TRADE UNIONS welcomed reassurances by Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner that the party is not watering down its plans to bolster workers’ rights

In her speech at the Labour conference today in Liverpool, Ms Rayner said: “I’ve heard some rumours that we’ll be watering down our New Deal for Working People.

“Be in no doubt, not with [Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer] and I at the helm.

“We’ll ban zero-hour contracts, and fire and rehire, and give workers basic rights from day one.

“We’ll go further and faster in closing the gender pay gap, make work more family-friendly and tackle sexual harassment.

“And we won’t stop there. We’ll ensure that unions can stand up for their members.

“We will boost collective bargaining to improve workers’ pay, terms and conditions.”

Ms Rayner also promised Labour would deliver new council homes, strengthen renters’ rights, and abolish leasehold land tenure.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the plans would improve working lives for millions across Britain.

He said: “It’s the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.”

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said Ms Rayner showed that “Labour truly understands the need to make work more secure in a way no Conservative government ever will.”