Johnson says he’s not planning to scrap workers’ rights. Do you believe him?
Boris Johnson has insisted he is not planning a post-Brexit bonfire of UK workers’ rights, after the Financial Times reported on a meeting between him and business chiefs.
The report states that worker protections the Tories repeatedly promised to protect after the UK left the EU will be “ripped up”.
The paper claims the Tories are planning laws to slash holiday pay entitlements, bin rest breaks, and allow bosses to force you to work longer hours, among others.
Analysis by Evolve Politics states that
The secretive plans are also predicted to benefit wealthy bosses to the tune of billions whilst severely impacting the take-home pay of many ordinary workers.
Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband, on Twitter, got straight to the point:
This leak exposes the truth about the Government's priorities, which are way out of step with the needs of workers and their families. In the midst of the worst economic crisis in three centuries, ministers are preparing to take a sledgehammer to workers’ rights. (1/3) https://t.co/Ohy35NKRsc
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) January 14, 2021
The Government wants Britain to compete on the back of ordinary working people losing their rights. Labour will fight tooth and nail against them. This is a fight about who we are as a country and how we succeed. (3/3)
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) January 14, 2021
What a relief to see that someone on Labour’s front bench seems to remember what his job is supposed to be. But what a shame that it comes after Miliband voted in favour of the Brexit deal that makes the alleged Tory plans possible.
One of those moments where Labour attack the Tories, after voting for their deal.
I’m trying to see how it makes sense. Can anyone help me? https://t.co/fcuLsAtgsy
— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) January 14, 2021
Labour owns Brexit as much as the Tories do – with the exception of those who defied Keir Starmer’s whip and voted against it.
Johnson has denied everything – as might be expected.
According to the BBC,
A government spokesperson said: “We have absolutely no intention of lowering the standards of workers’ rights.
“The UK has one of the best workers’ rights records in the world, and it is well known that the UK goes further than the EU in many areas.
“Leaving the EU allows us to continue to be a standard setter and protect and enhance UK workers’ rights.”
But the report adds:
When the UK left the EU it retained many of its laws, but it is now able to change them.
In the 2019 Queen’s Speech outlining the government’s agenda for the coming parliamentary session, changes in employment law were promised.
A new Employment Bill is expected to be published in 2021.
It goes on to say that the Bill is expected to cover issues including the distribution of tips.
Considering the Johnson government’s track record, the best advice This Writer can give is that of Peter Stefanovic in the tweet below:
Join a union NOW pic.twitter.com/xvRtIHMsHH
— Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) January 14, 2021
Source: Brexit: No plans to dilute workers’ rights, minister says – BBC News
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
When this happens, not if, it will mean billions saved by businesses operating in the UK which, if exporting to the EU, will allow them an unfair advantage. This SHOULD result in punitive tariffs for the UK.
What I expect to happen is similar to the bill which allegedly ‘protects’ serving and former service personnel from legal actions but which ALSO prevents those people taking action against their employer. So, in other words, something presented as one thing but very much resulting in the opposite. It MAY be just enough to prevent tariffs though. I don’t see the EU having an immediate appetite to take action if the bill is as opaque as I think it might be. Something like additional rights for workers who qualify under certain conditions and very few for new employees but making it impossible to attain the conditions, for example. On paper an improvement, but one that no one benefits from.
That’s assuming a level of intelligence in this government however, I may well be overestimating them. They have no compunction about flat out lies when signing treaties so why would they even attempt to hide their mendacity?
He’s lied about everything else whot the difference between this and those he did lie about they said they wasn’t preparing a passport for having the innovation but one has been prepared so I see no difference more lies to come
NOPE!!! As soon as he can all the old protection laws will be ‘reviewed’ or just quietly removed until we’re no better than India, well the idiots voted for this and were warned…
I am having a hard time not feeling well they brought this on themselves! Just like the farmers and fishermen were all supporters until as they were warned it whould backfire and now it has they complain..
So after supporting the Tory scum on Brexit the cult of new Labour is complaining about his desire to destroy workers rights??? To little to late as bleeding normal…
The cult of new Labour 2.0 being Tory-lite anyway they don’t really care, but must make a token complain about it… Then support it as normal. Here is an idea maybe don’t be cheerleaders for the Tory scum?
Well all I can say is I don’t bother watching PMQs anymore as so embarrassing
I can imagine if/and/when this pandemic is almost over that the austerity which we’ve endured for more than a decade will triple… I hope I’m wrong but what else can these a***h***s do??