Labour’s assault on jobs will undermine growth Opinion Rachel Reeves is engaged in a complicated dance with the Office for Budget Responsibility in the run up to her second Budget. When the fiscal watchdog presents its scorecard on the Chancellor’s plans – and on wider government policies – the music will stop and we’ll see whether Reeves pulls off a surprising lift, or [...]
Labour faces setback as Lords boots back workers’ rights Bill Politics The Employment Rights Bill failed to clear the final hurdle, as the House of Lords ping-ponged it back to MPs for further debate over disputed points, including the controversial granting of ‘day one’ rights. The highly contested Bill, which was a significant part of Labour’s manifesto, will see a major overhaul in the UK’s employment [...]
Left-wing think tank urges Labour to amend Employment Rights Bill Economics A left-leaning economics think tank that was the former workplace of Treasury ministers has called for a major change to be made to Labour’s flagship Employment Rights Bill in a last-ditch demand before workers’ rights are written into law. The Resolution Foundation, which was formerly led by Budget mastermind Torsten Bell, has called for a [...]
Starmer to back unions over businesses amid backlash over Employment Rights Bill September 8, 2025 Keir Starmer is set to push back against business-led amendments proposed by the House of Lords to water down the Employment Rights Bill, as the government is backing unions’ calls for workers’ rights to be strengthened. MPs are set to consider changes proposed in the Lords to replace a new right against unfair dismissal from [...]
Royal Mail eCourier drivers launch legal battle over worker rights August 26, 2025 Legal action has been launched against Royal Mail eCourier by drivers claiming they have been unlawfully denied workers’ rights by being classified as self-employed independent contractors. A group of 15 former eCourier drivers, who are members of the IWGB union, are bringing the ‘opt-in’ claim, led by claimant law firm Leigh Day, which has brought [...]
Government weighs offering HR vouchers to small businesses over employment rights changes August 6, 2025 The government is weighing offering free HR advice to small businesses as it braces for the fallout from measures contained in its forthcoming Employment Rights Bill, City AM can reveal. The Department of Business and Trade is understood to be considering a voucher scheme in which firms would be given time with HR specialists to [...]
House of Lords vote in favour of Tory-backed alternative to ‘day-one’ employment rights July 17, 2025 The House of Lords has voted vastly in favour of a Conservative-led amendment to the 'day-one' rights in the final reporting stage of the Employment Rights Bill
Employment rights minister denies bill will deter hiring June 9, 2025 Labour’s employment rights minister has insisted that the government’s Employment Rights Bill won’t scare firms out of hiring, amid growing concern among businesses over the impact of rising costs and bureaucracy. Key private sector voices warn the bill will deter hiring, with more than half of employers polled by the Institute of Directors (IoD) warning [...]
Repeat after me: Working from home is NOT an ideology June 2, 2025 When work from home becomes a question of culture, not practicality, we have completely lost the point, writes Eliot Wilson.
Now is not the time for Labour’s rushed Employment Rights Bill May 8, 2025 Labour's Employment Rights Bill is being rushed through parliament at the cost of small businesses, writes Lord Howard Leigh.