Workers rights row: Labour’s Rayner vows to expand protection from sex harassment to interns May 9, 2024 Angela Rayner has vowed Labour will expand sexual harassment protections to include interns and volunteers, amid a row with unions over the party’s workers’ rights proposals.
Why hasn’t the UK signed more trade deals? February 21, 2024 As Kemi Badenoch is dragged into a new political row over the status of trade talks with Canada, Jessica Frank-Keyes asks whether the UK's trade strategy is really working.
Anti-strikes bill becomes law as unions vow to fight it ‘tooth and nail’ July 20, 2023 A law has been passed to curb the effect strikes can have on some key services. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act has been granted Royal Assent, having cleared both Houses of Parliament after a protracted battle over its impact. The law will allow ministers to impose minimum levels of service during industrial action by [...]
Ignore the soothsayers, the next election is still up for grabs if our economy settles October 24, 2022 Is there anything a new leader can do to turn around the Tories’ electoral chances?
Rail fares to go up by 4.9 per cent in March next year December 22, 2023 Regulated rail fares in England will increase by up to 4.9 per cent next year, in a blow to UK commuters.
Chancellor to launch £7.3bn national wealth fund to ‘unlock investment’ July 9, 2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves will launch a national wealth fund with £7.3bn of state funding to “unlock investment” in UK growth industries.
‘Mistake’ to focus on flu in pandemic preparedness, David Cameron admits June 19, 2023 David Cameron has admitted it was a “mistake” for his government to focus too heavily on preparing for an influenza wave rather than a potential coronavirus pandemic. The former Conservative prime minister told the official Covid-19 inquiry, which is currently examining the UK’s readiness to respond to a disease outbreak, the decision led to “many [...]
No10 confirms strike-busting bill paused as ministers look to broaden scope December 15, 2022 No10 has confirmed that its bill on guaranteeing minimum service levels during strike days is being paused as ministers look to broaden its scope. “Essentially we’ve paused that bill and are looking at adding additional measures to it to widen its scope,” said the Prime Minister’s spokesperson. “We haven’t set out exactly the scope of [...]
Fire and rehire: New government rules will not stop another P&O scandal, claim unions January 24, 2023 New rules against so-called “fire and rehire” practices in wake of the P&O scandal will not stop it from being repeated, trade unions have warned. Ministers have launched a consultation for a new code of practice for all employers, which would set out companies’ responsibilities when they seek to change contractual terms. The government is [...]
Mark Harper: Inflation-matching pay rises ‘unaffordable’ November 27, 2022 Increasing workers’ salaries to match inflation rates is simply unaffordable, according to transport secretary Mark Harper. “We want to try and give all the workers in the public sector who work very hard decent pay rises, but they can’t be inflation busting,” he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday. Salary increases have been the [...]