Rayner criticises Mandelson for views on workers’ rights

ANGELA RAYNER has attacked Lord Mandelson in a Labour row over her plans to overhaul workers’ rights.

The deputy Labour leader hit back at the party’s former spin doctor after he urged her to work more closely with businesses in drawing up a flagship “new deal for working people”.

Ms Rayner has vowed to give trade unions greater powers in the first 100 days of a Sir Keir Starmer-led government and quickly repeal anti-strike legislation. Lord Mandelson said in The Times that although there was a “clear case” for reforming existing laws, Labour’s workforce policies “must not be rushed [and] must be done in consultation with business”.

Ms Rayner told the Financial Times her “message for people like Lord Mandelson” was to remember dire warnings issued prior to Labour’s 1997 landslide.

“Business was squealing about the minimum wage, saying that they’re all going to go out of business and it would bankrupt the country,” she said.

“Well it didn’t, it’s endured, and it’s one of the things that across all political spectrums [people] say that it was crucial and it’s affected millions positively.”

The national minimum wage was introduced in 1999 by Sir Tony Blair’s administration, in which Lord Mandelson played a major part. The policy had been a major feature of its election campaign two years previously.

Labour said it would bring forward an Employment Rights Bill in its first 100 days in power repealing the Trade Union Act, which imposes a series of conditions on unions. These include a 50 per cent turnout before a ballot on industrial action is legal. Those working in health, education and transport must reach an additional threshold.

When asked last week about whether Labour’s workers’ rights reforms would be implemented in full, Sir Keir replied: “Yes, because I believe deep down that respect and dignity and work matters.

“As every good employer knows, if you treat people with respect and dignity at work then that increases productivity, that increases the growth in your business and enterprise and it is actually good for the economy.”

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, used her Mais Lecture to the City of London to commit to reversing antistrike laws while promising to “work with business as we deliver and implement these policies”.

Other Labour commitments include a ban on zero-hour contracts, an end to ‘fire and rehire’ practices and ensuring workers are entitled to their rights from “day one”.