Workplace bill Backbenchers to seek more concessions

Labour MPs are preparing to demand further concessions on workers’ rights as the price of accepting the decision by ministers to ditch plans for day-one protection against unfair dismissal.

- Eleni Courea Political correspondent

MPs unhappy about the move will push for stronger protections in other areas, such as bogus self-employment arrangements, as part of Labour’s “make work pay” agenda.

But the government is likely to get its amended employment rights package through the Commons despite backbench anger at the 11th-hour compromise, which critics say breaches Labour’s manifesto.

Ministers announced on Thursday that they were axing a plan to give workers the right to make an unfair dismissal claim against an employer from the first day in a new job. Andy McDonald, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell have been among the Labour MPs to criticise the decision.

But it is understood that Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister who spearheaded the legislation and had warned against attempts to water it down, is not planning to lead a rebellion over the issue.