Labour MP Criticises Keir Starmer Over Broken Promise

A Labour MP has accused his own party of a “clear betrayal of a manifesto promise” for watering down the government’s flagship workers’ rights bill.

John McDonnell blasted the “shameful” move as MPs debated the legislation in the Commons.

It emerged last month that plans to give employees protection against unfair dismissal from their first day in a job had been ditched by Keir Starmer after objections were raised by employers.

That was despite Labour’s election manifesto last year promising “basic rights from day one to parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal”.

The government has already come under fire for freezing income tax salary thresholds in a move which appeared to break Labour’s manifesto promise not to put up taxes on working people.

Posting on X on Monday night, McDonnell hit out at the government for not giving MPs enough time to debate the controversial U-turn on workers’ rights.

He said: “Andy McDonald MP has tabled an amendment to ensure the government stands by its commitment to employment rights on day one. The government has set a debate timetable tonight so it won’t be reached. This is a clear betrayal of a Manifesto promise. Shameful.”

During the Commons debate, other Labour MPs also hit out at the government climbdown, which they said had “weakened” the Employment Rights Bill.

Andy McDonald said: “I urge ministers, even now, to reconsider, because they are making a profound mistake.”

He added: “There may be debate about other manifesto pledges, but on this, the breach is unmistakable.

“Shadow ministers, now ministers, including the prime minister, called day-one rights the foundation of the largest uplift in employment protections for a generation. Yet that promise is now being set aside.”

Former business minister Justin Madders said the government had “jettisoned” its pre-election pledge.

He said: “This is a promise that we made to the British people, and we have to deliver on it. We have to let democracy win.”

Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who was piloting the bill through the Commons before being forced to resign from government for not paying enough council tax, called on MPs to vote it through.

She said: “It has been a battle to pass this bill, but progress is always a struggle that we fought for.

“Its passage will be a historic achievement for this Labour government. It will benefit working people now and into the future.

“Now is not the time to blink or buckle, let’s not waste a minute more, it’s time to deliver.”