Speaking at a separate event on Thursday to announce changes at the UK’s competition watchdog to “drive growth and investment,” the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said firms would be given time to prepare for Labour’s employment rights reforms.
Speaking to the Guardian after figures showed Britain had narrowly avoided a recession last year, she dismissed suggestions there was a rift within senior Labour ranks over the sweeping changes to rights at work, amid growing pressure from businesses to water down the plans.
Union leaders have urged Labour to fight back against critics of its employment reforms, after a poll of 21,000 people showed the plan to ban zero-hours contracts and introduce other protections for workers was backed by the vast majority of voters.
The deputy prime minister said that company bosses who were critical of the proposals needed to “get on board” because bolstering employment protections was good for workers and growing the economy.
Deputy prime minister dismisses suggestions of Labour rift, saying employment protections will boost growth.
