Prospect slams House of Lords for “cynical wrecking tactics” on Employment Rights Bill

Prospect has called out the House of Lords for its “cynical wrecking tactics” after the upper chamber voted to block the Employment Rights Bill.

The Lords voted against the Bill despite it being a Labour manifesto commitment and a recent compromise that was reached between business groups and unions on unfair dismissal rights.

Reacting to the vote, Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy said:

“It is deeply disappointing that Conservative and Crossbench Peers have voted to overturn the compromise agreement struck between government, business groups and trade unions and are continuing to hold up crucial reforms to workers’ rights.

“This deal was struck after painstaking negotiation to find a compromise that all sides could agree with, the amendment passed by the House of Lords undermines that compromise by reversing the decision to lift the cap on compensation for unfair dismissal.

“The behaviour of the House of Lords can no longer be seen as constructive scrutiny and increasingly looks like cynical wrecking tactics that risk a constitutional crisis if they continue.

“Further delay is in nobody’s interests and only prolongs uncertainty, the Bill must pass before Christmas including lifting the caps on compensation.”