Alarm bells were ringing in the Lords last night over clause 113 in Rayner’s (Un)Employment Rights Bill. The late addition, tabled at the eleventh hour during last month’s Commons report stage, gives Labour ministers the power to bring employment tribunal claims on behalf of any worker in Britain. Even without their consent, or against their wishes…
Yes, Angela Rayner wants the power to unilaterally launch legal action on your behalf against your employer, without your permission. A phalanx of peers including Lord Carter, Lord Murray of Blidworth, Lord Garnier, Lord Pannick and Baroness Neville-Rolfe opposed the measure in a spicy debate. Lord Murray slammed the plan in a passionate speech; legal supremo Lord Pannick called the measure “bonkers”. Claimants would still be on the hook for legal costs even if Rayner’s cases failed…
Like much of the Bill, the clause hands more power to the unions, who would likely bring a judicial review if the Secretary of State failed to exercise these powers – leading to a flood of politicised litigation. Rayner’s Employment Rights Bill is being gutted in the Lords…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”