Angela Rayner is set to launch a parliamentary push to significantly speed up the implementation of the government's flagship workers' rights legislation, following considerable frustration over delays imposed by the House of Lords.
Amendment Aims to Accelerate Key Protections
The former deputy prime minister will lay an amendment on Wednesday, arguing that a crucial compromise on unfair dismissal rights can and must be enacted far more quickly than currently planned. The move comes after "considerable anger" among Labour MPs over what they see as the watering down of the bill by unelected peers.
Rayner, a key architect of the legislation, has accepted a compromise that replaces the original pledge for "day-one" rights against unfair dismissal with a reduced qualifying period. This period will be cut from the current two years down to just six months. However, the implementation of this change is currently slated for 2027.
The new amendment, crafted with former employment minister Justin Madders, seeks to bring this date forward to early 2026. Rayner's central argument is that because the new system is merely a shortened version of the existing one, it does not require lengthy consultation processes with employers, allowing for a much faster rollout.
Manifesto Breach and Parliamentary Tensions
The decision by Business Secretary Peter Kyle to abandon the manifesto commitment to day-one rights has been a contentious point. While trade unions have largely accepted the six-month compromise—preferring it to an unworkable nine-month probation model—the shift remains a direct breach of Labour's election promises.
MPs backing the bill have expressed fears that the climbdown in the Lords could embolden critics to push for further dilutions of the legislation. "This can't be the thin end of the wedge," stated one Labour MP involved in discussions. "We're drawing a line in the sand. There is now growing appetite on the Labour benches to go further and faster in delivering tangible rights at work."
Over the weekend, Rayner and Madders met with numerous MPs who were frustrated by hold-ups caused by Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers. A Labour source indicated a "growing consensus" within the Parliamentary Labour Party that the bill must be both strengthened and implemented more rapidly following the "intransigence" displayed in the upper chamber.
Broader Reforms and Implementation Timeline
The wider Workers' Rights Bill, due to return to the Commons next week, includes several other significant measures:
- Ensuring workers on zero-hours or variable contracts can access the new rights.
- Introducing fines for employers who deny unions the right to talk with their workforce.
Proponents of the accelerated timeline argue that millions of workers will benefit from the enhanced job security provided by the shorter qualifying period. "Why should they have to wait until 2027 for better protections?" asked one supporting MP. "There's nothing now stopping the government from delivering at pace."
While those behind the amendment hope the government will accept the proposals, they are also "confident of a groundswell of support" from fellow MPs if a vote is required. Rayner and Madders are positioned to spearhead efforts to ensure the reform package is both robust and delivered on an ambitious schedule.
