Key Takeaways:
- The Liberal Democrats are urging Labour leader Keir Starmer to allow Labour MPs to vote for a 10-minute rule bill proposing that the UK join a customs union with the EU.
- The bill, proposed by Lib Dem MP Al Pinkerton, is not expected to become law but will allow for a speech in the Commons defending the cause.
- The government is launching a campaign to "get Britain working again" and will review the welfare state as part of this effort.
- Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative MP, has criticized Labour’s poverty reduction plans and suggested that the relative poverty measure used by Labour is flawed.
- The employment rights bill has moved closer to becoming law, with MPs voting to include a compromise deal that will strengthen workers’ rights.
Introduction to the Lib Dem Proposal
The Liberal Democrats are urging Labour leader Keir Starmer to allow Labour MPs to vote for a 10-minute rule bill proposing that the UK join a customs union with the EU. The bill, proposed by Lib Dem MP Al Pinkerton, is not expected to become law but will allow for a speech in the Commons defending the cause. Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, has written to Starmer urging him to grant Labour backbenchers the opportunity to express their support for the bill. This move is seen as a way for the Lib Dems to campaign on the issue and potentially highlight divisions within the Labour party.
The Government’s Welfare Review
The government is launching a campaign to "get Britain working again" and will review the welfare state as part of this effort. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative MP, has criticized Labour’s poverty reduction plans and suggested that the relative poverty measure used by Labour is flawed. Badenoch has also suggested that there are too many loopholes in the household benefit cap and that the Tories will review the way it operates. The review will aim to get people who are out of work back into the labor force and will involve a review of the way the welfare state works.
Criticism of Labour’s Poverty Reduction Plans
Badenoch has criticized Labour’s poverty reduction plans, suggesting that the relative poverty measure used by Labour is flawed. She argues that this measure relates to the proportion of households on less than 60% of the median income, which can be affected by the overall state of the economy. Badenoch has also suggested that Labour’s plans will not effectively address poverty and that the Tories’ approach will be more effective. The criticism comes as the government launches its campaign to "get Britain working again" and reviews the welfare state.
The Employment Rights Bill
The employment rights bill has moved closer to becoming law, with MPs voting to include a compromise deal that will strengthen workers’ rights. The bill will introduce a new right to statutory bereavement leave and will give people the right to sick pay from day one. The compromise deal includes protection from unfair dismissal starting after six months, rather than from day one, and the cap on compensation payments for unfair dismissal will be lifted. The legislation is expected to significantly strengthen workers’ rights, particularly for those on zero-hour contracts.
Reaction to the Employment Rights Bill
The employment rights bill has been welcomed by some, but others have criticized the compromise deal. Angela Rayner, the former deputy PM, defended the compromises, saying that there was a need for "a fair balance" and that the government had "struck the right deal". However, some Labour MPs have criticized the climbdown, with Andy McDonald saying that the government was making a "profound mistake" and John McDonnell saying that the government was "breaking a promise". The bill is expected to become law soon, with the Lords expected to approve it tomorrow.
Other Developments
In other news, the head of an investigation into maternity care in England has said that victims of NHS maternity failings received "unacceptable care", leading to "tragic consequences". The investigation found that there were significant failings in the care provided to mothers and babies, and that these failings had serious consequences. The report’s findings have been widely criticized, and there are calls for urgent action to address the issues raised. Additionally, the government is publishing the report from the review carried out by the Covid fraud commissioner, which is expected to highlight the scale of fraud during the pandemic.