Angela Rayner addresses the Labour Party Conference
Angela Rayner’s new workers’ rights law is now under fire from both businesses and Britain’s top union, as Labour is simultaneously accused of harming the economy and failing to protect workers.
In a humiliating intervention this morning, Unite - the UK’s biggest union - published a statement slamming the package as having “more holes than Swiss cheese” that hostile employers will still be able to use to harm employees.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Rachel Reeves' masterplan is in tatters - her next step could trigger financial meltdown
383 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
95 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned by expert over 'disaster' plans to almost double one tax
39 Comments
Humiliation for Putin as Russia could plunge into 'economic collapse' to plug ￡30bn debt
68 Comments
Warning UK households need to take out little-known ￡5 insurance
2 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer National Insurance tax raid warning as worker pensions under threat
6 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1319 Comments
Britain is burning and Keir Starmer has been holding the matches for 99 days
92 Comments
China on the brink as banking expert sounds crisis warning before Rachel Reeves' Budget
12 Comments
Furious protesters descend on Parliament for rally against winter fuel payment cuts
841 Comments
The world's richest country that's twice as wealthy as the UK despite its tiny size
7 Comments
Eurozone on the brink as Germany braces for crushing double recession blow
81 Comments
Employers warn Chancellor against National Insurance threat to pension pots
Comments
Panic in Scotland as Starmer urged to do two things to help save North Sea oil and gas
59 Comments
Business leaders raise concern over new workers' rights laws
69 Comments
Labour's 'clumsy and chaotic' plans for workers rights will damage British businesses
73 Comments
Angela Rayner leading Labour into fresh chaos as she's set to break major promise
132 Comments
Labour's new plans for workers rights are an 'economic own goal'
45 Comments
Bam! Angela Rayner's big mouth has cost the UK ￡1bn, just like that
743 Comments
Pensioners hit by more pain as they are dragged into paying tax
598 Comments
Rachel Reeves' masterplan is in tatters - her next step could trigger financial meltdown
383 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
95 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned by expert over 'disaster' plans to almost double one tax
39 Comments
Humiliation for Putin as Russia could plunge into 'economic collapse' to plug ￡30bn debt
68 Comments
Warning UK households need to take out little-known ￡5 insurance
2 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer National Insurance tax raid warning as worker pensions under threat
6 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1319 Comments
Britain is burning and Keir Starmer has been holding the matches for 99 days
92 Comments
China on the brink as banking expert sounds crisis warning before Rachel Reeves' Budget
12 Comments
Furious protesters descend on Parliament for rally against winter fuel payment cuts
841 Comments
The world's richest country that's twice as wealthy as the UK despite its tiny size
7 Comments
Eurozone on the brink as Germany braces for crushing double recession blow
81 Comments
Employers warn Chancellor against National Insurance threat to pension pots
Comments
Panic in Scotland as Starmer urged to do two things to help save North Sea oil and gas
59 Comments
Business leaders raise concern over new workers' rights laws
69 Comments
Labour's 'clumsy and chaotic' plans for workers rights will damage British businesses
73 Comments
Angela Rayner leading Labour into fresh chaos as she's set to break major promise
132 Comments
Labour's new plans for workers rights are an 'economic own goal'
45 Comments
Bam! Angela Rayner's big mouth has cost the UK ￡1bn, just like that
743 Comments
Pensioners hit by more pain as they are dragged into paying tax
598 Comments
Rachel Reeves' masterplan is in tatters - her next step could trigger financial meltdown
383 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
95 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned by expert over 'disaster' plans to almost double one tax
39 Comments
Humiliation for Putin as Russia could plunge into 'economic collapse' to plug ￡30bn debt
68 Comments
Warning UK households need to take out little-known ￡5 insurance
2 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer National Insurance tax raid warning as worker pensions under threat
6 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1319 Comments
General Secretary Sharon Graham accused the plan of “stopping short of making work pay”.
She also accuses Labour of breaking its election pledges, observing that the Bill “ties itself up in knots trying to avoid what was promised”.
Describing the flagship legislation as a failure, she blasts: “The bill still ties itself up in knots trying to avoid what was promised. Failure to end fire a rehire and zero hours contracts once and for all will leave more holes than Swiss cheese that hostile employers will use.
READ MORE: Labour's 'clumsy and chaotic' plans for workers rights will damage British bu...
Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Ms Rayner's plan has been slammed by unions and businesses (Image: Getty)
Sharon Graham criticised Labour's package (Image: Getty)
“The Bill also fails to give workers the sort of meaningful rights to access a union for pay bargaining that would put more money in their pockets and, in turn, would aid growth.
“Unite will continue to make the workers' voice heard as we push for improvements to the legislation as the Bill goes through parliament.”
Unite’s criticism means that Angela Rayner and Jonathan Reynolds have succeeded in angering both unions and businesses with their left-wing plans.
Last night the Federation of Small Businesses said that the Government’s Employment Rights Bill will hamper firms up and down the country, and hit the stalling economy.
They described the policy as “clumsy, chaotic and poorly planned”.
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Don't miss...
