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Keir Starmer is facing internal dissent after ministers abandoned plans to give workers immediate safeguards against unfair dismissal, a reversal violating the campaign commitments.

MPs Voice Concerns

Lawmakers featuring an ex-government official who led the worker protection legislation expressed apprehension about the concession announced by the government.

Cabinet members have removed the proposal to remove the 24-month "qualifying period" for workers to submit unfair firing complaints and enable them to proceed from the first day in a new job, to facilitate passing the proposed law through government.

Legislative Deadlock

The bill was caught in a dispute involving the House of Lords and Commons over the original plan to provide employee safeguards immediately, as well as measures to prohibit abusive casual work agreements.

Ministers currently plan to introduce the right over unfair dismissal after six months of service instead, while other day-one rights to paternity leave and illness compensation continue planned to move forward, becoming active in spring 2026.

Backlash and Criticism

The parliamentary representative for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East described the move as a "complete betrayal" and committed to campaign for its reversal.

"We must oppose that halfway measure."

"This represents misguided policy and I will campaign to have this concession reversed."

A different party representative shared concern concerning inadequate dialogue, remarking: "There has been no discussion with party members. The Lords don't have primacy concerning campaign pledges, so why have we capitulated??"

Wider Consequences

An additional lawmaker commented: "Companies need not concern themselves from day-one rights, however laborers face significant risks from an employer who doesn't want day-one rights."

The former employment minister asserted that the decision "undoubtedly constitutes a pledge violation."

Administration Defense

The education secretary stated there was a "very real prospect" the execution of the employment rights bill would have been delayed if the government had not made a change regarding day one protections against wrongful termination.

"Consultation has occurred on the point around unfair dismissal and the time period among companies, the TUC and ministers, and subsequent to that dialogue understanding has been reached concerning future direction, that represents positive development."

She emphasized that "This indicates the time limit will come down from two years to six months, and that runs alongside important day-one rights around sick pay and around parental leave."

"However the danger present without forward movement, those important rights wouldn't come into force starting spring 2026."

When questioned about whether it represented an unfulfilled pledge, the official replied: "In the manifesto, the promise indicated was that we intended to collaborate with worker representatives, with companies, with public organizations, in consulting on those protections we planned to introduce."

"So, there are both parts to that, throughout the campaign document, the significant entitlements and the dialogue."