Unions make Starmer stick to deal on workers' rights

Sir Keir Starmer has been forced to back down on proposals to water down a workers rights’ package that a new Labour government would bring in, The Independent understands.

- DAVID MADDOX

In what was seen as the first big test for the Labour leader ahead of the general election which he hopes will install him in 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir held a lengthy meeting with a Trade Union Congress delegation.

It followed reports that the leader of the opposition was planning to water down a package on workers’ rights which had been agreed in consultation with the unions last year.

After the meeting, TUC president Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said: “I think it was a very good spirit. The unions are absolutely in one place which I think was noticeable. The discussion with Labour now is how is that implemented. There is a lot of work to be done. We know there is a lot of lobbying of Labour by big business and the billionaire class.”

Earlier, Mr Wrack told The Independent that his delegation would “compare and contrast” the measures in Labour’s policy document and what they had agreed in the consultation last year.