Labour's new workers rights are an 'economic own goal' [LATEST]
Angela Rayner leading Labour into fresh chaos as she's set to break huge promise [LATEST]
‘Oh dear!’ Kemi Badenoch tears into Labour’s chaotic first 100 days in power [LATEST]
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds defended the plans (Image: Getty)
The FSB’s Tina McKenzie, said: “This legislation is rushed job, clumsy, chaotic and poorly planned – dropping 28 new measures onto small business employers all at once leaves them scrambling to make sense of it all.
“Beyond warm words, it lacks any real pro-growth element and will increase economic inactivity, seriously jeopardising the Government’s own 80 per cent employment target.
“There are already 65,000 fewer payroll jobs since Labour took power, and the new Government is sending out a troubling signal to businesses and investors.”
This morning Jonathan Reynolds was confronted with this criticism, as Radio 4’s Emma Barnett accused Labour of “knocking businesses in the kneecaps”.
Trending
The Business Secretary rejected the FSB’s criticism, arguing that everything unveiled today is not a surprise as they were set out in Labour’s manifesto.
He argued: “We have listened and worked very closely specifically with the FSB… We have agreed and are committed to consulting with businesses of every size to make sure we get this right.”
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Rachel Reeves' masterplan is in tatters - her next step could trigger financial meltdown
383 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
95 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned by expert over 'disaster' plans to almost double one tax
39 Comments
Humiliation for Putin as Russia could plunge into 'economic collapse' to plug ￡30bn debt
68 Comments
Warning UK households need to take out little-known ￡5 insurance
2 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer National Insurance tax raid warning as worker pensions under threat
6 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1319 Comments
Britain is burning and Keir Starmer has been holding the matches for 99 days
92 Comments
China on the brink as banking expert sounds crisis warning before Rachel Reeves' Budget
12 Comments
Furious protesters descend on Parliament for rally against winter fuel payment cuts
841 Comments
The world's richest country that's twice as wealthy as the UK despite its tiny size
7 Comments
Eurozone on the brink as Germany braces for crushing double recession blow
81 Comments
Employers warn Chancellor against National Insurance threat to pension pots
Comments
Panic in Scotland as Starmer urged to do two things to help save North Sea oil and gas
59 Comments
Business leaders raise concern over new workers' rights laws
69 Comments
Labour's 'clumsy and chaotic' plans for workers rights will damage British businesses
73 Comments
Angela Rayner leading Labour into fresh chaos as she's set to break major promise
132 Comments
Labour's new plans for workers rights are an 'economic own goal'
45 Comments
Bam! Angela Rayner's big mouth has cost the UK ￡1bn, just like that
743 Comments
Pensioners hit by more pain as they are dragged into paying tax
598 Comments
Rachel Reeves' masterplan is in tatters - her next step could trigger financial meltdown
383 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
95 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned by expert over 'disaster' plans to almost double one tax
39 Comments
Humiliation for Putin as Russia could plunge into 'economic collapse' to plug ￡30bn debt
68 Comments
Warning UK households need to take out little-known ￡5 insurance
2 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer National Insurance tax raid warning as worker pensions under threat
6 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1319 Comments
Britain is burning and Keir Starmer has been holding the matches for 99 days
92 Comments
China on the brink as banking expert sounds crisis warning before Rachel Reeves' Budget
12 Comments
Furious protesters descend on Parliament for rally against winter fuel payment cuts
841 Comments
The world's richest country that's twice as wealthy as the UK despite its tiny size
7 Comments
Eurozone on the brink as Germany braces for crushing double recession blow
81 Comments
Employers warn Chancellor against National Insurance threat to pension pots
Comments
Panic in Scotland as Starmer urged to do two things to help save North Sea oil and gas
59 Comments
Business leaders raise concern over new workers' rights laws
69 Comments
Labour's 'clumsy and chaotic' plans for workers rights will damage British businesses
73 Comments
Angela Rayner leading Labour into fresh chaos as she's set to break major promise
132 Comments
Labour's new plans for workers rights are an 'economic own goal'
45 Comments
Bam! Angela Rayner's big mouth has cost the UK ￡1bn, just like that
743 Comments
Pensioners hit by more pain as they are dragged into paying tax
598 Comments
Rachel Reeves' masterplan is in tatters - her next step could trigger financial meltdown
383 Comments
Rachel Reeves blamed as UK ‘abandoned by more millionaires than anywhere else in world'
95 Comments
Rachel Reeves warned by expert over 'disaster' plans to almost double one tax
39 Comments
Humiliation for Putin as Russia could plunge into 'economic collapse' to plug ￡30bn debt
68 Comments
Warning UK households need to take out little-known ￡5 insurance
2 Comments
Sir Keir Starmer National Insurance tax raid warning as worker pensions under threat
6 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1319 Comments
“Many businesses already work to a higher standard and where we’re changing and moving the employment rights flaw that is because there is insecurity and we need to tackle those issues.”
Last night the Tories described the package as “a thinly veiled reward for the trade unions after they donated ￡28 million to Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.”
Shadow Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: “We will look closely at the detail of what the Labour Party have set out. But businesses and the economy need certainty not the threat of being sent back to the 1970s, unleashing waves of low threshold, zero warning strikes, driving down growth and slowing productivity.”