UK PM Burnham to Legislate Easier Non‑Compete Rules for Start‑Ups

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Friday that he will introduce legislation to relax restrictive non‑compete clauses in workers’ contracts, though he stopped short of a full ban. Speaking at a government‑backed innovation summit in Manchester, Burnham said the aim is to remove barriers that hinder hiring for promising start‑ups and scaling firms. He compared the planned changes to the 1995 Bosman ruling that reshaped football transfers, calling the move the “Bosman ruling for the innovation sector.” The scope of the new rules will be defined later, ahead of formal legislation. The proposal follows earlier attempts by the previous administration and has drawn strong lobbying from both tech start‑ups, who say the curbs hurt growth, and City firms and trade bodies that oppose any change.