Residents may be aware that the Government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill has been receiving scrutiny in Parliament. This poorly thought-out piece of legislation will drive unemployment up and make hiring staff in the UK more expensive.
We know the Government has so far failed to support job creation. This Christmas, there will be 192,000 fewer people in private-sector employment than at this time last year. Devised by the former Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, this union-backed legislation will have a disastrous impact on our high streets.
The debate this evening focused on a very specific amendment to this Bill. Having failed to convince Government peers to support this measure, the Government sought to use its sizeable majority to force it through despite the implications.
In my speech, I spoke up for local businesses in the constituency who are struggling to stay profitable. With increasing business rates, energy costs and now employment costs, it is evident that this Government is more concerned with satisfying its union paymasters than local entrepreneurs.
Prior to this debate, there had been a consensus among opposition parties on this issue. Shockingly, the Liberal Democrats have caved and sided with the government against British business.
Only the Conservative Party is on the side of jobseekers, wealth creators and local businesses, and I remain opposed to measures in this legislation.
