L

Lord Katz (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 11 June 2025

Debate

United Kingdom Jobs Market

Contribution

I thank the noble Lord for his question. I have enjoyed debating issues around the Government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill with him during some fairly lengthy Committee sessions. Given the debate we had last night, I am somewhat surprised that he returned to this field. We discussed just yesterday evening how one of the main aspects of the Employment Rights Bill is delivering our manifesto commitment to repeal the previous Government’s failed Trade Union Act 2016. I remind noble Lords that that Act delivered more strike days: 2.7 million days were lost to strikes in 2023 and 2.5 million in 2024—the highest levels since 1989. That Act failed and that is why we are reforming it. To pick up the noble Lord’s point on our economic record, let us have a look at it: employment has risen by 0.5 million since the general election and is now at a record high. Economic inactivity is down by more than 20%. Earnings are up and vacancies are down. We have a plan for change and a plan to invest in Britain’s renewal, and we are sticking to those plans.

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