Starmer's U-Turn Sparks Fury from Labour MPs Over Workers' Rights
Labour leader Keir Starmer has faced intense backlash from his own backbenchers over a significant U-turn on workers' rights. The decision to abandon plans for day-one protection against unfair dismissal has been met with outrage, with some MPs labelling it a "complete betrayal" of the party's manifesto promises.
The move comes after months of negotiations between government ministers and trade unions, resulting in a compromise that reduces the qualifying period for making an unfair dismissal claim from 24 months to just six. This has left many Labour MPs feeling frustrated and disillusioned, with some vowing to campaign against the revised legislation.
Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, was scathing in his criticism of Starmer's U-turn. "We cannot support that halfway measure," he said, adding that it represented a "wrong-headed move". His comments were echoed by fellow MPs Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell, who expressed concerns that the revised legislation would give employers too much leeway.
The former employment minister Justin Madders also weighed in, stating that the U-turn was a clear breach of Labour's manifesto commitments. The party had promised to introduce basic rights from day one for parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal, but instead opted for a more gradual approach.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson attempted to justify the decision by pointing out that it avoided further delays in the implementation of employment rights legislation. However, her comments were met with skepticism by many Labour MPs, who accused the government of being beholden to business interests at the expense of workers' rights.
The U-turn has sparked intense debate within the Labour party, with some members questioning Starmer's leadership and commitment to his party's core values. The incident highlights the challenges that Starmer faces in balancing the competing demands of different stakeholders and maintaining public trust in the party's policies.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has faced intense backlash from his own backbenchers over a significant U-turn on workers' rights. The decision to abandon plans for day-one protection against unfair dismissal has been met with outrage, with some MPs labelling it a "complete betrayal" of the party's manifesto promises.
The move comes after months of negotiations between government ministers and trade unions, resulting in a compromise that reduces the qualifying period for making an unfair dismissal claim from 24 months to just six. This has left many Labour MPs feeling frustrated and disillusioned, with some vowing to campaign against the revised legislation.
Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, was scathing in his criticism of Starmer's U-turn. "We cannot support that halfway measure," he said, adding that it represented a "wrong-headed move". His comments were echoed by fellow MPs Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell, who expressed concerns that the revised legislation would give employers too much leeway.
The former employment minister Justin Madders also weighed in, stating that the U-turn was a clear breach of Labour's manifesto commitments. The party had promised to introduce basic rights from day one for parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal, but instead opted for a more gradual approach.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson attempted to justify the decision by pointing out that it avoided further delays in the implementation of employment rights legislation. However, her comments were met with skepticism by many Labour MPs, who accused the government of being beholden to business interests at the expense of workers' rights.
The U-turn has sparked intense debate within the Labour party, with some members questioning Starmer's leadership and commitment to his party's core values. The incident highlights the challenges that Starmer faces in balancing the competing demands of different stakeholders and maintaining public trust in the party's policies.
he just goes back on all this promises made during election campaign and now his own mp's are hella mad about it! 
i get it, politicians gotta make hard decisions but this one feels like a huge backtrack. and btw 6 months instead of 24 is still pretty harsh on workers who might need that protection ASAP 
. I mean, what happened to the idea of "working for a fairer future" that Starmer kept talking about? Now it seems like workers' rights are being watered down and employers get all the power 
. I guess we'll just have to see how this plays out, but I'm not holding my breath for Labour to do what they said they'd do in the first place 
.
in Keir Starmer rn. he was supposed to be all about workers' rights but now it seems like he's more worried about keeping the gov't happy than standing up for his own party members. this U-turn is a massive betrayal of trust and it's not just the Labour MPs who are upset, it's the general public too 
. six months to make an unfair dismissal claim? that's not even close to what they promised in the manifesto. starmer needs to explain himself to his party and to the people who voted for him 
.
But, like, isn't that what politics is all about - making tough decisions? 
Can someone explain to me how this U-turn happened? Was it a last-minute thing or something they were planning from the start? 
it's literally hilarious! I mean what even is a cat thinking when it's making music? like is it trying to be Mozart or something? 
and have you ever noticed how cats always land on their feet? that's just crazy, right? anyway back to this Labour thing... I don't get why they're so upset about the workers' rights, I mean isn't that what they're supposed to fight for? 
Like, I get it, Labour promised day-one protection against unfair dismissal, but 24 months is still pretty reasonable 
That's like, a LOT of people 
. And the six-month qualifying period is only going to make it harder for those who need help 
. 
With more people in work, it's crazy to think about how many workers are still struggling with unfair dismissal 
. 
they sound like they genuinely care about the ppl who need these protections, and its rite that they should be upset. starmer needs 2 explain why he changed his mind so suddenly & why not involve labor mp's in those negotiations 
. I know politicians have to make tough decisions, but come on! You're supposed to be fighting for workers' rights, not giving them away 
. Six months is way too long to wait for someone who's been unfairly sacked from a job they love 
. My kid would never tolerate that kind of uncertainty, let alone an entire group of adults 
. Labour promised something and then backed down – it's like they're not even listening to their own MPs 
.
. Just stick to your original promise and stand by it, Keir! 
. He can't just let everyone else dictate the agenda; he needs to take a stand on the things that matter most to his constituents. And what's with the "halfway measure" comment? 
. I hope Starmer can find a way to regain the trust of his party and its supporters. We need him to be bold and fearless on issues that matter. 
. I mean, come on! Labour was all about fighting for workers' rights, and now it seems like they're watering down those promises. It just goes to show that even in a party supposed to represent the people, there are always going to be power struggles and compromises that can lead to betrayal feelings. 
. It just feels like politicians are saying whatever they think will get them re-elected, rather than doing what's actually right for people's lives. Like, I get that trade unions and businesses need to find common ground, but can't we find a better solution than watering down workers' rights? 
? 
... somehow