and courts will sit longer. The controversial legislation will be laid in Parliament on Wednesday.
APSCo News
Healthcare, Education, Construction and Hospitality Members
Modernising the Recruitment Regulations (Agency Worker Framework) and Fair Work Agency Make Work Pay - GOV.UK
DBT is organising sector-specific online roundtables and is looking for our members to join:
- Health and social care - Thursday 12th March at 10:00-11:00
- Hospitality - Monday 16th March at 11:00-12:00
- Teaching - Thursday 19th March at 10:00-11:00
- Construction - Friday 20th March at 10:00-11:00
Please contact shazia.imtiaz@apsco.org to be put in touch with DBT to register.
Education Members: Find our latest PR on the Department for Education’s white paper published yesterday, highlighting SEND reform and promising a delivery plan for their manifesto commitment to recruit 6,500 new teachers. Every child achieving and thriving - GOV.UK.
In the News: Keep up to date with our new In the News, where we provide links to our latest media coverage.
Spring Statement: Still time to register for the FD Forum briefing and look out for our report on the Spring Statement next Tuesday.
Parliament, Employment Rights Act & Staffing Sector Regulation
Save this link to access the up-to-date list of open consultations on the Make Work Pay reforms. The consultation on reforming the Conduct Regulations and bringing umbrellas into scope of the Regulations is now open. We are told that the long-awaited consultation on zero-hours contracts/guaranteed hours is written and going through various approvals before being issued.
6th April Changes
ERA and Umbrella changes are going live on 6th April – make sure you are ready – review our legal pages, and remember the legalhelpdesk@apsco.org is available for specific queries.
The CIPD has issued a report warning that employers may defer hiring decisions because of concerns over the ERA. CIPD research warns on Employment Rights Act impact | The Global Recruiter
Parliament and Consultations
The Government has launched an ambitious electoral reform Bill which will give people the vote at 16, amongst many other reform measures. A detailed insight into the reforms from the UK Constitutional Law Association can be found here.
Other Announcements & Publications
Skills
The Government has launched a new free e-learning platform to strengthen apprenticeship support. This is targeted at SMEs.
Skills England/DWP working with the University of Warwick are working on an updated standard skills classification. This is a standardised list of the skills, knowledge and tasks required for UK occupations and is intended to be used by employers, recruiters, job seekers, career advisers and analysts. There is a beta version which they are keen for people to trial, called the Skills Explorer tool: SSC Explorer | UK Standard Skills Classification.
Part of the rollout is to look at how this classification system can be integrated into tech stacks.
Economic Growth and Spring Statement
Inflation dropped to 3 percent in January, with petrol and travel costs the main contributors to the fall. This followed ONS labour market statistics showing unemployment rising, although the Government was cheered by 1% growth from this time last year. It has been reported that the Treasury may delay plans to increase youth NMW, recognising businesses’ concerns about paying higher minimum wages, particularly for younger workers.
The CIPD published its quarterly forward-looking indicator of UK labour market trends last week. They concluded, “low hiring intentions persist amid concerns over rising employment costs from the Employment Rights Act.” There is less concern amongst employers about filling vacancies, and this is also relevant to the public sector.
The Resolution Foundation has published its thoughts on the Spring Statement. They conclude Reeves’s policies may have made the poorest and most vulnerable citizens worse off.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies does not anticipate new tax or spending measures, only providing an outlook – but Chancellors can often be tempted to make changes due to pressures, they say.
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